William Joseph (Bill) Walaski, 78, passed away on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 2022, in Dallas, Texas.

Bill was born November 28, 1943, to Joseph M. and Gladys Davey Walaski in Coudersport, Pennsylvania. He was raised in a family of devote Catholics with two brothers and three sisters.

Growing up in Coudersport, he played basketball at Coudersport Area High School, worked various jobs including delivering newspapers and bagging peas at a local pea vinery, enjoyed watching wrestling and shooting pool with his friends. His small-town roots cultivated a strong work ethic and a deep love and respect for his family.

He joined the Army during the Vietnam War and was stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas where he met and married his wife, Soledad. He had a strong affection for El Paso where he raised his family and worked as a Transportation Supervisor with the Southern Pacific and Union Pacific Railroads. Eventually retiring, he moved to Rockwall, Texas to be closer to his children and grandchildren.

Bill was charming, funny, and generous. He enjoyed long conversations with family and friends and was genuinely interested in listening. He assigned people clever nicknames, liked to tell stories, and never rushed a conversation. He listened to country music, played Yahtzee, watched football, NASCAR and the news, drank too much coffee and recycled anything he could get his hands on. He spoke his own language and did things his own way. Above all else, he was committed to providing for his family.

Whether he was Billy, Dad, Pops, Grandpa, Brother Bill or Uncle Bill, he will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Bill is survived by his wife of 56 years, Soledad M. Walaski, his son James Robert Walaski (Michelle) of McLendon-Chisholm, and daughter Rebecca Walaski Sabin (James Troy) of Lucas, TX; grandchildren Korie Lynn Walaski, Evan Sabin, and Ryan Sabin; siblings Delores Taylor, Jean Grom (Don), and Gary Walaski (Sue) and many nieces and nephews

He was preceded in death by his beloved mother and father, siblings James T. Walaski and Nancy W. Chitester.

Visitation will be held from 4 PM to 8 PM with a Rosary at 7:00 PM, Tuesday, December 6th at Rest Haven Funeral Home, 3701 Rowlett Road, Rowlett, TX 75088. Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 AM, Wednesday, December 7, 2022, at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, 1305 Demascus Rd., Rockwall, TX 75087.

Interment will take place on Monday, December 12th at 9:30 AM at Fort Bliss National Cemetery in El Paso, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Corpus Christi Monastery, 451 Mockingbird Lane, El Paso, TX 79907.