William E. "Bill" Zeiss

Monday evening, January 7, 2008 during a stay at East Texas Medical Center, William E (Bill) Zeiss, departed from his life on earth and went to be with his Heavenly Father..

Bill was born October 8, 1926 in Brenham, Texas to the late William Henry Zeiss and Gladys May Whitmore. 50 years ago, he made Tyler his home and he is survived by his dear wife of almost 60 years, Patsy Ryall Zeiss. He is also survived by his loving children, daughter Tanya Atwood and husband, Roy Atwood of Tyler, his son, Bill A. Zeiss and wife Leslie Zeiss of Dallas and his daughter Kim Hitt and husband, Terry Hitt of Tyler. The "apples of his eyes" were his precious grandchildren, Britton Atwood of Tyler, Ashley Paulsen of Houston, Taylor Knight of Denver Co. and Parker Cuvelier of Tyler. He was so very proud to now have two great grandchildren as well, Avery Sue Atwood and Roman Reid Knight.

Bill was a graduate of Brenham High School and Blinn Junior College. He attended Texas A&M University before going to East Texas State University, where he received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees.

He was a veteran of the Army, serving in The Philippines in 1946, having obtained the rank of sergeant.

He moved to Tyler in 1957 as manager of the American National Insurance office and was a member of Glenwood United Methodist Church, where he was chairman of the board in 1977 and 2006. He served as a lay delegate for Glenwood UMC to the annual Methodist conference in 1979, 2005 and 2006. Bill attended Bible Study Fellowship for seven years and served as a BSF leader for several of those years as well as serving on the G.R.A.C.E. Emmaus Board for three years.

In 1975, he served as president of the Texas Newspaper Advertising Managers Association and became advertising director of the Tyler newspapers in 1976. In 1984, he was elected to the board of directors of T.B. Butler Publishing Co. Inc.

Bill was very proud of having been a 16-gallon blood donor, most of which was given through the former Stewart Blood Center.

He had been a past officer in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (B.P.O.E.), past president of the Jasper Rotary Club and former member of the Breakfast Optimists Club in Tyler.

Bill can take comfort in knowing that he gave alot more than he took in his lifetime. He was a source of strength and security for so many. He loved his wife and family, friends and relatives, but most importantly his precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. All of our lives have been made better and richer because of him and we look forward to our reunion in heaven with him where our family will once again be complete.

Pallbearers were Roy Atwood, Terry Hitt, Britton Atwood, Taylor Knight, Parker Cuvelier, Mike Paulsen.

Memorials in honor of Bill Zeiss may be made to Compassion International, 12290 Voyager Parkway, Colorado Springs CO, 80921 or www.compassion.com.

Funeral arrangements are scheduled with Stewart family Funeral home.

Funeral services were held at Fairwood United Methodist Church on Old Omen Rd. in Tyler with burial at Ryall Acres Family Cemetery in Jasper, Texas.

For further information or to express condolences visit: www.stewartfamilyfuneral. com