William Franics DeGeorge
William Francis DeGeorge, 93, of League City, Texas, passed away on March 21st, 2026. Bill was born on June 23, 1932, in Staten Island, New York, and relocated to Houston in 1965 as an employee of Lockheed Martin, from which he retired in August of 2011. He married June Ripley Audas on February 4, 1956, and they remained happily married for 63 years until her death in 2019 at the age of 87.
He leaves behind four children: Steve (Margie), Sue (Todd), Gary (Stephanie), and Donn (Patricia); six grandchildren: Lorna (Chuck), Andrew (Gabby), Priscilla (Patrick), Anthony (Tania), Austin (Mindy), and Joseph; and nine great-grandchildren: Hank, Major, Anakin, Frankie, Emery, Colt, Noah, Finn, and Solvi.
A veteran of the Korean War, Bill earned an Associate’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the Newark College of Engineering in 1963, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism from the University of Houston in 1972, and a PhD in Communications from Syracuse University in 1982. His primary occupation as a Lockheed employee and consultant to Lockheed and other companies after retirement for 30 years was as a technical writer of government proposals. He was also an Adjunct Faculty member of the University of Houston/Clear Lake Campus for 22 years and considered teaching to be his most loved occupation. Bill was an avid bridge player and teacher of the game for most of his adult life and owned and operated the first bridge club in the Clear Lake area between 1966 and 1976.
Celebrate his life with us on Monday, March 30th at Crowder Funeral Home, 1645 East Main Street, League City, Texas, 77573. Visitation will be from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. The family will then hold a private graveside service, followed by an open house at 503 Williamsport in League City beginning at 4:00 p.m. Please come say hello and share your favorite Bill DeGeorge story.
In loving memory of Bill, his family kindly requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to the Interfaith Caring Ministry, a local League City charity, https://form-renderer-app.donorperfect.io/give/icm, located at 500 Park Avenue in League City, Texas 77573. All donations will honor Bill’s passion for supporting the less fortunate people living in League City and will make a meaningful impact on the lives of those in need.
Bill & I enjoyed a friendship that spanned 60 years . . . RIP Tiger.
What a good man!!!! I knew June through the Lockheed Wives Club, as former Newport neighbors & Bill through all the years of working Proposals with him. He & June were good people, whose friendship we treasured through the years. Now, they are joined together again & may they rest in peace.
Our most sincere condolences on the loss of your father. You are all in our prayers.
Mike and Melissa Stillman
Thank you Bill for all the lovely and meaningful memories! We love you.
I’ve known Bill since the late 80s. I worked with him at Lockheed Martin, back when it was just called Lockheed. He was a great team leader, colleague, and friend. Less than a year ago, I had lunch with Bill. We had a great time catching up on the past, and I was fortunate to tell him how much he has inspired me. There, he shared with me some pages from his memoir that he’d been working on. And if it’s OK, I’d like to share a short excerpt from his memoir about when he first met the love of his life, June.
“I was at work, clearing the tables and doing my usual busboy duties, when I saw my future wife for the first time. She was trim, blonde, and cute, and had just started working as a waitress; this was her first night. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. I was totally mesmerized by her looks and demeanor. I remember saying to my co-worker as we watched her go through her brand-new duties of serving her tables: “Wow, what a dish!” I immediately knew that I would eventually marry June; it may not have been the smoothest or kindest way to make a choice, but it happened just like that. That is exactly how I met my wife to be. At a race track during my last year as an airman and my second year as a busboy. …a life-changing choice I had made at the age of 22, one that led to a very satisfying marriage of over 36 years that produced four children, six grandchildren, and, as of this writing, four great-grandchildren with two more on the way. I made a choice at that time in my life that turned out to be the correct one, and on February 4, 1956, June and I were married, and never, not for one moment, have I ever regretted the decision I made.”
I’ve re-read this several times since then, and it still makes me smile every time I read the line, “Wow, what a dish!”
Bill, you’ve had a great life, and you’ve made mine even better by knowing you. I know that you’re dancing with June in heaven right now, but I want you to know that I’ll miss you.
Great story but if my father was editing that story, it was 63 years not 36 years. Thank you very much for sharing that story and all your kind words.
Every visit to Houston I looked forward to seeing you with your extraordinary welcoming way!! Rest in peace Bill, I will miss you.
God Bless, Love Trish