Roll Call Tribute

Willie Leroy Adcock 

September 23, 1921 - October 13, 2023 

Willie Leroy Adcock was born on September 23, 1921, in DeWitt County, Texas into the loving family of Marie Emelia nee Schlein and Oliver Adcock. He passed from this world peacefully in his sleep surrounded by family on October 13, 2023, having a long and meaningful life.

His early farm and ranch life gave him a life-long love of nature and outdoor pursuits. As a young man, he raised champion livestock and farm animals and, like his siblings, enjoyed playing music together on various instruments. After graduating from Cuero High School, his family moved to Houston to be close to relatives. He enrolled at Texas A&M College (Class 1944) and worked throughout his time there.

At the outbreak of WWII, he was sent to army officers training school and then to Europe where he served throughout the war, surviving two wrecked planes and being awarded the Air Medal for valiant conduct behind enemy lines. Returning with the rank of Captain he continued to serve in the Texas National Guard and finished his undergraduate degree at TAMC and later his master's.

At that time, a mutual friend from WWII days introduced him to the love of his life, Margaret Louise Ballow Adcock. After a long distance courtship via letters and sometimes him flying a plane for visits to her home in Rusk County, Texas, they were married in her little Millville family church on April 3, 1953.

Leroy's career with the federal Department of Agriculture took them from Bryan, to Bellville - where a daughter Kathy (1954) and a son Timothy (1956) were born - then to Denton and Decatur.

After his retirement, Louise and Leroy settled in Tyler, Texas in 1989 and had many happy years together there. They enjoyed the company of their children, grandson, and great-grandchildren, their extended families, their church, and friends, and traveled extensively.

Leroy devoted his life to family, church, community, and country. He served as a Deacon in his church and spent many hours as a volunteer and fund-raiser through his church, community, and the Republican Party.

Leroy is preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Louise and by his parents and four siblings. He is survived by his two children, Kathy and her husband Royce Glenn Smith of Dallas; son, Timothy of Houston; his grandson, Dakota and his wife Jessica, and their two children, Xander and Zelda Smith of McKinney; his sister, Bertha Ellen Martin of Tomball, and numerous nieces and nephews and their children and their families.

Leroy cherished and tenderly cared for Louise throughout their lives together, especially in the ten years of her decline due to Parkinson's dementia. When she could no longer be cared for at home, he visited her daily.

We remember his love of flying, fishing, bird hunting, gardening, carpentry, grilling, and as a fiercely competitive board game and domino player and ardent supporter of the Fighting Texas Aggies.

'Papa' could make, grow, or fix anything, especially hearts. He gifted us with the example of an honorable life well lived and left a record of it in his 'Papa's Stories' the autobiography he wrote in his 90s.

We would like to thank family, friends, and neighbors, esp. Dr. and Mrs. Eitel Hahn and Mrs. Emma Salas who brightened his days. We are grateful for the tender care he received in his last weeks at Oak Hills Terrace Memory Care and from United Plus Hospice.

We his family are grateful for his long, full life and celebrate his legacy, by the grace of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

For those wishing to make a memoriam in his name, "the Texas Chapter of the Nature Conservancy (nature.org) is a worthy cause."