Bill Hirneise

William Dennis Hirneise passed quietly in his sleep on July 5, 2025, joining his beloved wife, Linda, who preceded him in death in 2021. Born on October 1, 1941, in Lima, OH, he was 83 years old. Bill is survived by his sons, Rich Hirneise and his wife, Ammy, and Bart Hirneise and his wife, Robyn; his grandchildren, Will Hirneise, Alec Hirneise, Maddy Hirneise, Emma Hirneise, and Dylan Hirneise; and his sisters, Lynda Makley and Carol Rable.

Bill grew up in Lima, Ohio, where he graduated from St. Gerard Catholic School. He later earned a degree in finance from The Ohio State University. After college, Bill joined the Navy, became a pilot, and flew S-2s off the USS Hornet during the Vietnam War.

While in naval flight training in Corpus Christi, TX, he met the love of his life, a first-year teacher named Linda Hatcher. The two were married on Coronado Island, CA, in 1967, and spent 53 happy years together.

After the Navy, Bill flew for Delta Air Lines for 31 years, receiving special commendation for his performance during a hijacking to Cuba in 1981. Upon retirement in 2001, he dedicated his life to two things: his grandkids and his golf game.

While he never mastered that “perfect little draw,” Bill did perfect the art grandfathering. Baba—who later morphed into Bob—would spend hours taking the grandkids tubing, for golf cart rides to the candy store, and on adventures to “the wild area,” aka the Kiowa washouts.

A great conversationalist, Bill could talk the ear off a can of corn. Always opinionated, sometimes controversial, he kept every conversation interesting. He also had a knack for giving good, steady advice (whether it was needed or not), which helped his sons—and many of their friends—grow into their best selves.

Bill and Linda loved to travel. From taking the whole Hirneise crew to Destin each year to traveling with the infamous Margarita Group, he loved seeing the world. Secretly though, we think his favorite trip each year was attending the Senior Hickman Invitational golf tournament organized by his best friend, Jim Hickman.

A wonderful dad, grandfather, husband, uncle, and friend to so many, Bill’s life is remembered through the people and lives he touched along the way. We are grateful for the memories, the lessons, and above all, the love he had for his family.

A celebration of Bill’s life will be held on Friday, August 1, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. at Geo. J. Carroll Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Home Hospice of Grayson, Cooke & Fannin Counties if so inclined.