William (Bill) Frank Hanka
August 24, 1939 – September 28, 2020

William (Bill) Frank Hanka (81) passed away on September 28, 2020 in Humble, Texas. Loving husband, father, brother, uncle, cousin and friend, Bill was born on August 24, 1939 to Roland and Elizabeth Hanka in Houston, Texas. Bill grew up working on the family farm and graduated from M.B. Smiley High School in Houston. In 1957, he met the love of his life Miss Ruby Lee Thomasson from Melville, Louisiana. They were married July 18, 1959 in Melville. Bill and Ruby began their family with the arrival of the daughter Kim Renee and 17 months later their son, Frank Scott. He admire the adults Kim and Frank had become and the life they had created for their own families. Bill was a wonderful provider for his family and worked as an electrician for 50 years with IBEW Local 716, Houston. One of the highlights of his career was assisting in the building of Houston’s Intercontinental (George Bush) Airport as well as many other large civic projects in the City of Houston. He was an excellent electrician and trained many apprentices and journeymen throughout his years.
Bill was an avid fisherman, hunter, gardener and cook, known for his family Fish Frys and amazing barbeques. Whether fishing with family and friends in Galveston Bay, Matagorda, Port Mansfield, or local lakes, Bill usually knew where the fishing were biting, and he would always share his bounty with family and friends hosting large Fish Frys. He was an avid deer hunter prepping his lease throughout the year to be ready for that first Saturday in November! His brisket was some of the best in Texas and Bill cooked for many special occasions including most of the high school and college graduation parties for his nieces and nephews. He was a loving grandfather to his grandchildren, Zachary, Chase, Annabelle Hanka and Ariel, Aarron and Eric Akina. He and Ruby would accompany them on many adventures. He was so proud of their accomplishments. Bill was also a great uncle, taking his nieces and nephews on hunting and fishing expeditions in Texas and Louisiana. He enjoyed visiting family, watching hunting, fishing shows, WWII documentaries and westerns.
Bill is preceded in death by his parents Roland and Elizabeth Hanka, his sister, Leah Miller. He is survived by his wife of 61 years Ruby Hanka, daughter Kim Akina and husband Lot of Houston, Texas, son Frank Hanka and wife, Nancy of Porter, Texas; grandchildren, Zachary, Chase and Annabelle Hanka; Ariel, Aarron and Eric Akina, siblings Eleanor Gordon and Nancy Fabian (Henry) and numerous nieces, nephews, loving cousins and friends.
Bill was a larger than life presence in our lives, he will be greatly missed until the day we can see him again. Services will be held at 2pm on Thursday, October 1, 2020 at Kingwood United Methodist Church, 1799 Woodland Hills Dr., Kingwood, TX 77339. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to the Alzheimer Association (https://act.alz.org/) for Alzheimer and Dementia research.