Moll, William "Bill"

1943 ~
 2020

OBITUARY

William Leo Moll (also known as Bill) passed away in Ruidoso, New Mexico on Tuesday, July 7, 2020 at the age of 76. Bill was born in Beaumont, Texas on December 4, 1943, to Leo Aloysius Moll and Lucille Gunn Moll.

He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle, companion and friend to many. Bill especially enjoyed spending time with family & friends, boating, sportfishing, traveling the world, watching grandchildren play at the beach and compete in such sports as sailing and golf, and sharing stories over a cold beer. He spent his retirement years cruising to ports near and far, including several ocean crossings. Bill served proudly in the United States Navy and was a Vietnam Veteran.

Bill enjoyed coaching his children’s sports and nurtured his love for fishing with his children and grandchildren on Galveston Bay, where he resided later in life. He also shared his love for sportfishing, competing with his children in offshore fishing tournaments across the Texas gulf coast out of Freeport and South Padre Island, winning many awards on his sportfishing boat Wahoo. He served on the advisory board of directors of the Texas International Fishing Tournament for 25+ years and was also an early member and club champion of the South Texas Big Game Fishing Club, where he made many lasting friendships.

Bill attended the University of Texas at Austin as part of the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps, where he was extremely active in many student organizations, including being elected to the Student Assembly and President of the Business School’s Student Council; he was also a member of the Texas Silver Spurs, best known as the caretakers of the Longhorn mascot Bevo. Bill graduated UT with a degree in Business Administration and entered the United States Navy in 1965 with the rank of Ensign, stationed out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

He served in the Vietnam War as the Officer in Charge of Patrol Craft Fast 81, also known as a Swift Boat, responsible for patrolling coastal waterways and rivers, as well as inserting teams of special forces. On February 29, 1968, Lieutenant Junior Grade Moll was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” for engaging in armed conflict, capturing one enemy vessel and coordinating the destruction of another.

Bill was promoted to full Lieutenant, serving as Aid to the Admiral, stationed in Monterrey, California, where he earned his master’s degree in Computer Systems Management from the Naval Postgraduate School.

After being honorably discharged from the Navy, Bill and his first wife Mary Moll Darst (the mother of his three children) moved their family to Houston, Texas, where he worked for Arthur Andersen. Upon the death of his brother Jim, Bill took over his brother’s plastics company for several years before opening his own CPA practice. He later served as CFO for longtime client Texas Memory Systems.

In 2002, Bill remarried to the late Kathleen Clemens Moll. Bill and Kathy spent time between South Padre Island and Galveston, always close to the water. They developed a life of cruising, visiting many foreign ports, and often starting with a visit to his daughter in Florida along the way.

For the last three years, Bill shared his life and love for cruising the world with his companion LaDanna Gentry (Lubbock, Texas). They enjoyed spending time together in Galveston, Lubbock, and Ruidoso, where Bill spent his final days.

Bill was preceded in death by his father, Leo, his mother, Lucille, his brother, Jim, and his second wife, Kathy. Bill is survived by his first wife Mary and their three children: Bill Moll, Jr. and wife Mary (Houston, Texas), Robin Moll Meagher and husband Bob (Fort Lauderdale, Florida), and Chris Moll and wife Jacquelyn (Fort Worth, Texas).

He is also survived by his seven cherished grandchildren: Elizabeth, William, Thomas, Joey, Lucy, Christian and Evelyn; two nieces: Marjie & Finley, and one nephew: Jamie.

Bill will be interred with military honors at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Beaumont, Texas, where a private graveside service will be held to celebrate his well-lived life.

For more information on the life of William Moll and to sign the online register book, or to share your condolences with his family, please visit www.mem.com.

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