March 3, 1946 – January 25, 2024
William “Bill” Thayne Wilcox,77, passed away unexpectedly, but peacefully in his sleep early Thursday morning, January 25, 2024. He passed from a presumed heart attack with his loving wife, Kathy, by his side at their Friendswood, Texas home. Bill was born in Memphis, Tennessee to parents LeRoy Almon Wilcox, MD and Mary “Polly” Parrott, and moved at age 1 to Palacios, Texas. He is a 1965 Clear Creek High School graduate and also attended Lee College in Baytown, Texas.
Bill and Kathy met when he moved from Palacios, Texas after Hurricane Carla destroyed the Wilcox home. The Wilcox family moved to Timber Cove, Seabrook, Texas in 1961. The two families became fast friends and Kathy always considered Bill her “big” brother until she realized their friendship had grown into much more. After a heart-wrenching farewell at Hobby Airport and Bill’s departure to Vietnam their relationship grew through the year-long correspondence while he was deployed. Shortly after his return to the states and eventual honorable discharge from the Army in 1969 at Fort Carson, Colorado Springs, Bill moved back to Seabrook. Bill’s military service was with the 25th Infantry Division, MP Colonel, and the 147th National Guard. Bill and Kathy married at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Nassau Bay on January 23, 1970.
Upon his return to Seabrook Bill rejoined the Seabrook Volunteer Fire Department and became reemployed by the NASA Fire Department. He had previously been with both organizations before enlisting in the Army. While patiently waiting to be accepted into the Houston Fire Department, Bill and Kathy’s family grew with the birth of their daughter, Renee. The adventure of his dream career with the Houston Fire Department had begun and continued through the years until his retirement in 2001. He retired as a Captain at HFD’s HazMat Station 22, after also having served at Stations 8, 61 and 29. He was one of the first paramedics in HFD, mostly out of Station 8. Bill also served as Director of the Houston Fire Museum.
Many accolades came Bill’s way as a firefighter, instructor and officer over many years in Seabrook and Friendswood Fire Departments, as well as both Harris and Galveston County Firefighters Associations.
Bill and Kathy were blessed with being able to help build and enjoy a vacation home in Pagosa Springs, Colorado co-owning their beloved barndominium with his wonderful brother-in-law Bill Henry and family. During the late 1990’s while dreaming of completing this mountain home, both Bill and Kathy joined the Pagosa Fire Protection District, meeting and befriending many wonderful Pagosa firefighters. As usual Bill considered it an honor to serve this new community and did so until his death, spending about 6 months of each year there.
Bill was a lifetime member of both the Houston Fire Museum and Commemorative Air Force, I.F.B.A. (International Fire Buffs Association), Military Vehicles Association, Gulf Coast SPAAMFAA, Vet for Vets, Pagosa Fire Department (retired), Pagosa Fire Auxiliary, Friendswood Volunteer Fire Department, Seabrook Fire Department, American Legion, Friendship Veterans Fire Co & Museum, and both Galveston and Harris County Firefighters Associations. Bill was a lifelong collector of fire, military and police patches and badges, antique fire and military memorabilia and apparatuses.
Besides his precious daughters and wife, Kathy, his loves included travel, RVing, Texas and the Gulf Coast, the mountains, his Pugs, and Blue Bell rocky road ice-cream.
Bill was preceded in death by both parents LeRoy & Polly, baby daughter Amanda Polly, brother Leroy A. Wilcox, Jr, brother-in-law Russell J. Henry and sister-in-law Mary Virginia (Tim). He is survived by wife Mary Katherine (Kathy) Wilcox of Friendswood, Texas and Pagosa Springs, Colorado, Mary “Renee” Wilcox, beloved special needs daughter, 54 of Friendswood, Texas, brother Tim Sartwell Wilcox of Alamosa, Colorado, sister-in-law Susan Bentley (Carson) of Horseshoe Bay and San Saba, Texas, brother-in-law Bill Henry (Sharon) of Seabrook, Texas, Pagosa Springs, Colorado and Marathon, Florida, nieces and nephews, Rita Amber Wilcox of Alamosa, CO, Scott Bentley of Bayou Vista and Cedar Park, TX, Tim Bentley (Shauna) of Cedar Park, Texas, Monica Denney (Bryan) of Spicewood, Texas, Nicholas Henry (Laura) of Mandeville, Louisiana, Ryan Henry (Shandel) of Erie, Colorado, Alexis Pendergrass (Austin) of Shiner, Texas, Haley Macin (Roger) of Austin, Texas and many wonderful grand nieces and nephews.
Join us as we pay tribute to the memory of Bill with a heartfelt service, complete with full Firefighter honors, an Honor Guard, and a presence of fire apparatuses. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 31, 2024 at 2:00 P.M. with the funeral service following at 3:00 P.M. at Friendswood Methodist Church, 110 N. Friendswood Dr., Friendswood, Texas 77546 with Rev. Howard Huhn officiating. A reception, which is tentatively planned at Friendswood Volunteer Fire Department Station 1. We will announce further details as they become available.
Interment is planned in Creede Cemetery, Creede, Colorado where his cremains will be buried with baby daughter, Amanda Polly. This will occur sometime in the summer.
7 thoughts on “William "Bill" Thayne Wilcox”
Our hearts are saddened by the passing of Bill. Such a loving person with a great sense of humor, a true loss. Love and prayers to Kathy and Renee ❤️
First met Bill at a Special Friends function,knew then, that he was a good man. So sorry to hear about his passing. Our prayers go out to his family.
Ray, Maria and Melissa Gomez
I met Bill when he and I worked for the NASA fire department in the 60's Great friend, firefighter and great individual. God Speed Bill!
First met Bill when he and I worked for the NASA fire department in the 60's. True friend, great individual, great man!
A great loss for everyone, a very kind person, always with a smile, extremely knowledgeable both on and off the "fire ground", rest in peace Bill … God Speed Bill, your work on earth is done.
Bill was invited to work a daytime shift for the Southeast Vol Fire Dept located in the Sagemont area, just north of Friendswood. He became our first paid daytime firefighter/Paramedic and worked for us part time for many years. He remained a life long friend of SVFD. Our entire department gives our deepest sympathy to Bill's family and the members of the Friendswood VFD. Good Speed Bill, you were truly loved and admired and will be an inspiration for Fire Fighters for years to come.
Love Hugs and Prayers for Bill's Wife and Family. I met Bill while went to HFD Fire Academy in January 1971. Bill was a good friend and A fellow veteran and Firefighter. Rest in Peace My Brother. Thank you for your service.