Services to celebrate and honor Billy's life will be held 2:00 PM Friday August 1, 2025 at the South Lakes Chapel of Vondel L. Smith & Son Mortuary. There will not be any viewing or visitation at the funeral home.

Billy Wayne Vandiver passed away peacefully on July 26th, 2025, at the age of 90 years old. He was born on January 13th, 1935, to Ernest and Lettie Vandiver.

While attending Silsbee (TX) High School, he met the love of his life, Betty Gilmore. They married two years after graduating and celebrated 70 years of marriage. They were lifelong members of Southern Baptist Churches, both in Texas and Oklahoma.

He received his bachelor's degree and master's degree from Lamar University. He worked his way through the ranks of Goodyear Tire Company, becoming the North America Human Resources Director. After retirement, he founded a consulting business, where he collaborated with numerous Fortune 500 companies across North America. His greatest passion, however, was writing novels.

He has authored four published books: The Lakota Bounty Hunter, Mule's Gold, The Black Hills Massacre, 12 Steps to Death, and the forthcoming, Vegas. His love for writing kept him busy throughout retirement.

Bill loved his family, and his greatest joy in life was taking pride in all that his children and grandchildren did. You could find him at cross-country meets, band concerts, or other events in which they were participating, wearing his famous Texas A&M Aggies hat.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents.

Bill leaves behind his loving family:

Wife, Betty Vandiver;

Daughter, Lisa Buck and her husband, Steven Buck;

Grandchildren: Savannah Prock and her husband, Daniel Prock; Avery Abeln and her husband, Cullen; Kinzey Buck; Kirbey Buck, Isaiah Buck and Jeremiah Buck;

Great Grandchildren: Judah Prock and Bentley Prock.