WILLIAM EDWARD “BILL” TEAS
AAFA #1097
1932–2009
Bill and Oletia at
the 2009 HATDS Holiday Ball
December 12, 2009
From Houston Area Traditional Dance
Society
JOURNAL OF PEARLAND
Pearland, Brazoria Co, TX—23 December 2009
William E. “Bill” Teas, a native of Bellaire,
Texas was born February 3, 1932 to Paul P. and Annie-Jo Teas and passed away
December 19, 2009 at his home in Pearland, Texas. He was a member of the Teas
Nursery family.
Bill graduated from Lamar High School in 1950,
the University of Houston in 1954 - the class that put KHUF channel 8 on the
air. He married Oletia Booker on April 17, 1954.
Bill served as a 1st Lt. in the Quartermaster
Core at Ft. Lee, Va. He and Oletia moved to Galveston where he was a cameraman
for KGUL TV, channel 11. When KGUL moved to Allen Parkway, he became the film
editor at the same time he returned to U of H. In 1962 he went to work for AMF
Tuboscope in the research and development department. He was the first operator
of the Line-O-Log (smart pig) and traveled from Canada to Venezuela, England to
Okinawa and Alaska and many back road places in the U.S.
After 25 years he retired and went to work for
Oletia’s Ceramic ’N Art Company where he developed C ’N A Slip and Dinnerstone
Slip. They retired in 1997. In 1999 they moved from Alvin to Country Place in
Pearland. They traveled to England for genealogical research and a country
dance tour. He was a charter member of Bay Area Genealogy Soc., Houston
Genealogy Forum, and Friends of Clayton Research Library.
He was the historian and a charter member of
Houston Area Traditional Dance Society, Oxford Hall’s English dancers, Swinging
Seniors Square Dancers, and Alvin Country Squares. Bill was the eternal joke
teller and never so happy as when he could bring a smile to some one’s face and
better yet make them laugh. He was an amateur clown.
He is survived by his wife, Oletia B. Teas of 55
years and dancing partner of 61 years; son, Wayne and JoNell Teas; daughter,
Adana and Gary Mutchler; granddaughters, Cassandra Teas and Amanda and Drake
Smith; and brother, Joe and Wanda Teas.
Memorial Services will be held at 2:00pm on
Saturday, December 26, 2009 in The Carriage House at Country Place at 2620
McHard Rd East of HWY. 288. Dress is casual. Please send no flowers. In Lieu of
flowers please make donations to Friends of Clayton Library 5300 Caroline,
Houston, Texas 77004. Please note that any checks must be made out specifically
to “Friends of Clayton Library” to be sure donations go to the correct
destination.
Condolences can be sent to the Teas Family in
care of Jeter Memorial Funeral Home at www.jeterfuneralhome.com.
AAFA
NOTES: SSDI records confirm the birth and death dates of William
Edward Teas (SS# issued in TX), last residence Pearland, Brazoria Co., TX.
Folks who attended the 1999 meeting in San
Antonio, TX, will remember Bill with his early version digital camera taking
photos everywhere.
His Alford lineage, from his great-grandmother:
Christina Josephina “Jossie” 1860 Sweden4, Frank 1820 Sweden5.
The following poem, posted at the HATDS website,
was written by Barbara Moore and read at Bill’s memorial service on December
26, 2009.
BILL
I sat Christmas night with a hot cup of tea,
Bundled up against winter chill
As thought crossed my mind of a unique experience
Meeting a gentleman by the name of Bill.
Oletia and Bill, so
much in love
Enjoyed going places,
Everyone knew they shared something special
By the “knowing look” on their faces
I guess the Fates had
crossed our paths
Through genealogy
From that day forward we were together
As much as we could be
Do-si-do and
promenade your “corner”
The caller told us all
And Bill would proudly escort
His partner through the square dance hall
Find a partner,
Improper lines!
We heard the caller say
So conscious of the new ones there
Bill helped them Contradance that day
“I just can’t make
this program work”
He heard someone’s concern
He quickly stepped over to explain to them
That he could help them learn
He truly studies computers
Their programs and their quirks
Through massive ancestral journeys
He also made it work
We’d form a group for
a trip
To the Renaissance Faire
Good friends, good food and lots of laughter
In the open air.
We all talked of
folks wearing Chain Mail
Their bodies almost like an open book
He referred to the women with “pans of roasting hens”
Oh yes, he DID steal a look.
I don’t think he knew
any strangers
He always spoke to everyone
And God help all the restaurant staff
He always told a joke or pun!
Bill’s life had
facets like a diamond
In our lives he has been a gem
How very fortunate and blessed
For us to have known him
I’ll think of things
he taught me
As I struggle up “Research Hill”
This sweet, distinguished gentlemen
We all knew as Bill.
