Sherman- Charles W. "Bill" Estes went home to be with his Savior, Jesus, Friday March 26, 2010. Bill had fought a brave battle with cancer for two years.
He leaves behind his wife, Kay, and son, Chad Estes; parents, Charles & Mildred Estes; cousins, Bill Mitchell, Ed Hart, Ted Rozsa, Ruth Ann Rayner, Mary Lil Coquet, Margaret Ann Yocum, and Margaret McCord (of Sherman) and one aunt, Lola Rozsa. Bill also left behind his mother-in-law, Hazel Higgins, brother-in-law, Kent Higgins, and three nephews, Brandon Higgins, Clifton Higgins, and Jared Higgins.
Bill was a member of Legacy Bible Church in Sherman.
Bill Estes was born in Denton, Texas on July 3, 1942. He graduated high school from Whitesboro, Texas in 1960. He was a 4 sport letterman and won the district tennis doubles championship his senior year.
Bill went to North Texas University, lettering in college freshman basketball, and earning his BS and Masters Degrees from the university. He worked as a student fireman in Denton his sophomore through senior years at NTSU. He belonged to Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.
In 1968, Bill met his wife Kay, and they were married on June 20th 1968 at First Baptist Church in Dallas. Bill joined the Air Force in 1968 and went to pilot school at Enid AFB Oklahoma. He was stationed in various bases in Florida, Virginia, and Oregon and finished his AF career in Diyarbakir, Turkey.
Bill pursued a coaching and teaching career. Bill & Kay and their son, Chad moved to Sherman in 1976 for Bill to teach and coach. He was head basketball coach from 1979-1984. His teams reach the play-offs twice. He also was head basketball coach at Kaufman, Pittsburg, and Crowley until 1968.
He retired from coaching to continue teaching science at the high school as head of the science department until his retirement in 1996. He and his wife Kay operated the Book Rack for 27 years until 2008.
In retirement Bill enjoyed being with his family, watching sports, playing bridge with friends and being with his golfing buddies.
Services were at 3:00 PM Tuesday March 30 at Covenant Presbyterian Church. Burial will follow at West Hill Cemetery. Pallbearers are Tommy Hudspeth, Larry Edwards, Jerry Cantrell, Charles Byler, Dick Swetnam, Scott Charlton, Dr. Al Hambrick, Frank Harris, and Charles Hall. Visitation will be 6-8 PM Monday night at Waldo Funeral Home.
If desired, in lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Sherman Boys and Girls Club, the Sherman High School Boys Basketball Program, Legacy Bible Church building fund, or the charity of your choice.