Billy Ray (Bill) Kilpatrick of Columbus, Texas went home to be with the Lord on August 27, 2017. He was born to Holton T. and Bernice (Gibson) Kilpatrick in Thornton, Texas on August 23, 1931. Bill was raised in the Thornton area with two siblings and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. After graduating from High School, he served in the U.S. Army from June 10, 1954 to January 17, 1956. Upon discharge from the Army, he attended the University of Houston and received a bachelor degree in electronics and pursued a career with the Federal Aviation Agency. He married Carolyn Marie (June) Holmes on August 22, 1959 and began working for the Federal Aviation Agency in Columbus, Texas in 1963. Over the years their family would grow from four children to 12 grandchildren and eventually to 12 great grandchildren. Bill was a man who loved his family and was loved by his family. He enjoyed gardening, watching sports, especially cougar football, and operating his cattle ranch. Bill is survived by his wife of 58 years, June Kilpatrick and four children: Suzanne (Dennis) Dabney of Coldspring, Texas; Steven Kilpatrick, Sheri (Leonard) Peters, and Scott (Melissa) Kilpatrick all of Columbus. He is survived by one brother, Bobby Joe Kilpatrick of Silsbee, Texas and sister, Mary Lou Coronado of Lake Oswego, Oregon. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren – Shawn (Elain) Dabney, Shannon Dabney, Jason Dabney, Joshua (Elizabeth) Dabney, Bethany Rosier, Aaron (Betty) Peters, Michael (Tiffany) Peters, Marah June Ji Peters, Jaclyn Blankenship and Morgan Kilpatrick and step grandchildren Elizabeth and Rebecca Boulware. Great grandchildren include Patrick and Caleb Dabney; Jason, Kaitlyn and Micah Dabney; Jonathan and Abigail Dabney; Weston Rosier; Ariana and Zachariah E. Peters; Paityn and Colton Blankenship. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by both parents, two grandsons PFC Christopher R. Kilpatrick and Zachariah S. Peters. Pallbearers are Shawn Dabney, Joshua Dabney, Aaron Peters, Michael Peters, Dennis Dabney and Leonard Peters. Honorary pallbearers are PFC Christopher Kilpatrick and Zachariah S. Peters.

Funeral arrangements are scheduled for Saturday, September 9, 2017 at 2:00 pm at Henneke Funeral Home in Columbus, Texas with internment at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Columbus, Texas. Visitation will be Friday 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm and Saturday 9:00 am to 2:00 pm at Henneke Funeral Home. He will be laid to rest between his two grandsons, Christopher Kilpatrick and Zachariah Peters.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Christopher Kilpatrick Memorial Scholarship Fund in care of First State Bank, Columbus, Texas; Zach's Hope – First Baptist Church, in care of First Baptist Church, Columbus, Texas or a charity of your choice.