Billy Joe "Bill" Eisenhour passed away suddenly Saturday, February 21, 2009 at his home. He was born May 16, 1932 in Minco, OK, to George and Bernice Eisenhour. He attended Fairview Grade School, Minco Elementary and High School, graduating in 1951. He entered the U.S. Army on September 8, 1952. His basic training was at Camp Roberts, CA. After basic, he was sent to Panmanjom, North Korea as a bulldozer operator in the 323rd Engineer Equipment Co. After his discharge from the Army in 1954, he went to work at the Paylor Funeral Home in Midwest City where his brother Harold was working. He attended college at Central State College in Edmond, and in 1956-57 he graduated from the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science in Dallas, TX. After graduating, he worked for a year at Hahn Cook Funeral Home, and from 1958 to 1965 he was employed at the Ben V. Hunter Funeral Home. In December 1965, he bought the C. C. Clanton home on SE 29th in Del City, and immediately began remodeling for the future home of BILL EISENHOUR FUNERAL HOME. In 1969, he opened the second funeral home on NE 23rd near Douglas Blvd. Bill loved people and was very caring and giving and was dedicated to taking care of those he served at their time of need. He was actively engaged in farming and ranching in Oklahoma and Seminole Counties. One of his highlights was when the funeral home provided a "Day on the Farm" for ministers in this area to go to his farm for a day of visitation, relaxation and to enjoy a T-bone steak with all the trimmings, prepared by the employees of the funeral home. He was a lifetime member of Del City Masonic Lodge, 32nd Degree Mason of both Scottish Rite and York Rite, India Shrine Center, DAV, American Legion, VFW and First Southern Baptist Church. He is survived by his brothers: Howard and Charles of El Reno, Lloyd and wife Glenda of Edmond his long-time, very close friend Janice Boyne of Del City nephews: Ronnie of Blanchard, Steve of Tucson, AZ, Jim of El Reno, Barry of Mustang, Jerry of Midwest City, Lucky, Rocky and Gary of El Reno, Keith Newman of Moore nieces: Kim King and Kathy Meyer of Choctaw. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Erma Jean Newman, brother Harold, and niece Melanie Eisenhour Salter. Services will be 10:00 a.m. Thursday, February 26, 2009, at First Southern Baptist Church of Del City. Interment will be at 2:00 p.m. at Evergreen Cemetery, Minco, OK. Memorial contributions may be made to , PO Box 224523, Dallas, TX 75222-4523, or India Shriners Children's Hospital Fund, 3601 NW 36th, Oklahoma City, OK 73112.


Published in The Oklahoman on 02/24/2009