Obituary of Bill E. Raywinkle

Bill E. Raywinkle, Jr., of Tucson, Arizona, passed away unexpectedly on May 23, 2014. He lived most of his early years in the city where he was born, Longview, Texas, and graduated from Longview High School in 1972. His college years were spent at Louisiana Tech, where he earned a degree in Engineering and Science. While in college, he was a member of Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society and continued his membership as an alumni member. He then accepted a position with IBM in Tucson, Arizona where he has continued to make his home for the past 35 years. Mr. Raywinkle excelled in his chosen career and served as director of many IBM projects, many of which were overseas. The opportunity to travel extensively rewarded him with many international friendships, which he treasured throughout his life. A voracious reader, no subject was past his intellect, as he continued to expand his horizons. He was a gifted musician, excellent cook, a skilled photographer, avid hiker and amateur astrologist. He recently joined with two friends in opening a gourmet kitchen store, which allowed him an outlet for the creative ideas which continually flowed from his mind. Mr. Raywinkle was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Josephine Raywinkle, of Longview. Immediate family survivors are his sister, Billie Ann Huffman, and husband, Charles, brothers, H. E. (Bud) Raywinkle, and wife, Louise, Michael "Mike" Gilstrap and wife Barbara, of Humble, Texas, and Gerald "Jerry" Gilstrap and wife Diana of Shady Shores, Texas. Seven very special nieces and nephews will also treasure their memories of Bill, as well as a multitude of Tucson co-workers and friends at his local Starbucks at Houghton and Broadway. A celebration of his life was held on June 1 at the 49er Country Club near his home in Tucson Arizona. Texas memorial services are planned later in June at the Winterfield United Methodist Church in Longview, Texas, the church of his childhood, where he is still fondly remembered as "Little Bill", the prettiest and cutest little boy you ever saw. Memorials, if desired, may be directed to either of the listed Charities: • American Cancer Society, American Heart Assoc., Arizona Public Media, Community Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, Southern Arizona AIDS Assoc.