Obituary of Willis Joseph Peacock

Willis “Bill”Joseph Peacock, age 90, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Sunday, December 1, 2024. He was born on May 11, 1934 to Delbert and Elsie (DeBerry) Peacock in Scott County, Indiana. He honorably served in the United States Navy from August of 1952 through August of 1960. During this time, he met his beautiful wife Marjorie Marie (Botts) Peacock in Indio, California and they were married on June 9, 1956 in Phoenix, Arizona.

He graduated in 1960 from Tri-State College in Angola, Indiana (currently known as Trine University). The following year, he moved to Ewa Beach in Oahu, Hawaii, where he worked for NASU (Naval Air Support Unit) for a year and a half. In 1966 he moved the family to La Porte, Texas. He spent most of his career as an engineer contractor for the space program for NASA’s JSC Aircraft Operations Division, training astronauts to land on the moon and serving in over 400 projects before retirement in 1998 after 32 years of dedicated service. During his career, he earned the Silver Snoopy Award two times, as well as the Space Flight Awareness Honoree Award, which are two of NASA’s highest awards.

He lived life to the fullest and delighted in the simple things; such as his devotion to his family, success in his career, contributing to science and the continuation of space exploration, living a life of integrity, and showing a readiness to generously help anyone in need. Some of his hobbies included traveling, spending time outdoors, observing wildlife, coaching family sports, visiting car museums, gardening, and watching old western TV shows. His greatest joy was found in spending time with his family and serving the Lord.

He is loved beyond words and will be deeply missed.

He is preceded in death by his wife and parents; brothers Cloyd, Carl, Ralph, and Ronald Peacock; sisters Wilma (Peacock) Johnson, Irene (Peacock Hall) Swanson; and grandson Michael Holt. He is survived by his children, Joseph and Dianna (Hokanson) Peacock, Deborah (Peacock) Holt, Bob and Anne (Peacock) Hunter; grandchildren Tara (Peacock) Garcia, Tracy and Christina (Holt) Ezell, Micah and Lauren (Lumley) Peacock, Adam and Charity (Ratliff) Hunter, Daniel and Laura (Hunter) Weedon; great-grandchildren Jacob Crawford, Jensen Ezell, Raphael Peacock, Clara Peacock, Ada Peacock, and a treasured great-grandson on the way.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Clayton Funeral Home, located at 201 South 3rd Street in La Porte, Texas. Visitation hours will be 6:00- 8:00 PM on the evening of Friday, December 6, 2024. In remembrance of his life and love, a memorial service will take place there at 11:00 AM on Saturday, December 7, 2024. A graveside service will follow at the La Porte Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, those who wish to remember him in a special way may make a charitable donation to the MD Anderson Cancer Center.