William Carroll Meads

Following a brief illness, William Carroll Meads, 88, died Wednesday, October 30, 2019 at Scott and White Medical Center in Dallas.
Bill leaves his wife of 65 years, Nita Belle (Watson) Meads, daughters Beverly Carole Day (John) of Abilene and Brenda Kathryn Connell (Mark) of Chicago, his son David Howard Meads and wife Ashley of San Antonio, his sister Jeanette Rychlik of Bryan, brother James Arthur Meads, seven grandchildren: Christin, Amy and Joshua Connell, Sarah and Melissa Day, and Brooke and Andrew Meads, and five great grandchildren.
Born in Marlin, Texas, he was raised in Bryan the son of Rufus Carroll Meads and Lela Lucille
Snider Meads. During his long life, he lived in many other Texas cities and towns but spent his retirement years in Abilene.
In his early years, Bill loved sports and all sorts of outdoor activities. Being born during the Great Depression, his family had little, but, like most of his generation, he made the best of every day with what he had. After graduating from Stephen F Austin High School in Bryan, Bill joined the US Marine Corps. He was stationed on Guam during the Korean Conflict and served with distinction. Upon leaving the Corps, he attended Hardin-Simmons University where he met his future bride. He then also studied at Baylor University and graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth with a degree in Religious Education.
After finishing his seminary studies, Bill served as Minister of Music, Youth and Education at Southern Baptist Churches in Port Arthur, Del Rio, Corpus Christi, Refugio, and Abilene (Southside Baptist Church). In 1986, Bill retired from the ministry to become self employed as a custom remodeling contractor. He eventually retired completely and spent his final years in Abilene.
Bill loved spending time with his family, camping, fishing, hunting and building whatever he set his mind to. He was a true artist with wood. He also loved to sing and used his amazing first tenor voice to offer beautiful worship and praise to our God both in choral and solo capacities. He was a long-time member of the Sanctuary Choir and Men’s Ensemble of Abilene’s First Baptist Church. The family possesses several cherished recordings of musical presentations in which he participated, and those who knew him best can easily pick out his voice on the “high notes”. No doubt, he is now singing again, but this time in Heaven’s massive choir.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, November 5th at First Baptist Church Sanctuary beginning at 10:00 AM with a time of visitation to follow. A private family interment will be held later that day at Elmwood Memorial Park. Condolences may be offered to the family online at www.pbfuneraldirectors.com.