Billy Joe Johnson

After 96 years, Billy Joe Johnson passed peacefully, surrounded by family and friends, on July 1, 2026, at Cornerstone Gardens, in Temple, TX.

Services will be held Thursday, July 16, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Bosqueville Methodist Church with David Zamora officiating, Burial will follow at Bosqueville Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday, July 15, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home, Waco.

Bill was born May 14, 1930, in Waco, TX, where he grew up and attended school and played football while at North Junior High. He served in the Army from 1951 to 1953, achieving the rank of private. He attended Texas A & M where he graduated in 1957 with a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering. His love for Texas A&M remained a defining part of his life, and he was an enthusiastic supporter of Aggie athletics for the rest of his life. After college, he began his professional career at Phillips Petroleum, which soon became Rocketdyne, in McGregor, TX, He worked at Rocketdyne, until the early 1970s, when he left to begin a new career, in homebuilding with his friend, Ed Alford. He soon struck out on his own, continuing as a general contractor, building many homes and commercial projects in the Waco area. In the 1980s, along with longtime friend and fellow Aggie, Carl Kuhnle, he started an engineering design and consultation business, Quanta Engineering. He later went back to work, at the “Rocket Plant”, in McGregor, which had changed names again to Hercules and ultimately Alliant Tech, before closing in the mid-90s.

He married the love of his life Beverly Kay Schmidt on May 8, 1964. They welcomed the arrival of their son Jeffrey Keith, on March 8, 1969.

He was a member of Texas Society of Professional Engineers where he was selected Engineer of the Year, for the Central Texas chapter in 1984.

A man of deep faith, Bill was a longtime member of Bosqueville Methodist Church. He dedicated countless hours to building/repair projects, as well as leadership roles on the church council, including treasurer and chairman. He was also previously a longtime member of Christ Lutheran Church, in Waco, where he dedicated himself to many of the same roles and stewardship.

Bill, with the love of his life, Kay, loved to work on home and gardening projects, traveling and antiquing. He also loved being family “historian”, reading, old movies and watching his "Aggies" and Dallas Cowboys play football, Later in life, he enjoyed traveling to Dripping Springs to spend time with his son and daughter in law, Jeff and Jennifer, his four granddaughters and grand dog Rosebud and also spending Saturdays with his brother, Raywood, watching the Aggies and eating Whataburger’s.

He was preceded in death by his parents Allyn Raywood Johnson Sr and Maude Johnson nee Mize, His wife of 40 years Beverly Kay Johnson nee Schmidt, his brother Allyn Raywood Jr. and sister-in-law Mary.

He is survived by his son Jeff and his wife Jennifer Johnson and his four granddaughters Olivia Johnson, Virginia Kay Johnson, Julia Johnson, and Sabrina Johnson all from Dripping Springs, TX; brother-in-law Dennis Schmidt and his wife Rachel from Austin, TX.; sister-in-law Karen Wilburn from Fayetteville, PA, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

The family wishes to send a special thank you to the staff at Cornerstone Gardens Nursing & Rehab, in Temple, and Amedisys Hospice, for all their care and compassion. Many thanks also to Mary Collier and Bill Pascoe for their love and care through the years. Also, a very special thanks to his special caregivers, Lisa Jenkins, Kirby Tate, Dani Keiser, Kathy Leedy, Sharon Phillips and Charlotte Vancil, for their care, compassion and companionship. Memorial donations may be made to Bosqueville Methodist Church

The family invites you to leave a message or memory on our "Tribute Wall" at www.WHBfamily.com