William Bryan Hightower

William Bryan Hightower departed this life and entered into the loving arms of the Lord on November 14, 2017. A memorial service will be held Thursday, November 16, at 2:00 p.m., at Saint Martin’s Episcopal Church, 717 Sage, Houston Texas 77056. A graveside service will be held Friday, November 17, at 11:00 a.m., at Oakwood Cemetery, 2124 South 5th Street, Waco, Texas 76706. Bill was born in Waco to Bryan Jennings and Emma Pfaeffle Hightower on September 26, 1932. He attended Waco High School, where he excelled at golf and played football. Upon graduation, Bill spent two years as a member of the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M University in College Station. He was gratified when his father permitted him to return to Waco to attend Baylor University, where he became a lifelong Baylor Bear fan. It was at Baylor that Bill met the love of his life, Dorothy Covington, and they were married on July 17, 1954. Following graduation from Baylor, Bill joined the United States Air Force as a Second Lieutenant and was stationed in Mobile, Alabama, where their first son, Richard, was born. It was there that Bill developed a love for planes and flying. He always said the most beautiful part of flying was the final approach. Bill then joined Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in management positions in Midland and Fort Worth. He later joined his father-in-law, Tom Covington, in the family casket manufacturing and distribution business, Dixie Casket Company, where he remained until his retirement in 1997. Bill was an active member of the Executives Association, which met on Tuesday mornings at River Oaks Country Club, where many life-long friendships were formed. One of Bill’s greatest joys was driving up to “Benny’s Fence Line” at his Hill Country hunting lease, “Cherokee Creek,” with his brother Jack, and the other members. Cherokee Creek was a place to get away with dear friends, children and grandchildren to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation and develop deep and meaningful relationships. Bill also loved the game of golf and spent many hours on the course with his friends and family. Bill was predeceased by his parents; wife, Dorothy; and brother, Jack. He is survived by his son, Richard Wesley Hightower of Houston and his wife, Gayle Coolidge Hightower, and their children, Jennifer Hightower Monteleone and her husband, William Attaway Monteleone III, and their children, William Attaway IV and Addie Coolidge, and Richard Wesley Hightower, Jr., and his wife, Emily Songy Hightower, and their new child, Bryan Bullock; his daughter, Gayle Hightower Durie and her husband, John Pate Durie of Houston and their children, John Pate Durie II, Laura Elizabeth Durie and William Thomas Durie; and his son, Kenneth William Hightower of Austin and his partner, Melinda Montgomery. The family invites you to leave a message or memory on our “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com.