William Routh, II

William Bill Thomas Routh II passed on May 11, 2014 in his home on the Llano River surrounded by his loving children. He was born March 10, 1942 in Ballinger, TX to Margie and Harold Routh. He is preceded in death by his parents and wife.
Bill graduated from Ballinger High School in 1960. After High School, he proudly enlisted in the United States Navy where he studied Communications at the US Navy Electronics Technician A School, served on board the USS Capricornus AKA57, and earned the rank of Petty Officer 2nd Class.

After receiving an Honorable Discharge from the Navy, some of the various occupations he had included being a test driver for Firestone and an electrician in Monahans, where he met and married to love of his life, Vinita in 1970.
He was an undying patriot who instilled pride in country and Texas, and his love for God, to all of his family and friends.

He loved the Llano River that he called home with his wife Vinita from 1976 until his death. Bill worked in the oil and gas industry until he retired in 2009, but his heart was always at home where he and Vinita raised their children in a home they actually built together out of river rock. He was famous for his ability to out work any man 20 years younger, his work ethic, and the impeccable care he took for things he had. He loved the land he called home and spent his free time working on improvements, golf cart paths, building picnic tables, working on his dream car red corvette, riding his Harley, feeding hummingbirds, teaching his grandkids how to track wildlife and skip rocks, and watching the river rise with his beloved dog Pete.
Those who knew him closely were often surprised with crazy gifts and practical jokes, such as putting a stop light on his dirt road and a parking meter at his home. He instilled in his children and grandchildren the value of the simple things in life, like how to walk on tin can stilts, the latest technology in tin can cellphones, always being on time to pick them up at Yates Crossing from a canoe ride, the joy of searching for arrow heads at the Indian mound, and never giving up on floating docks no matter how many times the Llano tried to wash them away. He loved to laugh, he loved his family, and you would often catch him with a cup of coffee and looking off into the distance grinning with simple satisfaction, peace, and gratitude for the life he and Vinita built together.

Those left to honor and cherish his memory include two brothers, Steve Routh and wife Dottie of Ballinger and Gene Routh and wife Lena of Colorado, his children, Charles Jackson Crites Jr. of Junction, Cindy Mathis and husband Nathan Mathis of Snyder, Curtus Crites and wife Samantha Crites of Junction, Charla Crites Putnam of San Angelo and Christopher Crites of Live Oak. His grandchildren, Misty Muesing, Heath Mathis, Aubrey Mathis, Levi Putnam, Brandy Sparks, Cole Williamson, eight great grandchildren, one greatgreat grandchild due in July of this year, and countless friends near and far. We will greatly miss our Dad, Granddad and friend. We are certain Mom has already created a honeydo list and is waiting for him in Heaven to get started.

Graveside services will be held 10:00 AM, Wednesday, May 14, 2014 at London Cemetery with Chris Crites officiating. ation will be held 6:307:30PM, Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at Kimble Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Steve Routh, Curtus Crites, Nathan Mathis, Chris Crites, Levi Putnam, and Cole Williamson. Honorary Pallbearers will be Rob Roy Spiller, Jack McKinney, Jerry Kirby, and Billy Harris.

Memorials may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or Gentiva Hospice.

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