Bill Mead

(From Carson-Wall Funeral Home)

Billy G. “Bill” Mead, 76, of Parsons, passed away at 11:20 p.m., Friday, August 5, 2022, at the Presbyterian Manor in Parsons.

He was born on July 2, 1946, in Columbus, Kansas to Darwin I. and Imogene (Thomas) Mead. He grew up on the family farm near Chetopa in Cherokee County until the family moved to Joplin in 1956. 

Bill graduated from Joplin High School in 1963. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in July 1963 and served until his honorable discharge in 1967. Bill then served in the United States Army Reserves from 1977 to 1987 and then transferred to the United States Air Force Reserves from 1987 until his retirement in 2004 as a Chief Master Sergeant. He earned many decorations over the course of his military career.

He attended Missouri State Southern University and then received an Associate’s degree in Business and Industrial Supervision from Labette Community College in Parsons.

Bill worked as a Loan Officer in consumer finance throughout his working career. While working in Bartlesville he met his wife, Linda May. They were married on December 20, 1968, in Bartlesville. She survives of the home. They lived in various places before making Parsons their home in the mid-1970’s. Bill worked at the Commercial Bank as a Loan Officer retiring in the early 2000’s.

Bill coached youth baseball and football. He was an outdoorsman that enjoyed fishing and hunting and was also an avid golfer. He loved attending his grandchildren’s activities and spending time at the lake with his family. Bill was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Elks Club, Kiwanis, and the Oswego Masonic Lodge.

In addition to his wife, Bill is survived by his son, Billy D. “Bill” Mead (Heidi) of Overland Park; grandchildren, Hadley and Dillon Mead of Overland Park; his brother, Darwin Mead (Maria) of Midland, TX; nieces, Lourie Mead-Fry of Oronogo, MO; Lisa Mead-Shireman of Riverton, KS; Amber Mead of Melrose, KS; and Alice Cox of Wagoner, OK; nephew, Dennis Cox of Tulsa, OK; sister-in-law, Karan Cox (Monte) of Wagoner, OK. He was preceded in death by his son, Bryan G. Mead on July 18, 1982.

Private family memorial graveside services will be held at the Fairview Cemetery near Chetopa at a later date. Friends may come to the Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Parsons at their convenience to sign the register. The family suggests memorials to the Brown-Bishop No. 704 Veterans of Foreign Wars of Parsons, and these may be left at or mailed to the funeral home 112 N. 26th St., P.O. Box 942, Parsons, KS 67357. Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.