J.P. married K.D. Chapman [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Obituary:

FORT WORTH - Billy Bob Gaddis, 80, passed away Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, in Fort Worth.

FUNERAL: 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in Greenwood Chapel. Interment: Greenwood Memorial Park. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Greenwood Funeral Home.

Billy Bob Gaddis was born Dec. 13, 1928, in Borger. He was the fifth child of six siblings. The family moved to Fort Worth in the mid-1930s. His first memories of Fort Worth were of selling newspapers on Main Street during the midst of the Depression. He continued to work at numerous odd jobs throughout the Depression until World War II began. Just 16 years old and his older brothers off fighting the war, Bob left school in 11th grade to work full time to help support the rest of the family. This would mark the beginning of his notable career with the Santa Fe Rail Road. He began as a signal helper in the electrical signal division. Over the span of his 44-year career with Santa Fe, he held numerous positions. These included signal foreman, signal inspector for Gulf Lines Fort Worth, and supervising centralized traffic control engineer, Gulf Lines, during his tenure in Fort Worth. Promoted and transferred to Topeka, Kan., he was the traffic control systems engineer for the Eastern Line. Five years later, Bob was promoted and transferred back to Fort Worth as the assistant signal engineer, Western Line, Fort Worth. During this period, Bob supervised the design, installation and testing of several hundred crossing warning systems. After 13 years, Bob was again promoted and transferred back to Topeka, Kan., as the assistant to the assistant chief engineer - signals Santa Fe System. In less than a year, Bob was promoted to director of Signals-Systems. He held this position for four years and then retired in August 1989.

This illustrious career is highlighted even further by the fact that Bob was primarily self-educated,completing only 10 years of formal education. The Santa Fe management eventually told him that he would have to obtain his GED before they could promote him any further. Obviously, the lack of formal education did not stop Bob from reaching the top of his profession.

Once retired, Bob established the very successful Signal & Communications Consultant Corporation. As president of this corporation, he developed strong business ties with Harmon Industries, Inc., Carter-Burgess, HDR Engineering, Inc., Dallas, Garland and Northeastern Rail Road, C & S Consultants, Huitt-Zollars, Ragnar-Benson Engineering and numerous other companies. Known throughout the railroad business community as an expert in the field of railroad signals and communications, Bob built a thriving business. In December 2008, Bob was ready for his second retirement and decided to close his business.

Bob was a member of the following associations and committees: lifetime member of the Association of American Railroads; the Committee E of the Communications & Signal Division of the AAR for one year. He also served on the Signal Task Force of the Communications & Signal Division developing the 'Advanced Train Control System.'

Bob was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle. He will be missed dearly. He was a devoted family man who enjoyed family activities such as hunting, fishing, reading, collecting coins and cooking barbecue. He was renowned for 'firing up' his monstrous barbecue cooker for cookouts with family and friends. He was a lifetime member of the NRA and the Republican party.

Bob was preceded in death by his loving wife of 57 years, Barbara Gaddis; mother, Ollie Mae Gaddis; father, W.P. Gaddis; brother, Phil Gaddis; and sister, Martha Sue Lyles.

SURVIVORS: Sons, William Robert and John Patrick and his wife, Kayla; grandchildren, Nathan Patrick and Kaitlin Rose; brother, Dan Gaddis of Fort Worth; sisters, Gwendolyn Hansen of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., and Betty Gaddis Kemp of Fort Worth; and numerous nieces and nephews.

(Published in The Fort Worth Star-Telegram on August 30, 2009)

Billy married Barbara Elaine Yelton Jun 1952, Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas, USA. Barbara (daughter of Otto Arthur Yelton and Lily Margaret LeBlanc) was born 13 Oct 1930, Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas, USA; died 5 Jun 2009, Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas, USA; was buried 9 Jun 2009, Greenwood Memorial Park and Mausoleum - Fort Worth, Texas, USA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Obituary:

FORT WORTH - Barbara Gaddis, a loving wife, mother and grandmother, passed away Friday, June 5, 2009.

FUNERAL: 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in Greenwood Chapel. Interment: Greenwood Memorial Park. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Greenwood Funeral Home.

Barbara was born Oct. 13, 1930, in Beaumont to Otto and Lillie Yelton.

Survivors: Husband of 57 years, Billy Bob Gaddis; sons, William Robert Gaddis and John Patrick Gaddis and wife, Kayla; grandchildren, Nathan and Kaitlin Gaddis; sister, Patsy Mount; brother, Albert Choate; sisters-in-law, Betty Kemp and Gwen Hansen; and brother-in-law, Dan Gaddis.

(Published in The Fort Worth Star-Telegram on June 7, 2009)

Otto married Lily Margaret LeBlanc 30 Dec 1927, Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas, USA. Lily (daughter of Albert LeBlanc and Carlotta Margaret Abadie) was born 15 Jul 1911, Lafayette, Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, USA; died 8 Apr 2003, Galveston, Galveston County, Texas, USA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Obituary:

GALVESTON - Lily Choate Schott died on Tuesday, April 8, 2003, at the age of 91.

She was born in Lafayette, Louisiana, on July 15, 1911, grew up in Port Arthur, Texas, and moved to Galveston in 1936. Her life was devoted to being a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She loved people and never said an unkind word about others. For 21 years she worked on the Physicians and Nurses Registry.

She was preceded in death by her husband Roy P. Choate in 1965, husband Lester E. Schott in 1996 and son Otto Yelton in 2000.

Survivors include: Barbara Gaddis and husband Bob, of Fort Worth, Patsy Mount and husband Jerry, Albert Choate and wife Janet, Mildren Zorn and husband Raymond, all of Galveston, and James Schott and wife Sharon, of Texas City. Lily had 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on Monday, April 21, 2003, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at J. Levy & Bro. Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, April 22, 2003, at 10 a.m. at the First Lutheran Church, with Reverend Douglas Gauthier officiating. Lily has requested cremation.

Donations may be made to the charity of choice; First Lutheran Church, 2415 Winnie, Galveston, Texas 77550; or Edgewater Retirement Community, 2228 Seawall, Galveston, Texas 77550

(Published in The Galveston Daily News on April 20, 2003)

Death Notice:

Lily Choate Schott died on Tuesday, April 8, 2003, at the age of 91. Visitation will be held on Monday, April 21, 2003, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at J. Levy & Bro. Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, April 22, 2003, at 10 a.m. at the First Lutheran Church. Lily has requested cremation.