Billie Joe Cline

Billie Joe Cline, 94 of Waco passed away Monday, December 29, 2025. Visitation will be Monday, January 5, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home, 6101 Bosque Blvd in Waco. Funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Rene Maciel officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Pallbearers will be: Daniel Cline, Brian Lundy, Ronnie Bain, Brad Freeman, Dr. James McGlothlin, and Tommy Hornberg.

Billie Joe was born, August 13, 1931, in Hale Center, Texas to the late Philip A. and Mary Edna Clark Cline. He grew up farming in Hale County and Castro County. He attended grade school in the Old Snider Country School, southwest of Plainview, and attended high school in Plainview, Dimmitt, and Hart, where he graduated in 1948. He came to Waco to attend Baylor University, and graduated in 1957 with his bachelor’s in economics.

While living in Edmonson, Texas, Billie Joe met his future wife, Joyce Colleen Bain, and they were married, August 13, 1950. He had three separate careers in his lifetime that he flourished in and grew his family. He spent the first 21 years farming; 31 years he managed stores for Sears Roebuck & Co. in Texas, Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska; and 21 years he worked for Merrill Lynch in investment banking while living on Galveston Island on the Texas coast. Joe retired in 2005 and made his way back to Waco.

B. Joe Cline was always very active in his community and organizations. He and Joyce are longtime faithful members of Woodway Baptist Church, and he was a lifetime Gideon (since March 8, 1966). As well, he was a lifetime member of the Baylor Alumni; lifetime member of TSRA, and a licensed minister since 1952 where he was ordained at Edmonson Baptist Church. During his time on Galveston Island, he founded the “VIT” Rotary Association while serving as president of the Galveston Rotary Club.

Billie Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Philip and Mary Cline; two brothers, Lenard Cline and Bobbie Cline; sister and brother-in-law, Jackie May and Bill Freeman; two children, Dina Deloras Cline and Sydney Bain Cline.

Billie Joe is survived by his loving wife of over 75 years, Joyce Bain Cline of Waco; son, Lanny Rald Cline of Waco; two grandchildren, Daniel Reid Cline and his wife, Kelsey, and Kellie Christine Lundy and her husband, Brian; three great-grandchildren, Parker Cline, and Camryn and Easton Lundy; along with other loving family members and numerous friends he made and cherished in his life.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to “Gideons International”, P.O. Box 140800, Nashville, TN 37214-0800.

The family invites you to leave a message or memory in Billie Joe’s , “Memorial Guestbook” at www.WHBfamily.com.

In loving memory of Billie Joe Cline, a complimentary memorial keepsake of your choice is available here: Memorial Keepsake.