Obituary of William Wayne Crocker

William W. Crocker, whose good nature, generosity of spirit and dry sense of humor made him a popular figure with the breakfast group and staff alike at the Pearland Whataburger, died Monday at his home following a brief illness. He was 80 and had lived more than half his life in Pearland, where he worked as the last station agent at the Santa Fe depot before train operations were consolidated in Houston. Bill Crocker was born April 23, 1934, to William and Odell Crocker of North Zulch, Texas. The search for jobs during the Great Depression brought the family, eventually, to Houston, where Bill grew up in the East End and graduated from the old Sam Houston High School. Employment with Santa Fe followed quickly and, except for a two-year stint as a U.S. Army draftee, he spent more than four decades working on the railroad. Much of his early career was in Galveston, where he met his first wife, Betty, and where their only child, Ronnie, was born. Ever after, he spoke fondly of his years on the island. But he is most closely identified with Pearland, which when he arrived in 1967 was a small town where elementary school kids could walk to the drug store for lunch. He and his young family moved there from Houston in 1972. Bill faced a series of health setbacks over the years with a quiet but unshakable determination to live life on his own terms. He made a number of devoted friends while breakfasting each morning at his local Whataburger and cherished each one, whether they were retirees like himself or bright young people behind the counter. He also enjoyed Sunday school and services at Providential Baptist Church, where he again made many close friends. In addition to his many friends, Bill is survived by his son, Ronnie, and Patricia Shepherd of Houston. A visitation at Clayton Funeral Home, 5530 W. Broadway, Pearland, Texas 77581, is planned for 5:30-8:00 p.m. Thursday, with eulogies beginning at 7:00 p.m. A graveside service will be at 1:00 p.m. Friday at Willowhole Cemetery in North Zulch, where he will be buried alongside his parents and near a host of other relatives.