Billy Joe Paradise

Billy Joe Paradise, 83, passed away peacefully at home and was welcomed by the Lord on Sunday, March 26, 2017. A memorial service will be held on Monday, April 17, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Alban's Anglican Church, 911 S. Davis Dr., Arlington, Texas, with the Rev. V. Stanley Maneikis officiating. Inurnment at St. Alban's Columbarium immediately following the service. Family will greet friends at the church before and after the service, and will also gather afterwards at the home of a family member. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Bill's name to the Optimist Club of Arlington or the American Heart Association. Bill was born July 25, 1933, in Irving, Texas, son of Bonnie and Millie (Sitton) Paradise. He graduated from Irving High School in 1950, was a Golden Glove boxer, and attended Tyler Junior College until joining the U.S. Marine Corps where he served as a sergeant during the Korean War. While working at Vought Helicopter he met the love of his life and married Elizabeth Tarver in 1959. Together they raised five children. Bill retired from American Eurocopter where he worked as a manager in the warehouse and customer support departments. After retiring, he enjoyed working as a crossing guard supervisor for the City of Arlington. Bill was a kind and loving son, husband, father, granddad, friend, and mentor. He was not only devoted to his family, but spent much of his life coaching youth sports in the Arlington community. He began his coaching career in the early 1960s first with cub scout ball, and then with the Optimist Club of Arlington when his sons were old enough to play Little League baseball and Pee Wee football. Coach Paradise naturally brought out the best in every player and was committed to winning, but only with humility. If you knocked someone down, you better lend a hand to help him up. As a result, his Little League and Pee Wee teams captured numerous division and city championships, as well as coveted sportsmanship awards. Bill retired from coaching in 1998, and was duly honored during the Pee Wee city championship game that year for devoting over 35 years to the youth of our community. During those years he proudly coached The Mustangs (Little League), and Pee Wee football teams from Wimbish (Wasps, Wildcats, Warriors), Pope (Panthers), and most notably, the Hill Highlanders where the “Winning Tradition” all began. Coach Paradise touched many lives over the years, spanning four generations; his legacy lives on today. Bill is preceded in death by his parents; his brother, TSgt Charles Paradise; his devoted wife, Liz; and his son, Rob Paradise. Survivors: daughter, Melody Paradise; son, Chuck Paradise and wife, Patsy; sons, Glen and Trace Paradise; daughter-in-law, Vicky Paradise; sister-in-law and niece, Betty and Mandy Tarver. Grandchildren, Christi Perez and husband, Nic; Bridget Potter and husband, Devon; Jason Paradise and wife, Jamie; Justin Paradise; Josh Paradise and wife, Jennifer; Nash Paradise and wife, Jennifer; Keel Mills and husband, Roy; Sawyer and Hunter Paradise; Caitlin Paradise; Tarver and Ainsley Paradise. Great-grandchildren, Nicholas and Mia Perez; Hayden, London, and Dallas Potter; Colten Paradise; Hunter and Ethan Paradise; Nash Paradise II, and Kendall Mills. Bill will be forever remembered, and forever missed.