William R.. "Bill" Westbrook

A  Mass of Christian burial for Mr. William R. “Bill” Westbrook Tuesday October 31, 2017 at 10 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church of Jefferson with Father Joseph M. Nasser SJ officiating. Interment will follow at Oakwood Cemetery under the direction of Haggard Funeral Home. There will be a visitation from 5-6 p.m. followed by a Wake from 6-7 p.m. Monday at Haggard Funeral Home of Jefferson, TX.

William Ronald "Bill" Westbrook, age 93 of Jefferson, Texas passed away October 26, 2017.

Bill was born August 25, 1924 in Cass County, Texas to E. S. Turner and Pearl Catherine (Wood) Westbrook.

Both of his parents passed away before he was 5 years old.  He and his sister, Evanell Margaret were taken in and raised by their mother's sister Cora and her husband Vincent Whelan with their son Martin.

Bill graduated from Jefferson High School in 1941.  He joined the Marine Corp the day after Pearl Harbor at age 17.  He fought in the South Pacific at Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan and Tinian and was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star medal for valor.

After the war Bill lived in Ohio and worked for JC Penny and in North Carolina for Hanes, Inc. Bill decided to move back to Jefferson in 1950 and fell in love with a hometown girl, Gladys Jean Jackson.  They were married on April 8, 1951.

Raising his young family, Bill worked for Whelan Bros. in the oil and gas business for 25 years.  He and Jean were the owners of "Westbrook's" department store that opened in 1971 in Jefferson. He also served on the Board of Directors of the First National Bank, was a member of the Lions Club and  President of the School Board of JISD. He was a lifelong member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Jefferson.

Bill's hobbies included golf, playing cards on Saturday nights and  coffee with friends at City Drug.

Bill is survived by his children Ron (Denise) Westbrook of Austin, TX, John (Debbie) Westbrook of Jacksonville, Florida and David (BJ) Westbrook of Jefferson.  The loves of his life... six grandchildren, Brennan, Kayla, Kristen, Kelly, Kelsey, Jake and his Great Granddaughter, Emerson.  He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and countless friends.  Special thanks to David Ozee for his friendship.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 41 years, Jean.  His sister Evanell Meisenheimer, Cousin Martin Whelan, Sister-in-law Lillian Marshall and twin infant daughters.

Pallbearers will be Brennan Westbrook, Jake Westbrook, Todd Marshall, Dustin Fitzgerald, Mark Henderson and Westy Meisenheimer.