William Thomas Limer

Bill Limer died at his Arlington, Texas home on October 15, 2022. He was 77 years of age.

Bill was born in the mountains of Las Vegas, New Mexico on July 5, 1945. At an early age, he learned how to contribute to the family by working odd jobs around town. His first job was working in a store at age 6 for 50 cents a day. He washed dishes in a restaurant at age 8, was a bell boy at 10, and had many, many more jobs before entering his career at General Dynamics/Lockheed Martin where he worked as an aircraft assembler and supervisor. Even after retirement, he took jobs as an usher for the Texas Rangers and a concierge for the Dallas Cowboys. He loved working big sporting events and being part of the action. The last few years, he volunteered every Tuesday at Hearts & Hands, serving neighbors who needed help with food or clothing.

He moved around frequently during his school ages. When he first went to school, he was immediately promoted to the next grade because he was one of the few kids who could speak English fluently. He didn’t really start speaking Spanish until he went to school in this new town. He was later fluent enough to translate for people while volunteering at the food pantry, Hearts & Hands. He graduated Stratford High School in 1963 and moved to Fort Worth to continue his education as an electrical engineer. He also attended Arlington State College and Tarrant County Junior College. In Fort Worth, he met Julia Faye McDonald and they were married just 6 weeks later on July 3, 1964 with only $80 in their pocket.

Bill invested a great deal of time and attention to his family. He coached every sport for all three sons for many years. At home, he was sometimes one of the boys, wrestling on the carpet, breaking light fixtures, and playing football in the front yard. He was a champion for the overlooked child. He would invite all the neighborhood kids to participate and made sure that they learned the skills necessary to play ball.

He loved to research topics and learn new things. He started pursuing organic gardening in the 70’s before most people had heard of the term. He employed his boys to dig up his garden every year, and he had a constant supply of smelly stuff coming in to work into the soil. Later, he studied to become a Master Composter and taught classes at the River Legacy Nature Center. He cultivated a backyard full of blackberry plants and invented numerous techniques for allowing people to pick blackberries without getting poked by the thorns.

Making things work was one of his super powers. At work, he submitted hundreds of suggestions to make it faster and cheaper to put aircraft together. At home, he could invent contraptions to make it easier to do his work around the house. In the last few years, he placed chairs around his garden so that he could work, and ropes and pulleys hanging from the trees so he could pull himself up. He could find a way to use almost any piece of recycled material.

He loved keeping track of all of his grandkids. He attended every event he could physically attend. He played with them on their level. He was their biggest cheerleader at every event. When Andrew started having trouble walking due to Niemann Pick disease, he built a bicycle that he could pull behind him. He had Kayla test drive this contraption and she declared it unrideable. Undeterred, he took Andrew on a trip to New Mexico and on a hot air balloon ride. He poured his love out on the grandchildren, and they loved his wacky costumes and Christmas gift giving techniques.

Bill and Julie were long-time members of Woodland West Church of Christ.

Bill was preceded in death by his father Carl Thomas Limer, mother Julia Lavato Limer, brothers Jesse Limer, Roy Limer and Robert Limer, and grandchildren Rebecca Limer, Andrew Limer and Katie Limer.

He is survived by his wife Julie McDonald Limer, sisters Gracie Bennett, Mollie Blackmon and Julie Mae Leal, sister-in-law Kathy Limer, son Scott Limer, son Rick Limer and his wife Teri Limer, son Thad Limer and his wife Leah Limer, and grandchildren Kayla Handlan, Finn Limer, Ethan Limer, Scotlyn Limer, Jensen Limer, Will Limer, Vincent Alvarez, Clayton Riggs and Megan Limer.

A public visitation will be held at Wade Family Funeral Home at 11:00 am on October 24, 2022. A funeral service will begin at 12:00 noon and a graveside service and burial will follow at 2:00 pm at Moore Memorial Gardens. For donations, the Limer family asks that you consider the National Niemann-Pick Disease Foundation (click here to donate), or Arlington Hearts & Hands (click here to donate).