William Eugene Bedinger(668)
William Eugene (Bill) Bedinger was born November 3, 1929 at Weatherford, Texas. His parents were Frank Washington Bedinger and Alba Omelia Mahan. He was educated in the Weatherford public schools, two years in Austin, Texas junior high and graduated from Arlington Heights High School in fort Worth, Texas. Bill took an early interest in aviation and music. As a music student at Hardin Simmons University in Abilene, Texas, he played trumpet and was band manager of the world famous “Hardin Simmons Cowboy Band”. In addition to the cornet, bill was an accomplished organist. In the year 1050 he was a charter member of the Abilene Symphony Orchestra.
Bill volunteered for the U. S. Air Force in September 1951 and served until August 1955. He enlisted in Dallas, Texas and was sent to San Antonio for basic training. After completing basic training he was sent to Robins Air Force Base near Macon, Georgian, and was assigned to a special project as an illustrator draftsman. He next served with the 7th Radio Relay Squadron near Bordeaux, France as an Air force Sargent. He traveled many places in France and Germany installing communications networks. He received an honorable discharge from the Air Force in August 1955.
William returned to Fort Worth and was employed by the Gulf Oil Corporation as a draftsman, but soon returned to his lifelong interest in aviation. Bill was a licensed airplane pilot and went to the Army Primary helicopter school in Mineral Wells, Texas operated by Southern Airways Company with whom he was licensed and employed as an airplane mechanic. He then became a test pilot and was promoted to chief test pilot for the company. He also worked as an agricultural helicopter pilot for a company in Shreveport, Louisiana. On July 30, 1963 while working in Pennsboro, West Virginia Bill was seriously injured when his helicopter crashed. After his recovery, Bill continued his long career as a mechanic, airplane and helicopter pilot in both private and commercial aviation. In 1992 he retired from General Dynamics Corporation of Fort Worth, Texas and returned to Weatherford, Texas.
Bill was a member of the Couts Memorial Methodist Church. He was a devoted student of his Bedinger family relatives and ancestors and carefully compiled a voluminous archive of family history and genealogy through research and personal contact and correspondence with many of his many Bedinger cousins. He volunteered a day each week in the genealogy section of the Weatherford library and assisted many of his townspeople in their quest for their family genealogy. Bill’s first wife, Melverne Onita Pearson, passed way in 1976. He remarried Margaret Charleen Johnson and continued to reside at his rural home near Weatherford, Texas. Bill died December 6, 2002 in Weatherford, Texas.
Bill volunteered for the U. S. Air Force in September 1951 and served until August 1955. He enlisted in Dallas, Texas and was sent to San Antonio for basic training. After completing basic training he was sent to Robins Air Force Base near Macon, Georgian, and was assigned to a special project as an illustrator draftsman. He next served with the 7th Radio Relay Squadron near Bordeaux, France as an Air force Sargent. He traveled many places in France and Germany installing communications networks. He received an honorable discharge from the Air Force in August 1955.
William returned to Fort Worth and was employed by the Gulf Oil Corporation as a draftsman, but soon returned to his lifelong interest in aviation. Bill was a licensed airplane pilot and went to the Army Primary helicopter school in Mineral Wells, Texas operated by Southern Airways Company with whom he was licensed and employed as an airplane mechanic. He then became a test pilot and was promoted to chief test pilot for the company. He also worked as an agricultural helicopter pilot for a company in Shreveport, Louisiana. On July 30, 1963 while working in Pennsboro, West Virginia Bill was seriously injured when his helicopter crashed. After his recovery, Bill continued his long career as a mechanic, airplane and helicopter pilot in both private and commercial aviation. In 1992 he retired from General Dynamics Corporation of Fort Worth, Texas and returned to Weatherford, Texas.
Bill was a member of the Couts Memorial Methodist Church. He was a devoted student of his Bedinger family relatives and ancestors and carefully compiled a voluminous archive of family history and genealogy through research and personal contact and correspondence with many of his many Bedinger cousins. He volunteered a day each week in the genealogy section of the Weatherford library and assisted many of his townspeople in their quest for their family genealogy. Bill’s first wife, Melverne Onita Pearson, passed way in 1976. He remarried Margaret Charleen Johnson and continued to reside at his rural home near Weatherford, Texas. Bill died December 6, 2002 in Weatherford, Texas.