William “Bill” Milton McDonald, age 82, passed away on Thursday, July 13, 2023, in New Braunfels, Texas.
Bill is survived by his loving wife of 27 years, Joy Ann McDonald; daughter, Miltie McDonald Devin of San Antonio; son, Touchstone Kyte McDonald (Jill) of San Antonio; step-children, Jeff DuBose (Heather), Jana Seibert (Marvin) and Jill Curtis (Darrell); grandchildren, Kyte, Maddox, Leavy, Peyton, Maggie, Jennifer, Chelsea, Jacob, Jace, Aaron, Audra, Nolan, Jerrod, Jordan, Caleb and Colton, 26 great-grandchildren, 3 great-great-grandchildren and sister, Kathleen McDonald Ware.
A lifelong South Texan, he was born on August 13, 1940, to Milton “Mac” Ross & Gladys Touchstone McDonald. Bill graduated from Devine High School and continued his education at Trinity University where he graduated with his Bachelor of Science degree. After college, he served his country as a Lieutenant in the United States Army. Upon completion of his service, he made his home in Lytle, TX where he started a family and began farming. He farmed his family’s land both close to home in Lytle as well as near Pearsall on the Wolfe Ranch (now known to the family as the San Miguel) and joined Vogel and Fey Farms and Valliant Vegetable Company as one of the owners. Bill created his own language known as Woop Talk (Woop is Wolf) and the family still speaks it today. He loved the outdoors, was an avid hunter and might we say an excellent shot and traveled across North America in search of trophy animals of which his beautiful mounts suggest he got them all. He was a volunteer of the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo on the Operations Committee and took pride in ensuring the arena dirt was top notch for all athletes, two-legged and four. Due to his hard work as a volunteer, he helped SALE get “Rodeo of the Year” for 14 years in a row and held a Director Emeritus position upon his passing. Bill was on the Board of Lytle State Bank for 47 years of which 13 were as Chairman of the Board, a bank that his grandfather, Dr. R.B. Touchstone chartered and father, Milton Ross McDonald served as President until his passing. Bill was a quiet man so when he spoke, people listened. He was genuine and caring which made people want to be around him.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Milton and Gladys; brother Robert “Bob” Bayard McDonald; sister, Mary McDonald Johnson and son-in-law, Robert S. Devin Jr.
A Celebration of Life will be held on August 12, 2023, at Schattenbol at DeCock Farms, 2374 US-90 E. Castroville, TX 78009 from 5:30pm to 9:30pm. The family welcomes anyone who was in some way touched by him to come by and share stories, remember the great man that he was and maybe ask a few of us how to speak Woop. Why? Because we ubbards tabetsy porsoure (we love him infinitely and without question) and wish to celebrate the amazing man he was.