William Henry Bertholf

William Henry Bertholf passed from this life on Sun. April 15, 2018. He was born July 29, 1942 in Miami, FL to James Fisk and Iris (nee Joullian) Bertholf. He grew up in Ft. Lauderdale with a passion for scuba diving and track. He graduated from Stranahan High School in 1960 and attended the University of Florida in Gainesville on a hurdling athletic scholarship. He was a Vietnam Era Army veteran and traveled in Europe, living in Germany and England, where he met his wife of 51 years, Eileen Anne (nee Jennings). The couple had a daughter Victoria in England and moved to Florida in 1969, where their son Simon was born.

While in Key Largo Florida, Bill had a concrete dock construction company and later worked at Cape Kennedy Space Station, where his father was an engineer on the Apollo Program. In 1976, the family moved to Alice, Texas where Bill learned about Oilfield Gumbo and then became a manager for Totco in Victoria, TX and Oilfield Service Provider. The family relocated to the Victoria area where Bill spent his spare time hunting, fishing, umpiring Little League and softball games, and refereeing High School football games. He was Scout Master of BSA Scout Troop 363 for seven years thru Aloe School. Bill also worked for Dollar General for seven years as a store opener, setting up stores all over the United States. After retirement, he worked for the 2010 Census Bureau and part time at Alamo Lumber in Cuero. He also took up making jellies and jams, walking canes, and enjoyed going to markets and going birding with his wife, as well as traveling the country by train visiting his children and grandchildren and exploring his family history. For 10 years he was Santa Claus at Cuero Nursing Rehab Center, visiting the residents on Christmas Day. He has been involved with the Dewitt County Vietnam Veterans Association where he served as President for the past two years.

Bill is survived by his wife Eileen Bertholf of Yorktown, his two children Victoria Melius of Fond du Lac, WI, Simon Bertholf of Chesapeake, VA, his sister Roberta Stoner of Merritt Island, FL and six grandchildren Taylor Bertholf, Logan Melius, Sheianne (Chase) Nichols, Mason Melius, Austin Croft and Alexander Bertholf.

A celebration of Bill’s life will take place on Friday April 20, 2018 from 6-8 pm at Massey Funeral Home in Yorktown.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that you make a donation to your local Boy Scout Troop or Veterans Organization two things Bill was passionate about.

You are invited to sign the online guest book at www.masseyfh.com.

Arrangements made by Massey Funeral Home, Yorktown, TX 361-564-2900.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of William Henry Bertholf, please visit our floral store.