William Nolen Herrington, Jr., 89, of Woodville, Texas passed away Wednesday evening, April 27, 2022 of complications of COPD and Covid-19. William Nolen, or Bill as he was called, was born in Merryville, Louisiana on January 6, 1933 to William Nolen Herrington Sr. and Bertha (Hanks) Herrington. Bill was a loving Husband, Father, Uncle, Grandfather, Great Grandfather and good friend to so many. He served and was a Master Sergeant in the United States Air Force, Strategic Air Command as a B-49 Mechanic during the early cold war years. He then returned to Gulf Oil, where after 30 years of service, he retired and moved from Groves to Town Bluff near Woodville, Texas.
Bill loved to travel, spending a great deal of time in Lake George, Colorado and the west with his wife Georgia Ruth (Hoffman) Herrington, originally of Minnesota and Montana. Bill met and married Georgia, or Ruth as she is known, sometime after the loss of his first wife, Elsie Ann (Schneider) Herrington in 1991. Elsie and Bill had four sons, William Nolen Herrington III, of Milton Freewater, Oregon, David Brian Herrington of Canyon Lake, Texas, Mark Kevin Herrington (deceased) and Douglas Brent Herrington of San Marcos, Texas. Bill’s three surviving sons are all graduates of Texas A&M University, of which he was very proud. Bill is also survived by his aunt, Libby Quant of Houston, and his stepson, Jerry Hoffman of Jasper, Texas and his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Bill loved exploring our nation with his sons in their early influential years and with those adventures opened a world of opportunity to them. As a Machinist for Gulf Oil (later Valero), there was little that he could not create or fix and so he loved being outside in the shop with endless projects. He loved hunting, fishing, the quiet of the East Texas woods and spending time with family and friends.
His sons describe their dad as someone that was quiet, yet could fill the room, as strong as only a father could be and always inspired them to do their best, be kind and live with dignity. His wife Ruth smiles when she talks of him, because of the wonderful years of life that they shared together.
A gathering of family and friends for a graveside service and interment will be held at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Nederland, Texas, at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 3, 2022 under the direction of Melancon's Funeral Home in Nederland. A prayer will be conveyed, and a flag will be presented in honor of Bill’s military service, all are welcome to attend. At a date, time, and location to be determined, Ruth and Bill’s sons will hold a celebration of life to remember and tell of the adventures that this incredible man brought to the people he loved and the friends that he held true. An announcement will be forthcoming. For now, we will see Bill on his next journey and hold all of those memories close in our hearts.
In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital or to the American Lung Association.