William Kitzman

William Bernard Kitzman

Bill Kitzman was born October 6, 1931 to Henry Louis Kitzman and Martha Helen Ehlert Kitzman on Adams Flat Road in rural Waller County, Texas.  He was the fifth in a family of eight surviving children.  Although they had few worldly goods, they grew up as an exceptionally close and supportive group.  After their mother’s death when Bill was nine years old, they all had to learn to work together in order to remain intact as a family and not be adopted out to others.

Bill graduated from Pattison High School and attended Blinn College, where he performed janitorial duties in exchange for his room and board – an arrangement that was later picked up by his younger brother, Oliver.  In 1951, Bill joined the Air Force, serving on active duty until 1955, and subsequently for three years as a Staff Sergeant in the reserves.  He then worked as a research technician at MD Anderson Hospital and subsequently at Rice University.

On June 3, 1961, Bill married Mary Grace Taylor at the Baptist Temple in Houston.  They were blessed with two sons.  In 1974, he began a banking career in Brookshire which would last for over 30 years.

Bill is survived by Mary Grace Kitzman, his wife of 63 years; by their sons Kenneth Victor and Daniel Lee Kitzman, along with their wives Jill and Twana; by three beloved grandchildren - Andrew, Jessica (with her husband, Nick Conforti) and Jason; by his dear sister-in-law Carolyn Kitzman; as well as by numerous loving nieces and nephews.

Modest, quiet, patient, always kind, Bill lived a life of service to God and to his community.  In Houston, he was a member of the Big Brothers of America mentoring association, where he made a lifelong impact on a young man whose father was killed in Viet Nam.  For over 45 years, he was an active member of the Brookshire-Pattison Lion’s club, culminating in his reception of the Melvin Jones Fellowship award.  For over 40 years, he was the area blood drive coordinator for the Gulf Coast Blood Center; a lifelong donor, he personally contributed a legendary amount of his own blood – in excess of 20 gallons – to the cause.  He was a faithful member of the First United Methodist Church of Brookshire, where he served in positions from Sunday School teacher to Board Chairman.

Bill set a lifelong example of love for Christ and service to his fellow man.  He was also a loving husband, father, and grandfather, with a clever wit and an extensive collection of funny poems and stories.

s.