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Billy (Bill) Dean Bacon, age 97, passed from this life on February 14, 2025, in Denton, TX. Born in 1927 in Bolivar, Missouri. He leaves behind his son, Bill Jr. (Gale) Bacon of Cross Roads, TX; his daughter, Gayle (Mike) McCullars of Conway, AR; his daughter, Sharon (Dana) Edwards of Webster Groves, MO; his daughter, Becky (Bruce) of Montgomery Village, MD; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two brothers, Clifford Bacon Jr. of Harrisonville, MO and Robert Bacon of Warsaw, MO; a sister-in-law, Marilyn Bacon of Springfield, MO; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Pauline (Cox) Bacon; his parents, Clifford Sr., and Jessie Alma (Hood) Bacon; and a younger brother, Charles Bacon. After graduating as class Salutatorian from Bolivar High School (Bolivar, MO) in 1945, he served in the U.S. Army and was stationed in the U.S. and Japan. Leaving military service in late 1946, he attended Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield, MO, where he completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Business. He later obtained his MBA degree from Drury University in Springfield, MO. While in college he met Pauline, and they married on June 3, 1951. Bill taught high school for two years before going to work for St. Louis-San Francisco Railway (Frisco). He rose through the company, becoming a railroad executive for many years with Frisco. After a merger, he continued with the Burlington Northern Railroad until retiring in 1986. In his retirement years while living in Arlington, TX, Springfield, MO, Mesa, AZ, and finally Denton, TX, he regularly attended church, loved to avidly read, took walks, played billiards, watched sports, dined out, and traveled – eventually visiting all 50 states, most Canadian provinces, and 45+ countries. He said that he “had a wonderful life and would not have changed anything” and his advice was always “don’t wait too long to retire”. He was loved, respected, and will be remembered as a good husband, father, brother, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, great-uncle, and friend to many. A private memorial service will be held by the family. Permanent online condolences, stories and photos may be shared at www.slaymemorialfuneralhome.com. To remember and honor the life and legacy of Bill Bacon, please make any memorial gift(s) to the Macular Degeneration Association, https://macularhope.org. Arrangements are under the direction of Terri Slay and Slay Memorial Funeral Center.

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Billy Dean Bacon

October 25, 1927 - February 14, 2025