WILLIAM LENNIS (BILL) WHITTON, SR.

Born: 11/17/1926, Steepcreek, Texas. A little south of San Augustine, passed away October 11, 2017 in Nacogdoches, Texas.

Lived for a while in the Bland Lake area, San Augustine. Later moved to Lola, Texas, where he went to school.

Joined the Navy around 1944 for two years, serving on the USS Boxer.

He met Naomi Trader in Houston, Texas where she worked at a dry cleaners store. They were married December 23, 1946 by the Preacher who lived across the street from his mother, Mary Bell Ware. The Preacher married them at his mom’s home the evening before they had their license, telling them they better go get the license the next morning. They were married 69.5 years.

Bill was a welder/pipe fitter by trade until about 1953-54 when they moved to New Caney, Texas to work as the care taker for Champion Paper Company’s Rod and Gun Club property. He was not very popular for many years because he had to keep the locals from hunting and fishing on the property. He was not very popular also because he worked for the school district as the Truant Officer for a while.

He was a Deacon in the Bethel Baptist Church in New Caney, and we were at the Church whenever the doors were open. I don’t know when he was saved, but I know he and my mother were saved and baptized.

In about 1964, Bill quit his care taker job and moved to Pasadena, Texas to return to welding and pipefitting work. Bill is a 50 year plus member of Archives Masonic Lodge No. 1339 in Pasadena and was a very active member of Arabia Shrine Temple, supporting the Shriner’s Hospitals for many years.

In 2011, Bill and Naomi moved to his mother’s property in Cleveland, Texas after her death, and lived there until Naomi’s death in 2016, then moved to Nacogdoches, Texas to be closer to their daughter.

Bill loved the Lord and his family more than anything, tried his best to be a good father, grandfather, uncle and son to his mother. He was our “go-to” and “fix it” guy and could build, fix or figure out anything that was broken or needed to be built.

His main hobby after moving to Cleveland was raising donkeys who didn’t know they were donkeys, but thought they were just big pets. He used to treat them every morning with a bag of “day old bread.” They would circle around and eat from his hand as much as we would give them.



Siblings: Sister-Renie Simmons & husband- Mike (Call, Texas)

Nephews: Rusty Whitton & 3 children
Will Simmons

Children: 2
William (Bill) Whitton, Jr. & wife Leola (Pasadena, Texas)
Cassandra Whitton Prestwood & husband Dwayne (Nacogdoches, Texas)

Grandchildren: 5
Rhonda Ann Stevenson & husband David (League City, Texas)
Mona Jordan & husband Brian Miller (League City, Texas)
Alicia LeMarie & husband Steven (Deer Park, Texas)
Stacey Prestwood (Sagemont, Texas)
Russell Prestwood (Conroe, Teas)

Great Grandchildren: 8
Garrett Lewis & wife Stefanie (League City, Texas)
Mason Sword (League City, Texas)
Cassandra Young (League City, Texas)
Miranda Jordan (League City, Texas)
Maegan Jordan (League City, Texas)
Daniel Prestwood (Sagemont, Texas)
Taylor Prestwood (Austin, Texas)
Austin Prestwood (Conroe, Texas)

Great Great Grandchildren: 5
Stevie LeMarie, Gavin LeMarie, Trenton Lewis, Kole Lewis & Kannon Lewis.

Bill is preceded in death by:
Wife: Naomi Elizabeth Whitton
Mother: Mary Ware
Father: Bonner C. Whitton
Brother: Jimmie Ray Whitton
Nephew: Randal C. Whitton