Billy Joe Robertson

Billy Joe Robertson passed peacefully to heaven’s glory on Friday evening, March 1st with his family gathered at his side.

A long-time resident of Arlington, Texas, Billy Joe was born on a farm in Hughes County, Oklahoma near Holdenville on November 29, 1934, to parents Troy David Robertson and wife Flossie. Billy was preceded in death by his parents and brothers; Troy David Junior, Theodore Carl, and Donald, and survived by brothers Roy Dean, and Jerry Lynn.

Billy was the husband of Dolly Berniece Robertson and loving father of six daughters and two sons, and he was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Dolly Berniece “Niecey” Robertson, and daughter Mary Patricia. He is survived by daughter Roberta Jo Govoni and son-in-law Peter, son Billy Raymond and daughter-in-law Lisa, son Stephen Paul and daughter-in-law Christy, daughter Kathryn Berniece Cox and son-in-law Philip, daughter Rebecca Lynn Pruneda and son-in-law Christopher, daughter Christa Renee Nguyen and son-in-law Hoang, daughter Angela Dawn Wilson and son-in-law Justin.

Billy’s love for his children reached a whole new level when he assumed the role of “Papa”. “Papa’s” grandchildren are; Katie Marie Govoni, Jarod Brandon Robertson, Jaclyn Louise Taylor, Sara, Allison, Rachel, Robert David Vaughan, Zachary Nathaniel Vaughan, Jessica Renée Pruneda, Joseph Enemencio Pruneda, Austin Jacob Pruneda, Lydia Marie Pruneda, Victoria Xuan Nguyen, Matthew Hoang Nguyen, Jonathan Trung Nguyen, Jared Allen Wilson, Wesley Monroe Altman, Zephaniah Justin Wilson, Azariah Stephen Wilson, and great-grandchildren Jarod Brandon Robertson Jr, Jake Arthur Robertson, Anthony Raymond Coronella, Lila Louise Taylor, Ryder Natas Lyons, Liliana Nyx Lyons, Artemis Monroe Altman, and Jett.

In addition to his own children and grandchildren, Billy “adopted” everyone who needed his influence in their life, and they were always welcome to family gatherings at holidays and family celebrations. A prayer of blessing was said before every family meal, and everyone joined hands in a circle with everyone equally loved and equally cherished.

Billy served a long and distinguished career in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a Systems Engineer from 1964 until his retirement, playing an instrumental role in the adoption of computer–based air traffic control and continuing this work as a private contractor on the implementation of the next generation of computers developed and installed by the FAA. Billy’s career in the FAA followed four years of service as a Communications Technician in the US Navy from 1953 to 1957 and several years as a licensed electrician in Little Rock, Arkansas. Billy was a member of ETA KAPPA NU Association, the Honor Society for Electrical and Computer Engineering.

In his youth, Billy worked as a farm/ranch worker in Oklahoma, New Mexico, California and Arkansas, then worked in a tractor dealership in Van Buren, Arkansas, the US Navy based in Adak, Alaska and Washington DC, Ward’s Ice Cream Company and Dixie Cup Company in Fort Smith, Arkansas, Joiner Electric and the FAA in Little Rock, Arkansas, the FAA training center in Oklahoma City, OK, and the Regional Air Traffic Control Center in Fort Worth, Texas. As a private contractor Billy traveled to the majority of the Regional Control Centers throughout the country. In addition to his professional duties, he was a skilled craftsman in roofing, carpentry, concrete work, plumbing and irrigation, car repair, appliance repair and anything else that may need to be fixed or built. Anyone, be it family, friend, or stranger, that needed his help, Billy was “all in” until the job was finished.

Billy and Niecey were longtime members of Arlington First Church of the Nazarene. For Billy “church family” was truly “family” and he treasured his time, his friends, his pastors, serving the church, being served a cup of coffee and a good meal, driving a bus, getting and giving hugs, getting a nap, worshiping in song, and most of all, always growing in his faith. Billy’s faith was never cluttered up with a lot of words but ran deep and true. His faith was anchored in his relationship with God and knowing Jesus Christ as his savior. The greatest love that was first shown to him overflowed into his love for others in kind words, deeds, and generous service.

Acts 11:24 “For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.”

Billy was a man of great adventures and the best stories. From Yellowstone to Paris, to Venezuela, from The Alaskan Highway to Route 66, he loved traveling the world, but believed the “U.S. of A.” was the best and most beautiful corner of it. Billy was never an “old dog” because he always kept learning “new tricks”, be it snow skiing, water skiing (was not pretty), or canoeing white water rapids, Billy was never afraid to tackle new experiences. It was never about the activities themselves, but in spending time and sharing experiences and memories with those he loved so dearly.

A verse that is on Billy’s shared monument with wife Niecey is Isaiah 41:10. “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee, yea I will help thee; yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness” (words underlined were underlined in Niecey’s personal Bible).