Frisco, TX – William W. (Bill) Fomby, 93, went to be with his Lord on Saturday, April 13, 2013 from complications with kidney failure and after a long, courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Mr. Fomby’s life began on December 22, 1919 in Jones County, Texas as the youngest of seven children born to his parents, James William (Will) and Katherine Futrell (Pet) Fomby. He grew up in rural Jones County near the Wise Chapel Community where he attended public school and later attended and graduated from Hamlin High School in 1938. Mr. Fomby enlisted in the United States Navy in December, 1940. He was a Gunner’s Mate First Class and stationed aboard the battleship U.S.S. Oklahoma (BB-37) at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii until the attack by the Empire of Japan on December 7, 1941 destroyed and sank his ship. He continued to serve in the Pacific Theatre throughout World War II until early 1947, when he returned to his family in Hamlin and met the love of his life, Vie Bailey. They married on March 1, 1947 in Hamlin, and lived there until they moved to Odessa on March 1, 1953. They had two children and raised them in Odessa where they attended Ector County Public Schools.   Mr. Fomby worked in oilfield sales and covered a 30-county territory in West Texas and Southeastern New Mexico until he retired. He was a long-time member of Highland United Methodist where he served on the Administrative Board and as President of the Builder’s Sunday School Class, taught Sunday school, and helped with building construction as the Church grew. They left Odessa in 1997 and returned to Hamlin.

Bill and Vie were married for 54 years until Vie’s passing in 2001. He remained in Hamlin until 2006 when he moved to the Clyde W. Cosper Texas State Veteran’s Home in Bonham, Texas.   In addition to Vie, Bill was predeceased by his parents, three brothers and their wives, three sisters and their husbands, three nephews, and two nieces. He is survived by his daughter, Carla Fomby, of Hamlin; his son, James Fomby, of Frisco; grandsons Scott Stephens of Austin, Kenneth Link of Hamlin, and Garrett Fomby of Frisco; granddaughter Lauren Fomby of Frisco; and a host of nephews and nieces and other extended family members.

Visitation will be on Friday, April 19^th, 2013 at 4:00 – 7:00 PM at Turrentine Jackson Morrow Funeral Home at 8520 Main Street in Frisco. A Celebration of Bill’s life with military honors will be conducted by Rev. Doug Miller and held at 10:30 am on Saturday, April 20^th, 2013 at the Chapel of the First United Methodist Church at 7659 Preston Road in Frisco. Graveside services and burial will be conducted by Rev. Darrell Edwards at 5:00 PM at the Hamlin East Cemetery in Hamlin. Pallbearers will be Grant Anderson, David Boland, James Brooks, Larry Eschberger, Gary Jones, Kenneth Link, Scott Stephens, Curtis Watkins, David Watkins, Stacey Wood, and Jim Yancey.

The family would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the staff at the Clyde W. Cosper Texas State Veteran’s Home for the loving and tireless care extended to Bill these last seven years. In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the William and Vie Fomby Memorial Scholarship Fund in care of the Frisco Education Foundation, P.O. Box 567, Frisco, Texas 75034.