William Ray Van Volkenburg Jr.

William Ray Van Volkenburg, Jr., Chief Master Sgt., USAF, (Ret.) went to be with Our Lord and Savior on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2019, in Bedford, Texas after a brave battle with cancer. His final flight was non-stop and direct to the embrace of his wife Debra Sei Van Volkenburg who preceded him to Heaven in 2014. Surely the Lord’s Angels sang the most beautiful song of welcome as Bill approached in utter amazement and absolute awe of the Kingdom that awaited him.

Bill was born in Joplin, Missouri on December 29, 1935, Shortly thereafter, the family headed by his father William R. Van Volkenburg, Sr., mother Lillian and sister Beverly made the long journey as many others did to Southern California. Later, sister Judy would be born and Billy Ray would now be a big brother. Growing up in Norwalk, California and for a while on a farm in Sutherlin, Oregon, Billy Ray as he was known by his family and relatives grew tall and handsome. He even played basketball for the high school team, took the bus to Huntington beach and had a healthy life of a young boy in sunny California.

He was a restless young man, with an eye for adventure and what better way to seek it than to head to the recruiter and join the boys in blue! He aimed high and joined the United States Air Force. Ironically, according to one of his protege at Waddell and Reed he actually had a fear of going up high onto a tram up Pikes Peak!

Bill made a career out of the Air Force serving his country for over 23 years, and then retiring at the top NCO rank of Chief Master Sergeant. Moving on to his post-military second career he excelled in his profession as a Certified Financial Planner with Waddell & Reed. His counsel was invaluable and sought out by countless hardworking folks, wanting to safeguard their retirement earnings to provide a safe, sound and growing nest egg for their later years. With his wise advice and coaching, he guided other newly hired financial planners enabling those trainees to attain his own level of success. I am sure this pleased him to see his friends move up and attain excellence in their career paths.

Now, that is a bit of the career of William Ray Van Volkenburg, Jr. Let us now give you a glimpse into the wonderfully loving heart of this man, this good husband. Long ago, in a country far far away, Airman First Class William R. Van Volkenburg needed a dinner jacket tailored. He jumped on his Cushman scooter and scooted out the main gate of Ashiya Air Force Base in Fukuoka, Japan with his stylish white and black-speckled jacket rolled up on the fender rack. Little did Bill know that his entire life path was now destined to be determined by a simple dinner jacket and a piece of thread.

His motor-scooter putt-putted to the tailor shop, as other GI’s came and went with their uniforms and civilian clothes expertly finished by the lovely Japanese young ladies at their sewing machines. With one quick sweep of his basketball player leg, he dismounted the Cushman and bounded up the bamboo steps of the tailor shop as yet another peach-fuzzed airman left with his order out the door. Bill looked up at the blue sky and saw the familiar contrails of the C-130’s flying out of Ashiya and felt a tingle as he grasped the door handle. His blue eyes twinkled at the blue sky, and Destiny gave him a nudge into the shop. Feeling as if this was a great day to get his jacket tailored and scooter about town, Bill was about to change from a bright cheery young adventurer to a knight in shining armor. Ahead of him he saw an older ranking serviceman talking lasciviously to a very polite, patient and beautiful Japanese seamstress. What caught Bill’s eye was not just her bright sunny and brave face, she was also one that had a great inner strength. Not caring about this higher ranked harasser’s clout, Bill approached the impolite customer with firm resolve. Bill’s impressive height and physical presence was enough to make the buffoon stumble back and cease his unwelcome behavior towards the young seamstress. What made the older man turn and leave in a hurry was when Bill in a low firm voice said “Sir, I really don’t appreciate you talking to the young lady that way, and I am taking you outside if you don’t get yourself out now!” With wide-eyed amazement, the young seamstress, Sei Ishizaka looked up at the tall blonde, blue-eyed American in uniform and her heart skipped a beat. She would later recount that she thought he was better looking than the actor Rock Hudson! For some reason, Bill never liked that comparison at all!

Fifty-seven years later and after a lifetime of adventure, toils, tears, joy, successes, highs and lows, Bill grasped the car’s door handle and felt the tingle again. His bride of a lifetime lay in the hospital bed and was about to meet Jesus and enter eternal life in His Father’s house. The hospital doors slid open and he walked into the lobby with the slowing gait of an old man, but with that same twinkle in his blue eyes just before he was about to first meet his True Love, his life-long love. This time, he had no jacket to hand her to mend, no rude buffoon to fend off and he was not in the best of spirits on this Texas day. He held her hand and like the silver armored knight he was at 20, he comforted Debra Sei Van Volkenburg as the Angels carried this servant of God back Home.

So this is the story of a man. A young man who became an old man. As happens to men fortunate enough to finish their journey, Bill reached the end of his remarkable flight through life on March 17, 2019, St. Patrick’s Day.

His was a life of Love. Unceasing, unwavering, boundless and breathtaking Love for his wife, his friend, his Love…Debra Sei. His children and friends also shared in his love, his strength, his tenderness, his toughness, stubbornness and steadiness. He was many things, many qualities, some faults, but always forever totally in love with his wife Debra Sei Van Volkenburg. For that alone, he will be forever remembered.

Written by eldest son Kevin Van Volkenburg of Comfort, Texas

-William Ray Van Volkenburg is survived by his sons Kevin Van Volkenburg and his wife Carleen of Comfort, Texas, Terry Van Volkenburg and his wife Nancy of Lafayette, Louisiana, and daughter Judith Ann Veselka and her husband Billy of Washougal, Washington. Grandsons Devin W. Van Volkenburg, Ryan M. Van Volkenburg (sons of Kevin), William Terry Van Volkenburg, Kristian Van Volkenburg (sons of Terry and Nancy) and Joshua Veselka (son of Judy and Billy) will certainly mourn the loss of their grandpa. Great granddaughters Evangelynn Grace, Sei Ryn and Luna Lux (daughters of William Terry Van Volkenburg) will also dearly miss their great-grandpa.

Visitation at Lucas Funeral Home, Hurst, Texas
Tuesday, March 26, 2019 6:00-8:00 P.M.

Memorial Service at Cross City Church Euless, Texas (formerly First Baptist Church) Wednesday, March 27, 2019 at 10:30 A.M.
Funeral with Full Military Honors Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery
San Antonio, TX. Eulogy by Dr. George Harris, retired Pastor, Castle Hills First Baptist Church Thursday, March 28, 2019 at 2:00 P.M.