Bill was born on April 14, 1933 in Kearney, Nebraska, the son of Bernice Louise (Pumphrey) and Ralph Hartew Lancaster. He has an older brother, James Ralph Lancaster. Bill attended the Kearney Public School System graduating in 1951. From there it was on to the University of Nebraska where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Geology in 1958. His university studies were interrupted by his being drafted into the U.S. Army for a 2-year stint ending in 1955.
Bill spent most of his time in service as a ground control radar intercept operator in Washington, D.C. After graduation from the U of N, he landed a job with Texas Instruments where he worked for over 30 years mostly explaining how it was that a man with a geology degree could survive in a technology company. It was tough but he did it.
Bill married Shirley Jean McWhorter of Gilmer, Texas in 1960 who gave birth to two boys. She passed away in April of 1999. Bill then married Melba Joy Mankin on November 13, 2004.
Bill is survived by his wife, Melba; son, Kevin Scott Lancaster of Rogers, Arkansas; Kevin’s daughter, Kasey Lynne Lancaster, and her daughter Emma; and son, Christopher Todd Lancaster of Tucson, Arizona.
Bill is preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Bernice; brother, James and his wife, Patti, and by his previous wife Shirley. Pall bearers include Robert Elwell, John Harrelson, Robert Seal, Bry Sherrill, Braedyn Sherrill, Tim Oakes, and Brooks Parker. A funeral service celebrating the life of Charles William Lancaster will be held at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home in Allen, Texas on September 16, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. The service will also be live streamed at TJMfuneral.com on Bill's obituary page by clicking on the following link: https://celebrationoflife.tv/blog/charles-william-bill-lancaster. After the service, the recorded live stream will be available for viewing at the same link location.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity in Bill’s name.