William Ed McDaniel went to be with his Lord and Savior on January 24th, 2021. Bill was born December 9, 1931 in Lubbock, Texas to Edgar P. McDaniel and Bess Alexander McDaniel, the middle son of five boys. “Bill Ed” graduated Morton High School in 1949 as Salutatorian, where he was quarterback of the football team, pitcher in baseball, and point guard in basketball, played clarinet in the band and ran track.
Bill left Morton to attend Eastern New Mexico State University in the fall of 1949, paying his tuition with earnings from painting signs, a job he had acquired from his older brother, Gene.
He volunteered for the USAF in 1951 and served four years as an Electrical Specialist on the B-36 as well as many special assignments as a sign painter.
He married the love of his life, Joye Seaney on December 26th, 1951, while on leave from the Air Force, just before being stationed at Chanute AFB, Illinois. They packed all their belongings in a huge Kotex box loaded on a trailer and shared a ride with another couple as they had no car of their own. Once there, it was three months before they got their housing allowance but Joye went to work to help make ends meet.
One rainy Sunday, they were walking to church and Bill saw a $10 bill on the street. He picked it up and put it in the offering plate even though they were desperately poor. That is the kind of man he was. He liked to tell that story because he felt like God had blessed that gift for the rest of his life.
When they did finally get their back pay, they were able to buy their first car which they drove to Fort Worth when they were reassigned to Carlswell AFB.
After his discharge, he worked as an electrician, chicken salesman, and ultimately a Technical Illustrator for General Dynamics, attending evening classes at TCU from 1956 to 1961. He was a skilled calligrapher and commercial artist making presentation boards and Vu-graphs before the computer age. Later in his career, he traveled extensively as part of a preparation team for the Paris and Farnborough (England) Air Shows and other F-16 Demonstrations world-wide. His versatility as a designer and graphics artist allowed him to participate fully in marketing the F-16 to many of our allies. In 1991, he retired after 35 years of service at the age of fifty-nine.
Bill and Joye were surrounded by friends including an inner circle consisting of Frank and Marty Artmier, Bill and Janie Payne, and Max and Peggy Tullos. They had many years of fun, travel, and lots of laughter around the pool and the bridge table as well as at church.
Bill took up the game of golf at age 35 and excelled at it as he had done with many other sports. He played and placed in many golf tournaments over the years, but his crowning achievements were winning the Fort Worth Super Seniors City Championships in 1992 and 1996. He continued to play weekly at Squaw Creek until he was 86, often buying the fries as was the custom for the winner of the round. When deciding what to take with him on the move to New Braunfels, his many golf trophies were at the top of the list and were the topic of many conversations at Eden Hill.
All through his life, Bill was a man of faith and service. At South Hills Baptist Church, he taught a Sunday School class for fifty years, served as a deacon, sang in the choir, and served in any capacity that was asked of him. After moving to Southcliff Baptist, he led the singing in their Bible study class while Joye accompanied on the piano.
He is preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Joye McDaniel.
Survived by:
• Son Doug McDaniel and wife Melody of Fort Worth, TX.
• Daughter Kim Akers and husband Bob of New Braunfels, TX.
Grandchildren:
• Ross Akers and wife Jacqueline of Dallas, TX.
• Jeremy McDaniel and wife Sonya of Fort Worth, TX
• Regan Akers of Nashville, TN.
• Zakaree McDaniel of Fort Worth, TX.
• Taylor McDaniel and wife Marissa of Clarksville, TN.
• Garret Young and wife Hillary of Dickinson, TX
• Malorie Young of Fort Worth, TX.
Great grandchildren:
• Rhett Akers and Rose Akers of Dallas, TX
• Bailey Young of Dickinson, TX
Graveside service and Internment will be held on February 16 at 12:30 at DFW National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Southcliff Baptist Church of Fort Worth, Hope Hospice of New Braunfels, or the charity of your choice.
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