Bill Dendy
Billy Garrel Dendy, 88, of Littlefield, Texas, peacefully passed away on October 15, 2023, surrounded by loved ones.
Bill was born on August 15, 1935, to Gene and Susie Dendy in Breckenridge, Texas. Bill attended all his school years at Breckenridge High School and graduated in 1954. He was a sparkplug for the Buckaroos and won two State Championships in 1951 and 1952. He was a High School Honorable mention halfback in 1953. He was in the first recruiting class of Paul Bear Bryant. He played football at Texas A&M University from 1954-1955. He married Sug Dendy in Moran, Texas, on October 1, 1957. Sug and Bill raised two sons and a daughter. Bill was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1957, where he served most of his time in Germany until 1961. He also played football while in Germany. After leaving the army, he joined Sug and kids in Canyon, Texas, where he played football and earned his degree from West Texas State, now West Texas A&M. After graduation, Bill worked as a coach, educator, and business owner. His first coaching position was in Sundown, Texas, from 1962-1979. During the summers, he worked as a roughneck on the drilling rigs around Sundown and obtained his Master’s Degree in English from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. He was the Head Coach and Athletic Director during his last 8 years at Sundown and had some outstanding teams. After leaving Sundown, Bill and Sug returned home to Breckenridge, where he started an oil-field construction company, Dendy Construction. In 1990, Bill moved to Littlefield to begin the rest of his education career. In his time at Littlefield High School, he was the head coach of the J.V. football team and coach for the high school track team until his retirement in 2009. Bill was passionate about coaching and teaching and loved what he did for a living. His motto was, “If I can just help one boy, and so far, that one boy has not come through yet.”
Bill was predeceased by his parents, Gene and Susie Dendy; siblings, Earl Dendy and Norma Morrow; two sons, Gary Langford and Billy Dendy.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Sug Dendy; sister, Pak Bryant of Graham, Texas; daughter, Pam Dendy Bownds and husband Casey of Littlefield; daughter-in-law, Heather Ruff of Littlefield; granddaughter, Nikki Jones and husband Brad of San Antonio, Texas; grandson, Mike Bownds and wife Kelly of Littlefield; granddaughter, Ashley Douglas and husband Duncan of Tioga, Texas; granddaughter, Kelly Dendy of Littlefield; granddaughter, Lilli Ford of Littlefield; granddaughter, Sherrie Lefevre and husband Brandon of Hamlin, Texas; great-grandchildren, Julie-Ann, Emma, Jonathan, Joshua, Avery, Karli, and Reign; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
A visitation will be held at Hillcrest Funeral Home in Littlefield, Texas, on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Services will be held at Crescent Park Church of Christ in Littlefield on Wednesday, October 18, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., with grandson Mike Bownds officiating. Visitation in Breckenridge, Texas, will be held at Morehart Mortuary on Wednesday, October 18, 2023, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Graveside services will be held at Post Oak Cemetery in Breckenridge, Texas, on Thursday October 19, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. Joint services have been entrusted to Hillcrest Funeral Home in Littlefield and Morehart Mortuary in Breckenridge.
