Lutz "Bill" William Harper

Graveside funeral services celebrating the life of Lutz William “Bill” Harper, of Pottsboro, are scheduled for Tuesday, December 13, 2022, at the Bolivar Cemetery in Bolivar, Texas.  A viewing is planned from 6 PM to 8 PM on Monday, December 12, 2022, at the Geo. J. Carroll Funeral Home in Gainesville, Texas.

Bill passed away at his residence on December 7, 2022.  He was born April 4, 1954, in Kaiserslautern, Germany, and became a United States citizen in 1963.  As a child Bill travelled with his mother and father, Edith Ann Mangold Harper and William Bryan Harper, as they resided in Spain, various parts of the United States and Germany.  Bill graduated from Kaiserslautern American High School in Kaiserslautern, Germany, subsequently enlisting in the United States Air Force where he served honorably for 4 years.  Following his service, Bill worked for Mobil Oil, Dallas, Texas, on a naval vessel conducting seismic research in all parts of the world including France, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Madagascar, and the Netherlands.  He and his father-in-law, Stephen M. Cole, co-owned North Texas Tire and Auto in Gainesville, Texas.  Until his retirement in 2016, Bill worked at Weber Aircraft, Southeastern Freight Lines, and Central Freight Lines.

Bill married Veronica Cole at the Naval Air Station in Grand Prairie, Texas, in 1982.  The couple raised two sons.  Throughout his life Bill was always willing to lend a helping hand and made long, enduring friendships. His father-in-law, brother-in-law Steve (Cowboy) and Jeff Harris had  a very special place in Bill’s heart.  He had a wonderful sense of humor, and was an outstanding son, husband, father, son-in-law, father-in-law, and PePa.

He is preceded in death by his mother, father-in-law, and brother-in-law Stephen D. Cole.

Bill is survived by his wife Veronica, son and daughter-in-law William Cole Harper and Sharon Harper of Keene, Texas, son and daughter-in-law Daniel Scott Harper and Dawndi Harper of Whitesboro, Texas, grandchildren Kaelynn and Hayes Harper, and through marriage grandkids Tayton Mackenzie, Cora Adams, Abby Townsend, and Aliveah Heard, mother-in-law Sylvia Cole, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Ben and Nancy Cole of McKinney, Texas, and Bobby and Rhonda Cole of Sadler, Texas.

Pallbearers are William Harper, Daniel Harper, Jeff Harris, Kevin Cole, Ben Cochran, and Sam Adams.  Honorary pallbearer is Loren Davis.