March 17, 1934 – July 16, 2023

William Dice “Bill” Burge, 89, of Friendswood, Texas passed away July 16, 2023.  He was born March 17, 1934.

The third child of Ollie and Irene Burge was born in Decatur, Illinois in the middle of the great depression. His family lived in several houses in Decatur as he grew up. As a teenager Bill delivered papers and caddied and served as the youth liaison for the Elders of the local church he attended. He worked summers on construction projects for a contractor friend. He was attending the University of Illinois when he re-met the lady who was to become the love of his life, Nancy Sue McCray. Nancy and Bill were married in Decatur in 1955.

Bill graduated from Millikin University the following January and entered the service. After Basic Training, Bill was assigned to the Army Security Agency (ASA) and forty-seven weeks later, graduated from the Army Language School in Monterrey, California as a Vietnamese Linguist. He was transferred to the National Security Agency (NSA), serving as a crypto-linguist prior to U.S. entry into the Vietnamese war. During his military service, Nancy had two children, Kevin Arthur Burge (1957) who died at birth, and Shelley Sue Burge (1958). He was separated from the Army in 1959, and completed post graduate studies at Loyola University, Northwestern University, and University of Illinois (Chicago). Scott was born in 1961.

The family moved to the suburbs in 1964 and to Ohio in 1967 where Bill was a Systems Manager for R.R.Donnelley followed by computer Services Manager, Manufacturing Superintendent, Manager-New Product Development, and quality Services Manager. While in Ohio he served on the City Council, Personnel Appeals Board, and Airport Overview Board. When Shelley died from being hit by a drunk driver in 1985, Son-in Law, Bernie, Nancy, and Bill formed a two county Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) chapter, where Bill served as President and Spokesperson. In 1987 he developed, wrote the manufacturing plan and expedited the start-up of an off-shore plant in Barbados.

He retired at 57 to Nacogdoches, Texas, where he prepared senior citizen income tax forms (AARP), was elected to the Church Board, became treasurer, then Chairman and served on the "search" committee for a new pastor. He loved Texas and worked with his best friend "punching a cow or three".

In 1998 Bill and Nancy moved to Florida, where he again prepared income tax forms for senior citizens, both for AARP and his local church. He was appointed to the Homeowners Board, where he became President.

In 2007 as their health became suspect, Bill and Nancy returned to Texas to be near Scott's family. Nancy, the love of his life, went to walk with Jesus 2009. His life would never be the same.

The world he lived in was primarily extrovert and Bill was a natural introvert. Only his very closest friends were aware, and some of them were even dubious. Bill was generally the smallest person in any group he was in. He often has said he was never mistreated, abused, or betrayed in his entire life. He took life and location as he found it, loved it, and made it better. He loved every place he had lived and every place he had worked. He could recognize a person who needed a friend, whether they could or not. A ready smile, a gentle greeting, a flash of humor, a stable continence, and respect, over time, began many enduring friendships. Throughout his life, when a person in need called, Bill would say "Here I am.". He never refused to answer a call. Now, Jesus has called, and Bill answered, "Here I am.”

He is survived by his son, Scott, Scott's wife, Nancy, grandchildren Dustin (and wife Jennifer), Grady, and Marissa, and great-granddaughter Evelyn.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy Sue (McCray), his mother, Irene Jones Burge Smelcer, his father, Ollie, his brother, Gerald, sister Ruth Marohl, son, Kevin Arthur Burge, and daughter, Shelley Burge Kessler.