 William
Eugene Whitsitt, 83, formerly of McAllen, Texas, passed away April 20,
2006. He was a longtime businessman and civic leader in McAllen and
retired to Kerrville, Texas in 1998 with his wife, Mary.
Bill was born in 1922 in Lawrence,
Kansas, to parents Ruth Harrison Whitsitt and Roy Eugene Whitsitt. The
family moved to McAllen in 1923 and he lived there until moving to
Kerrville in 1998. He graduated from McAllen High School and took
great pride in being an Eagle Scout. He studied Engineering at the
University of Texas at Austin, then joined the Merchant Marines, where
he served as Chief Officer for 4 ½ years of sea time during World War
II, and was honorably discharged from the U.S. Coast Guard as a Lt.
Commander.
He returned to McAllen after the war
and married Mary Kathlyn Bishop in 1946. He and Mary started an
insurance agency in 1949. That agency grew and absorbed smaller
agencies in town until it was one of the largest in the Valley. He was
one of the original Valley businessmen who purchased bonds in order to
establish the Foreign Trade Zone in McAllen. He served many years on
the Small Business Administration Board for the Rio Grande Valley. He
also built many homes and offices in McAllen as a general contractor,
and helped develop many parcels of land throughout the Valley.
Always an active civic leader, he
served for years on the Rio Grande Council of Girl Scouts, was a
member of Lion’s Club, and reached 32nd Level of Masonic Lodge, where
he received a distinguished 50-year service pin. He was Chairman of
the McAllen Parks & Playground Advisory board, Director of the McAllen
Citizens League, and on the Board of Directors for Valley Boy’s Ranch.
He served two terms as President of the McAllen Country Club and was a
member of Riverhill Country Club in Kerrville. He served as Charter
Director of McAllen Junior Chamber of Commerce as a founding member.
He helped build and establish St. Mark Methodist Church in McAllen.
Bill loved hunting, fishing and
golfing. He and his wife, Mary, traveled in 25 foreign countries. He
especially looked forward to salmon fishing in Alaska and Campbell
River, B.C.
He is survived by wife, Mary;
daughter, Connie Emerson and husband, Vee; daughter, Kathy Egbert and
husband, Rick; three granddaughters; three great-grandchildren;
sister, Jane Kinsey; cousins, Jimmy Harrison, Tommy Overstreet and Ann
Sanford.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Sue
Crow and the VistaCare Hospice staff for their kindness and care.
Memorial gifts may be sent to Hill Country Youth Ranch, P.O. Box 67,
Ingram, TX 78025.
Memorial services will be held 10
a.m., April 29th at First United Methodist Church under the direction
of Dr. Warren Hornung, Pastor.
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