Mr. WILLIAM JOSEPH "Bill" TRICE

FORT WORTH -- Retired U.S. Air Force Col. William J. "Bill" Trice, 94, passed away peacefully Friday, Jan. 16, 2015, at his home surrounded by family. Burial: with military honors at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 23, in Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas. The procession will assemble in Lane C no earlier than 11:15 a.m. A celebration of Bill's life will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, at Genesis United Methodist Church, 7635 S. Hulen, Fort Worth. Honorary pallbearers will be the Moslah Temple Bedouins and Fort Worth Court #32, Royal Order of Jesters. Memorials: Should friends desire, memorials are requested to the Shriners Hospitals for Children or Genesis United Methodist Church. Bill was born Aug. 29, 1920, in El Paso, but grew up in Anna and Westminster. He was the son of Mary Edith Carmichael and Joe Trice. At an early age, Bill knew he wanted to be a pilot. He got that chance after joining the Army Air Corps in 1940. In 1943, after flight training and before deployment to Europe, Bill married his hometown sweetheart, Bonnie Hendricks. This love affair lasted a lifetime. On his 45th mission, July 19, 1944, co-pilot "Billy Joe" Trice's B-24 "Liberator" bomber was hit by flak forcing the crew to bail out over enemy territory. Bill was captured and spent the rest of the war as a POW. He was held in Stalag Luft III and Moosburg International Camp until the camp was liberated April 19, 1945, by Gen. Patton's 3rd Army. In 1949, Bill was sent to Korea where he served again in a war zone. He remained in the Air Force for 32 years, ending his career in Fort Worth as the Air Force plant rep at General Dynamics/F-111 program. Bill retired in 1972 and stayed busy with grandchildren, traveling, fishing, volunteering and partying with family and friends. He became more active in various organizations: Masons, Moslah Temple Shrine, Moslah Bedouins, Jesters, Shrine Crippled Children's Hospital board, Air Power Council, Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery Foundation and as a charter member of Genesis United Methodist Church. Bill will be missed by all who were honored to know him. He lived his life an example to others, with integrity, respect for others, hard work, humor and a love for God, country, family and friends. Special thanks from the family to all doctors, nurses, aides and therapists who cared for Bill. Bill was preceded in death by two grandsons, Robert Trice Blakewell and Jonathan Stewart Trice. Survivors: Wife of 71 years, Bonnie Trice; son, Bill Trice Jr.; daughter, Suzy Blakewell and husband, Bob; daughter, Cindy Mitchell and husband, Bill; grandchildren, Cindy Anne Blakewell and husband, Keith Neagle, Scott Blakewell and wife, Allison, Chris Mitchell and partner, Julia Barth, Michael Mitchell, Brian Mitchell, Tyler Mitchell, Bonnie Azano and husband, Jon, Katie Trice and Matt Trice and wife, Ellen; and great grandchildren, Michael Trice, Rowan Mitchell and Sydney Blakewell. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Mr. WILLIAM JOSEPH "Bill" TRICE please visit our Sympathy Store.