William Louis Tarver

William Lewis (Bill) Tarver, 89, former Midland Fire Marshal, passed away at his home in Rockport, on Thursday, May 13, 2010. The family will receive friends from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. prior to the service at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, May 17, 2010 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Nephew, Rev. Larry Tarver, of Clear Fork Baptist Church will officiate. Burial will follow at 1:00 p.m. at the Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Abilene. Bill was born in Seymour on September 24, 1920, to William Buchanan and Myrtle Mae (Fry) Tarver. He grew up in Crowell and Morton; and in later years lived in Brownwood, Abilene, Odessa, Midland, San Antonio and Rockport. He loved fishing, hunting and dominoes. He was a Baptist. From January 21, 1942 to September 5, 1945 Bill was a Tech Sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II. During his service he received the Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, the Distinguished Unit Citation, the Distinguished Pacific Air Medal with OLC, and the Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal with OLC. Bill married Alyce (Phoebe) Floyd of Dalhart and the couple had two daughters, Cheryl Lynn and Billie Gayle. He coached boys Little League and was PTA President. He graduated from high school in Patton Springs in 1939 and attended Howard-Payne College from 1939 to 1940, and later attended Odessa College from 1969 to 1971. Bill received a degree in Fire Science Technology from Midland College in 1976. He taught Fire Science at Midland College for three years. Bill spent 43 years at the A&M campus as an instructor at the Fire Protective Training Division. He was past VP of the International Association of Arson Investigators, as well as past President of AARP in Rockport. Bill was an active member RSVP. He married Helen Dunagan in Midland on March 19, 1976. They have traveled the world. Their travels have included attending the 50th Anniversary of the 1942 "Battle of the Coral Sea" in Australia in 1992, as well as the 50th Anniversary of The Air Force in Las Vegas in 1997. He was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Cheryl Lynn Smith of Abilene; one sister, Etta Pauline Butler also of Abilene; and his brother, James Foy Tarver of Bedford. Bill is survived by his wife, Helen Tarver of Rockport; his daughter, Billie Gayle Nordmeyer of Dallas; a step-daughter, Linda Campbell and husband Dub of Carrollton; a step-son, Steven Lloyd Dunagan and wife Heather of Midland; six step-grandchildren, seven step-great grandchildren and three step-great-great grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers, Maurice Lindberg (Chuck) Tarver wife Cleta, of Abilene, Joe Leland Tarver wife Nona of Lubbock; his sisters, Effie Inez Craghead of Abilene, Glyna Carmoleta Kretzler and husband Bob of Midland, Elsie Mae Callesen Creasman and husband Dave of North Richland Hills; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Bill's eleven nephews will serve as Honorary Pallbearers.