Billy Gene Tiner, a resident of Stratford, Oklahoma and former resident of San Marcos, New Braunfels and Wimberley, died July 8, 2008 in Gillette, Wyo. after a brief illness.
Bill was born in Ada, Okla. on July 6, 1936 to Clarence and Lorraine Tiner. He was a 1957 graduate of West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas, with a major in history and a minor in physical education.
Bill competed in track; in 1957 he held the record for the mile run, winning the state championship. After graduation, he married and welcomed sons Rodney Gene Tiner in 1958 and Bryan Clarence Tiner in 1960. Bill had some wonderful stories about the years spent in West Texas teaching and coaching in the public schools. Tales of the days in Dumas were particularly interesting. In the early 1970s, Bill divorced and moved to Sweeney, Texas to take a coaching position.
Not long after, while coaching in Lake Jackson, Texas, Bill met and fell in love with a beautiful English teacher, Virginia Thomas Witherspoon. On Nov. 27, 1975 Bill married Virginia and became a beloved stepfather to her two children, Leland and Kathy.
Over the course of many years, Bill and Virginia lived in Lake Jackson, Austin, Wimberley, San Marcos and New Braunfels. Bill taught and coached in many Texas school districts, including Sneed, Sweeney, Lake Jackson, Mountain Valley and Hays Consolidated. At different times, he taught history, health and physical education; he coached, taught many teenagers the proper way to drive a car, and drove a mean school bus. He ended his teaching career in San Marcos at Gary Job Corps as the Director of Academic Study.
Bill was preceded in death by his cherished wife Virginia Tiner. He is survived by children Rodney Tiner and Bryan Tiner, both of Wyoming; Leland Witherspoon and wife, Donna, of San Antonio; Kathy Mahoney and husband, Dave, of Kyle; grandchildren Russell Doherty, Kourtnie Wells and Ryland Mahoney; great-grandchild Mason Wells; and many other family and friends.
Bill was a cherished and faithful husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother-in-law, son-in-law, friend, teacher and coach. His loss is felt by many.
Graveside services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Aug. 2, 2008 at the Tabernacle at San Marcos City Cemetery.