Billy Joe White

Billy Joe White was born in Barnsdall, Oklahoma to parents Almon C. and Mildred Henderson White. His

love for education started young as his mother was a teacher, and his father was a teacher and football

coach. He graduated from Shidler High School in 1951 and went on to play football at Tulsa University

where he would graduate in 1955. He followed that up with a masters from LSU in 1956 and an MBA from

University of Colorado in 1965.

While at Tulsa University, Bill met Ina Jean Childers and invited her to the church picnic. On the way to

the picnic, the steering wheel detached from the car creating a bit of a panic for Jean and her little sister

Aliene who was in the back seat. After exclaiming “horsefeathers!” Bill put the steering wheel back into

place and calm was restored. Jean and Bill married about a year later and spent 64+ years raising a

family with 5 children. They built a life filled with love, church activities, education, sports (lots of sports!),

bridge, travel, and time at their lake house in Lake Conroe. Not one to ever sit still, Bill filled his free time

with coaching his children’s softball, soccer and baseball teams, driving the boat so everyone could get a

turn to waterski, playing basketball and softball (into his mid 70s!), going to Astros games and fixing

things around the house.

Working in the oil and gas industry kept the family on the move—Tulsa, Dallas, Amarillo, Denver,

Williamsburg, Glen Rock (NJ), and Houston, where they lived for the last 51 years. Bill started at Atlantic

Richfield, then went on to work at Amoco, Union Carbide, Ashland and Mobil Oil. Toward the end of his

career with Mobil, Bill joined the Board of Directors of Communities in Schools, which he thoroughly

enjoyed. Again, never one to sit still, Bill decided to get his law degree in his late 50’s and graduated with

his JD from Southwest Texas School of Law in 1993. He established his own law practice where he

primarily worked with the oil and gas industry doing mediation and expert witnessing.

Bill loved his family deeply and they will always love him and remember him for what a wonderful

husband, father, Dad dad (granddad), son, brother, uncle, mentor, boss and friend he was. Always ready

to jump in and help, he would offer to pull a tooth, teach you how to throw a ball, help someone in need,

and give advice. He loved Jesus Christ and loved serving in the ministries of Tallowood Baptist Church.

His love and affection for people was real. He was a favorite wherever he went—and he is already

missed by many.

Bill is survived by his wife, Ina Jean, and his daughters Janice Sikes (Austin), Paula Mousighi (Houston)

and Catherine White (Burbank, CA); brother Bob White and wife, Joy (Dewey, OK); grandchildren

Andrea, Amelia and husband Michael, Amanda and husband Kelvin, Megan and husband Justin, and

Cameron; great grandsons Landon and Liam, and one great grandson who the family is looking forward

to meeting in February. He is predeceased by his parents, daughter Lois White and son Tony White.

Visitation will be held at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home on Thursday, January 23rd, 5pm-8pm. The memorial service will be held at 11 am on Friday, January 24th, at Tallowood Baptist Church, with a reception following. It was Bill’s wish that any donations be made to the ministries of Tallowood Baptist Church.