Roll Call Tribute
Bill Wakefield '46 December 14, 2018 3:15 PM updated: December 14, 2018 3:17 PM
(Published in) The Madisonville Meteor (on) August 11, 2015)
Bill D. Wakefield
Bill D. Wakefield, 90, passed on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2015, in Houston.
Bill was born in Midway to Leon “Buddy” Wakefield and Hattie Davis Wakefield.
Bill and his brother, Leon Jr., and their father, Buddy (until his death), owned and managed the Wakefield & Sons dealership in Madisonville, selling and servicing cars, trucks and farming equipment. They also owned and managed farm and ranch land.
Bill’s education at Texas A&M was interrupted by his service to his country as a staff sergeant in the United States Army. While on the way from Europe, headed to Japan, the war abruptly ended with the bombing of Japan. He returned to the states and completed his studies at Texas A&M in College Station and was a lifelong proud “Aggie” graduate.
Bill literally loved the “Dealership,” and was a constant advocate for his customers and their complete satisfaction. He was generous and helpful to all, and was instrumental in building a warm rapport with his customers, the Madisonville community and beyond. The talk around the Wakefield home was that you never knew what car would be in the driveway when you got up in the morning. What was there the previous night may well have been sold right out of the driveway to a thankful customer, and replaced with another.
He enjoyed working on his ranch land on the Trinity River, referred to as the “canyon land” by the family, where he raised cattle and maintained the property. He also loved to bass fish, particularly with his pal Don Plunkett. While he enjoyed catching bass, he steadfastly refuse to eat them. He also enjoyed quail hunting and again, he would not eat them either.
He was a longtime member and Deacon in charge of the Treasury at the Church of Christ in Madisonville, and later in life a member of the First United Methodist Church in Madisonville.
Bill’s was also a member of the Lions Club, the Draft Board, and was on the Board of Directors of the Bank of Madisonville.
Bill was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Nita Barrett Wakefield.
He is survived by his two daughters, Kay Page and her husband, Bob, and Karen Bond; grandsons Chris Mathewson (Leslie), Tanner Bond (Kimberly) and Hunter Bond (Sammi); and great-grandson, Tristan Bond.
A viewing will be held at the Madisonville Funeral Home from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14.
Services will be held at the First United Methodist Church on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015, at 2 p.m., followed by a graveside service at the Madisonville City Cemetery on West Trinity Street, followed by a reception at the Woodbine Hotel.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions in Bill’s memory be made to either All Dogs Official Rescue Enterprise of Houston (ADORE) at 5225 Katy Freeway, Suite 500, Houston TX 77007; or Lone Star Boxer Rescue, 21175 Tomball Parkway No. 389, Houston TX 77070; or Rita B. Huff Humane Society, 530 Bearcat Blvd., Huntsville TX 77340.
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to www.memorialsolutions.com, and click on obituaries to reach the guestbook for Bill D. Wakefield.
Madisonville Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
Bill D. Wakefield
Bill D. Wakefield, 90, passed on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2015, in Houston.
Bill was born in Midway to Leon “Buddy” Wakefield and Hattie Davis Wakefield.
Bill and his brother, Leon Jr., and their father, Buddy (until his death), owned and managed the Wakefield & Sons dealership in Madisonville, selling and servicing cars, trucks and farming equipment. They also owned and managed farm and ranch land.
Bill’s education at Texas A&M was interrupted by his service to his country as a staff sergeant in the United States Army. While on the way from Europe, headed to Japan, the war abruptly ended with the bombing of Japan. He returned to the states and completed his studies at Texas A&M in College Station and was a lifelong proud “Aggie” graduate.
Bill literally loved the “Dealership,” and was a constant advocate for his customers and their complete satisfaction. He was generous and helpful to all, and was instrumental in building a warm rapport with his customers, the Madisonville community and beyond. The talk around the Wakefield home was that you never knew what car would be in the driveway when you got up in the morning. What was there the previous night may well have been sold right out of the driveway to a thankful customer, and replaced with another.
He enjoyed working on his ranch land on the Trinity River, referred to as the “canyon land” by the family, where he raised cattle and maintained the property. He also loved to bass fish, particularly with his pal Don Plunkett. While he enjoyed catching bass, he steadfastly refuse to eat them. He also enjoyed quail hunting and again, he would not eat them either.
He was a longtime member and Deacon in charge of the Treasury at the Church of Christ in Madisonville, and later in life a member of the First United Methodist Church in Madisonville.
Bill’s was also a member of the Lions Club, the Draft Board, and was on the Board of Directors of the Bank of Madisonville.
Bill was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Nita Barrett Wakefield.
He is survived by his two daughters, Kay Page and her husband, Bob, and Karen Bond; grandsons Chris Mathewson (Leslie), Tanner Bond (Kimberly) and Hunter Bond (Sammi); and great-grandson, Tristan Bond.
A viewing will be held at the Madisonville Funeral Home from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14.
Services will be held at the First United Methodist Church on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015, at 2 p.m., followed by a graveside service at the Madisonville City Cemetery on West Trinity Street, followed by a reception at the Woodbine Hotel.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions in Bill’s memory be made to either All Dogs Official Rescue Enterprise of Houston (ADORE) at 5225 Katy Freeway, Suite 500, Houston TX 77007; or Lone Star Boxer Rescue, 21175 Tomball Parkway No. 389, Houston TX 77070; or Rita B. Huff Humane Society, 530 Bearcat Blvd., Huntsville TX 77340.
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to www.memorialsolutions.com, and click on obituaries to reach the guestbook for Bill D. Wakefield.
Madisonville Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
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