Gainesville - Eddie Wayne "Willie" Willingham stepped peacefully from this life into eternity on November 1, 2025. An adventurous life of 96 years began with his birth at Shamrock, TX, on May 14, 1929, to James Elkins Willingham and Lutie Ulmo Lyle Willingham. After spending his early childhood and teen years in the panhandle of Texas, Willie joined the Navy at the age of 17, serving two years aboard the USS Mosopelea ATF-158 and earning the WWII Victory Medal.

After returning home from the service, he went to work for the Halliburton Oil Servicing Company. A short time later he met and married Billie June Plumlee on July 5, 1948, following a three week courtship. Over the course of the next 77 years, they would live in five different states, spending a large amount of time in the Rocky Mountains of Wyoming and Montana before retiring and settling back in North Texas.

After returning to North Texas, Willie wasn't content to sit idle but bought property just outside of Callisburg and opened the Rock Creek Store and gas station, serving the area for several years before a tornado forced him into retirement again. This lasted only for a short time. In his late 60's, he earned his real estate license and sold property for over a decade before once again retiring.

Throughout their lives, Willie and Billie owned and flew a plane and had motorcycles, snowmobiles, boats, and motorhomes. They traveled, camped, boated, snow skied and snowmobiled from the Alaskan peninsula to the Gulf of Mexico. Somehow they also managed to raise a family of four sons and one daughter.

Willie was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, J.L. and Delton; two sisters, Wenonah and Jewel; his son, James Earl; his grandson, Daniel Wayne; and his daughter-in-law, Kim.

He is survived by his wife of 77 years, Billie June Plumlee Willingham; daughter Donna Elaine Craine and husband Jim of Longmont, Colorado; son Byron Wayne Willingham of Rock Springs, Wyoming; son Benjamin Carl Willingham and wife Brenda of Callisburg, Texas; son Mitchell Ryan Willingham and wife Heather of Gainesville, Texas; daughter-in- law Leslie Willingham of Gainesville, Texas; and brother Ben Willingham and wife June of Fredricksburg, TX.

He is also survived by nine grandchildren, seventeen great- grandchildren, one great-great- grandchild, dozens of nieces, nephews, church family, and friends.

Known as "Willie" to many friends and associates, "Hinky" to nieces, nephews and extended family, and "GGPA" to those closest to him, he leaves a space in every heart that loved him that won't soon be filled.

There will be a memorial service on Saturday December 6, 2025, at the Callisburg Church of Christ at 11:00am.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Callisburg Church of Christ building fund or the Alzheimer's Association.

The family would like to thank Concho Hearts Hospice and the nurses and staff of the Whitesboro Health and Rehab facility for all the love and comfort they gave in his final months.

You may register condolences online at www.geojcarroll.com.