Hays Daily News November 20, 2002
Wendelin J. "Bill" Billinger, age 93, entered eternal rest on November 19, 2002, at the Hays Good Samaritan Center in Hays. Bill was born December 1, 1908, in Victoria, Kansas, to Michael and Mary (Goetz) Billinger. He attended school at Victoria and St. Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Indiana.
He married Irene Ferron on June 7, 1937, at St. Joseph, Kansas. She preceded him in death on May 22, 1987.
He was part owner of Billinger's Bakery for many years. He was elected Clerk of District Court of Ellis County in 1966. He served as clerk for eleven years until his retirement hi 1978. Bill was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus Council 1325 of which he was a Past Grand Knight, Bishop Cunningham Assembly Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, and a charter member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aerie 3061, in Hays.
Survivors include a son, Thomas W. Billinger of Heisson, Washington; two daughters, Billie Billinger-Lantz of Hays and Mary E. Billinger of San Antonio, Texas; two brothers, Mike and Robert and one sister, Mrs. Catherine Walters, all of Hays; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by six brothers, Peter, Adam, Bernard in infancy, Bernard, Alvin and Joseph "Red," and three sisters, Margaret Beilman, Rosemary Karlin and Lee Ann Pfeifer. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, November 23, 2002, at the St. Joseph Catholic Church with Father Frank X. Grinko officiating. Burial will be hi the St. Joseph Cemetery in Hays. The Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus will stand honor guard from 5:30 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Friday at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 20th and Pine. A Knights of Columbus rosary will be at 6 p.m. and a parish vigil service at 6:30 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home. Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. Memorials have been established with Thomas More Prep-Marian High School, Hays Good Samaritan Center, St. John's New Horizons or for Masses in his name and memory.