March 31, 1932 – November 10, 2023

Billy Mac Blunck (known as Bill), aged 91, surrounded by family, passed away in South Houston, Texas, on Nov. 10, 2023. Billy was born on March 31, 1932, the tenth of 10 children born to Edward Madison and Dottie Bringham Blunck. He was born in Clinton, Oklahoma, where his parents owned a professional photography studio.

Preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Dottie Blunck; siblings, Doyle Blunck, Donald Blunck, Judy Russell, Katherine Crisp, Ruthie Blunck, Dottie Flick, Ordie Blunck, Bette Simonds, and Theron Blunck; daughter-in-law, Laura Cannetti; and granddaughter Chasey Cannetti.

Bill is survived by his wife, Lynne, and his children, Donna Sanders and husband Billy of Huntsville, Michael Anthony Cannetti of The Woodlands, Anthony Richard Cannetti and wife Dana of Banks, Or., and William Mark Blunck and wife Judy of Alvin. 8 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; Patricia Hardy and husband Bryan and their children Austin and Landon; Brian Sanders; Taylor Cannetti; Reagan Cannetti; Claire Gump and husband Erik; George Cannetti and wife Hannah; Ashley Newell and husband Nick and their children Hunter, Kendal, Kody, and Kate; Tiffany Rieves and husband Colt and their children Rhett, Reese, and Laurel.

After graduating from Clinton High School in May 1950, he was inducted into the United States Army and mobilized into the National Guard in September of that same year, completing basic training at Camp Polk, Louisiana. From there, he went to Hokkaido, Japan, and was later deployed to Korea from late 1951 to 1952 with the 179th Regiment, 45th Division. They arrived in Pusan, South Korea, via landing barges, then moved up through Seoul and north to Chorwon, near (Old Baldy), where the Division was established. Bill served in Headquarters Company 1 as a field wireman, infantryman, and in other communications roles, receiving a Bronze Star Medal for combat.

Bill’s career with NASA spanned 34 years, including the Mercury, Apollo, and Space Shuttle Missions. During the Apollo years one of his assignments was to be on the team that picked up the astronauts when they splashed down in the ocean. In the testing stages of the Space Shuttle Program, he would fly close to the shuttle in a T-38 chase plane and film the reaction from shuttle pilots of rudders, wing flap positions and landing gear using high speed film cameras (capturing 10,000+ frames per second) that would be used to fine-tune the shuttle’s flying capabilities. In his later years at NASA, Bill was part of the Earth Resources group, where his work took him around the world to capture infrared images of vegetation, water sources, and forest fires, among other subjects. After retiring from NASA in 1987 and enjoying a brief break, he joined Pan-Am at the Johnson Space Center, contributing for a decade in their photography group. Notably, in 1979, he captured aerial images of Alvin's historic flood from an altitude of 10,000 feet.

Bill was an avid bowler. He also loved to play golf. Bill was blessed to serve as an usher for Sunday services and any other way he could serve his church. He was also a member of the Men’s Bible Class. Most of all Bill was a loving Husband, Dad, Grandpa and GGPa. Bill was a caring, generous, loving gentleman remembered by many friends and will be dearly missed by all.

Friends are cordially invited to the visitation with the family on Thursday, December 7, 2023, at 10:00 A.M. at First Methodist Church 611 W. South St.  Alvin, Texas 77511.  The Celebration of Life Service will follow at 11:00 A.M.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Methodist Church.  Condolences may be sent to the family in care of Jeter Memorial Funeral Home at www.jeterfuneralhome.com.