William Edward Gildner

ARLINGTON -- William Edward Gildner, beloved husband, dad and granddad, age 84, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 19, 2012, at an Arlington hospice. Funeral: 11 a.m. Friday, April 27, at St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church, 1200 S. Davis Drive, Arlington. Interment: Moore Memorial Gardens, Arlington. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Wade Family Funeral Home, 4140 W. Pioneer Parkway, Arlington. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, gifts in Bill's name to charities he was involved with, or to a charitable choice of your own, would be deeply appreciated. Bill was born April 8, 1928, in Bloomington, Ill., to George and Mae Gildner. He was captain of both the football and basketball teams in high school but a later shoulder injury cut short those interests. He attended Illinois Wesleyan University and graduated from DePauw University in 1949 with a bachelor of arts degree and a major in economics. A uniform was next on his list! During Bill's Army service in the Korean War, he met Mary Bernice Hatton of Ranger. They were married Oct. 27, 1951, in Carmel, Calif. Bill became a State Farm Insurance agent in Fort Worth in 1953. In 1955, he established the first Arlington agency and by 1961, he became the district agency manager for Tarrant County. His CLU financial degree and chartered consulting degree were among many honors he received in helping build State Farm Southwestern key teams. His agency was one of the top agencies in the company in both production and profit. He retired in 1995. His dedication to his church, St. Maria Goretti, and Catholic Charities, at home and abroad, are well known. He could often be found on Sundays taking communion to those unable to attend Mass. He was a member of the Arlington Downtown Rotary Club for 32 years, Serra International, and was a past president of Catholic Charities in Fort Worth, the Great Southwest Assn. Of Life Underwriters and Director of Arlington Savings & Loan. Bill and his wife built their home overlooking the Shady Valley Golf Club in Arlington and were active members of the club, also St. Maria Leisure Club, Bailando Dance Club and Arlington Arts League. "Grandad Bill" was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, George Gildner; and a grandson, Erik Gildner. Survivors: His wife of 60-plus years, Bernice; son, Michael Ray Gildner; daughter, Lisa Anne Leito and husband, Gary; Bill's sister, Rita Arnold of Milwaukee, Wis.; and six grandchildren, Brenton, Kelsey and Kayce Gildner and William Chad, Jason Richard and Patrick Ray Leito. Wade Family Funeral Home Arlington, 817-274-9233