Billy Birdsong

Funeral services for Billy H. Birdsong, age 81 of Sulphur Springs will be held at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, March 15, 2015 at First Baptist Church Sulphur Springs - Spence Chapel with Rev. Fred Lewis officiating. Visitation will be held at 1:30 p.m., prior to the service at the chapel.

Bill passed away on Wednesday, March 11, 2015 in Tyler. He was born in Mt. Vernon on November 14, 1933, son of John and Nellie (Moore) Birdsong. He married Monica Birdsong.

He was a graduate of Texas Tech University, served proudly in the Navy, as a fire control technician, served on the aircraft carrier USS Lake Champlain along with several other Navy vessels. He was honorably discharged in 1961. Bill was also known as for his love of automobiles. He owned and operated various automotive businesses in Waco and Sulphur Springs, the latter of which was Birdsong Brake and Alignment. He taught automobile mechanics at Texas State Technical College in Waco, mathematics at Robert E. Lee High School in Tyler, Lubbock Monterrey High School and various Sunday School classes at the church. He was an active member at First Baptist Church Sulphur Springs and was previously an active member with First Baptist Church Elm Mott.

Survivors include wife, Monica Birdsong; three sons, Lindsey Birdsong and wife, Lynette of Tyler, Keith Birdsong and wife, Leigh of Plano, Brad Birdsong and wife, Luci of Lubbock; one sister, Helen Mann of Sulphur Springs; six grandchildren, Nichole Birdsong, Erin Birdsong, Jordan Birdsong, Chase Birdsong, Elissa Birdsong and Shelby Birdsong.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Eugene Birdsong and David Birdsong and two sisters, Hazel Neumann and Movalynn Fildes.

Memorials can be made to the charity of your choice or to the J.L. Gulley, Jr. Texas Tech Scholarship Fund at East Texas Communities Foundation (www.etcf.org).