Billy Paul Milam

9/23/1933 - 7/1/2024

Billy Paul Milam went home to be with his Lord on 07/01/2024 at the age of 90. He was born in the small town of Caddo Mills, Texas on September 23, 1933, the eldest child of Paul Morris Milam, a business owner, and Willie Irene (Shuler) Milam, an elementary school teacher. As a kid growing up in Caddo, he was called Billy Paul by everyone.

After graduation from Caddo Mills High School in 1951 and going off to East Texas State University (ETSU), he shortened his name to "Bill." At the end of his freshman year, Bill decided to join the Army and served our country for "three years, three months and eleven days" as he liked to say, attaining the rank of SP3.

After being honorably discharged from the Army, Bill returned to ETSU and earned both a degree in Physics, minoring in Mathematics, and a teaching certificate, graduating on May 24, 1959.

While in college, Bill strolled into the first day of his English class and noticed a cute girl sitting in class by herself so he sat down next to her. One thing led to another and they were married on May 30, 1959. Bill and his wife, Dean, have been married for 65 years. He knows she was sent to him by God and still thinks she is as beautiful today as the day he married her.

After graduation, Bill taught junior high math for one year before changing direction and going to work in the plasma physics lab at what is now UT Dallas. During his time there several of Bill's circuit boards made it up into space. After 14 years there, he moved into the heating and air conditioning industry, retiring from the training department at Lennox Industries in 1998.

Working at Lennox, Bill traveled all over the country teaching refrigerant certification classes that he helped develop. He also learned enough about computers "to be dangerous."

During his time at Lennox, Bill began volunteering with Habitat for Humanity - South Collin County. Besides actively working at the current build, he was a member of the construction committee where he helped review problems, find solutions to them and implement needed changes. If he saw a need, he would fill it or work on it, actively thinking of ways to do things better or more efficiently. He helped build to completion 125 new homes.

Bill also joined the adjunct faculty at Eastfield College in the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology department working there for 30 years. He started as a part time lab tech but eventually became full time and also taught courses. He rewrote and upgraded many of the class materials. He liked to say, "I taught classes. If it was broken, I fixed it. If it was new, I installed it."

Retirement finally enabled Bill to buy a boat and take himself and his two grandsons fishing as often as possible.

He often told his children, grandsons, and students these truths: Do it right the first time. If you mess it up, figure out where you went wrong and fix it. Never do something halfway; do your best work every time.

Bill served his Lord in the church in many ways. He sang in the choir and played handbells. He taught sixth grade boys Sunday school for a number of years. He served as a deacon. He liked to do things behind the scenes and ran and maintained the sound system and also manned a camera during televised services.

Death held no fear for him as he often expressed his confidence in knowing that he would go to be with his Lord, "just changing my address."

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Dean Milam of Richardson, Texas; son, Brad Milam and wife, Sonja of Garland, Texas and their sons Joshua and Zachary; daughter, Lisa Hander and husband, Kirk of Bryan, Texas; sister, Lynnaree "Gal" Tarrant of Belton, Texas; niece, Angelia Tarrant and her children of Belton, Texas.

Psalm 71: 17-18

"Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come." NIV

A Memorial Service will be held Friday, July 12, 2024 at 10:00 AM at Prestonwood Baptist Church, Faith Chapel, 6801 W. Park Blvd., Plano, Texas 75093.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Habitat for Humanity in memory of Bill Milam: https://www.habitat.org/support/honor-memorial-gifts