Roll Call Tribute

William Bradford Lancaster

May 31, 1928 - October 28, 2022

William (Bill) Bradford Lancaster passed away on October 28, 2022. Bill was born at home on May 31, 1928 in College Station, Texas to Helen Erma Douglass Lancaster and Robert Roy Lancaster. He was raised and spent almost his entire life at 303 Dexter Drive.

Bill attended Texas A&M University as a member of the class of 1949 and graduated with a bachelor of science degree in business. Bill and Mary met on a blind date in 1952, were married in January 1953 and were married for 62 years. Bill and Mary raised their three children, Laura, Nancy, and Brad in College Station, Texas.

Bill often described an idyllic childhood growing up with his four siblings in the shadow of Texas A&M. If you had a question about the history of Texas A&M or College Station, Bill was the man to ask. In high school, he played football, was on the cheer squad and obtained his pilot’s license. He became an avid runner in mid-life completing several marathons. Bill had a fondness for nicknames, loved his family, cooking, and classic cars. He was a handyman extraordinaire and could build or fix anything and often did.

Bill was a true servant leader and served others in many ways throughout his life. He served on the College Station ISD School Board, Community Chest, United Way, Lions Club, the College Station Historical Committee, and was an avid blood donor.

Bill and Mary owned The Spinning Wheel, a knitting shop in Bryan for a few years. Bill could knit and crochet like a pro and he still had a sweater he knitted himself. Bill and Mary ran Lancaster Place, a boarding house in their home for over 40 years. “Ma and Pa” were surrogate parents and grandparents to countless Aggies who lived in their rental property, ate their meals, or came to visit residents and family during their time in Aggieland. Because Bill and Mary lived in the Lancaster family home, the extended Lancaster family celebrated many holidays at their table and before or after football games. As a member of First Baptist Church, College Station for 65 years, Bill held a variety of roles including deacon, treasurer, Wednesday night supper organizer and special events cook, youth sponsor, choir member, and likely a member of each and every church committee.

Bill spent most of his professional life as an employee of the Texas A&M University System. He was Chief Clerk with the Texas Engineering Experiment Station 1954-1956, District Manager for the American Coin Meter Corporation (St. Louis, MO) 1956-1958, Auditor for the Agricultural Experiment Station 1958-1963, Assistant Director and Business Manager of the Memorial Student Center 1963-1969, and then Payroll Services Manager for the A&M system until his retirement in 1985. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, friend and “Pa” to many.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents Helen Erma Douglass Lancaster and Robert Roy Lancaster, his wife Mary Laverne Whiteside Lancaster, and his siblings Doug (Harriet) Lancaster, Cynthia Lancaster Cooper (Rex), Jim (Rose) Lancaster, and John (Nezzie) Lancaster.

Bill is survived by his children Laura Lancaster Arth of College Station, Nancy Lancaster Smith (Ted Smith) of Wichita Falls, Brad Lancaster (Karen) of College Station, grandchildren Ann Carolyn Arth Williams (Ben), Ted Smith III, Stacey Smith Yezek (Brent), Amy Smith Berry (Blayne), Julia Lancaster Crane (Mitchell), Will Lancaster II (Madison), and great-grandchildren Reid Williams, Davis Williams, Mae Williams, Jude Berry, Everett Berry, Olivia Berry, Grayson Berry, Seger Yezek and Sutton Yezek, and many nieces and nephews.

Services to celebrate Bill’s life will be held on Friday, November 4, 2022. A graveside service will be held at 2:00 pm at the College Station Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 pm at the First Baptist Church of College Station. Immediately following, all are invited to a visitation with the family in the fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to First Baptist Church College Station.

The family would like to thank the staff at The Parc at Traditions and Enhabit Home Health & Hospice for their outstanding care and support.