Bill Blythe

Bill Blythe April 4, 1930 - February 5, 2026 We will never forget someone who gave us so much to remember— Billy Gene Blythe, age 95, was born April 4, 1930, in Monticello, Arkansas to E.M. (Elijah) and Gladys Blythe. On the morn of February 5, 2026, when Bill arrived at the pearly gates, St. Peter said, “there are a lot of folks up here because of you—want to meet them”? Bill was saved at age 11 and spent his dash giving his heart, his time, his testimony to everyone he met—stranger or friend alike. If you were a stranger, you weren’t for long. Bill’s enthusiasm for life was contagious and will send ripples forever. Growing up during the Great Depression and WWll, in a home with no electricity or running water, a wood stove for heat, and a coal-oil lamp for studies, Bill considered himself blessed. He often reminisced about how great life was back then. Baseball was his favorite pastime, namely 2nd base, as a young boy and throughout life. The Korean War borrowed Bill from 1950-1954 where he served, with the US Air Force, at Forward Radar Outpost, in Korea, relaying last minute bombing targets to incoming bombers. He was so happy to be able to go back and visit S. Korea much later in life with a group of veterans, where he saw the country with new eyes. His radar training certainly prepared him to seek out lost and hurting souls throughout life, readily giving them direction and hope. Upon return from the war, Bill became a bricklayer, a trade he learned from his father, then a salesmen for Robin Hood Flour Co., and later a supper club manager/owner. Bill met and married his angel, Joyce Clarke, who passed from cancer when their children, Tammy and Tommy, were 2 and 3 years old. Years later, Bill married Mary Watkins, and Wendy was born two years later. After 11 years the marriage dissolved. Since he knew no strangers, Bill’s multi-directional path led to cherished encounters with the likes of Rocky Marciano, Conway Twitty, General Tom Stafford, Gene Hackman, Randy Travis, Zig Ziglar, Kenneth Cooper and so many more. He loved adventure on any scale, even taking up skydiving in his 80’s. In 1976, Bill became the owner of the Baton Rouge Cougars, with the encouragement of Bobby Bragan, in the newly formed National Baseball Gulf Coast League—he was in baseball heaven until the league folded. Bill moved to Dallas, adopted his 2 year old granddaughter, Amanda, who gave him renewed drive and purpose. He started Blythe Asphalt Co., with his son Tommy, and had it into his 90’s. He became a member of First Baptist Dallas and met Zig, who advised him to write a children’s book—so he wrote ‘Percy The Perch’—teaching sweet life principles to children. Bill moved to Plano, TX, served as a door greeter at his local church for 39 years and ‘the oldest known batboy’ for the Prestonwood Christian Academy varsity baseball team, at 85—the team loved him and the example he set. Bible Studies with Tommy Nelson, at Denton Bible Church, every Thursday were a weekly highlight in his later years. In 1998, God’s true calling for his life was revealed on a missions trip, with three other men from church, to the jungles of the Amazon, to complete 3 unfinished churches. Bill was bricklaying again. He returned several times a year, for the next 24 years, until the age of 92, to build churches, sports fields, community centers, water purifiers, and the knowledge of Jesus Christ in the hearts of thousands throughout the jungles of Brazil. Even when he wasn’t physically able to navigate the treacherous Amazon River to visit the people he loved, Bill continued his fundraising efforts until his death. It was his work of heart and his daily motivation. Bill Blythe will be remembered as the ‘Fruits of the Spirit’ in living color…love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. He taught without preaching, loved without condition, and gave without question. His witty jokes, entertaining stories, powerful testimony, work ethic, infectious smile, and helping hand will be sorely missed—call him at 2:00 am and he would tell you he was already up! Bill’s passion and hobby was collecting friendships. A.A. Milne wrote, “how lucky we’ve been to have someone that makes saying goodbye so hard”. Bill enriched our lives at every turn. He made us laugh often saying in his waning years that he wasn’t old and worn out, but makes sure he’s nowhere near the curb on trash days! Our greatest tribute to him is gratitude, not grief. It is so fitting that the last item on Bill’s Bucket List of January 2016, was ‘Go To Heaven: Thank You, Jesus’. No doubt, Bill Blythe will be met with open arms and the much anticipated sound of the Lord’s voice saying, “well done my good and faithful servant”. Bill is predeceased by his wife, Joyce, his father and mother, his brother, Elijah J. Blythe, and his grandson Preston. He is survived by his children: Tommy Blythe, Tammy Blythe (Don Kirkwood), Wendy Blythe-Hudgins, Amanda Blythe (Anuj Sheth), and step-daughter Chris Scanlon. Also, he is survived by his grandchildren: Brandon, Ciera, Christian, Devin, Sean, Graceson, Landry, and Finlee. Funeral services are pending at this time with details for a man who only lived to serve the Lord being finalized.

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Bill Blythe

April 4, 1930 - February 5, 2026