William "Bill" James Rood

William “Bill” James Rood of Abilene, TX left this Earth on 15th of March to fly high with his Lord and Savior. He loved the Lord with all his heart, and we know that he was greeted by the words, “Well done, Good and Faithful Servant”.

A Celebration of Life will be held April 19th, 1:00 p.m., Westminster Presbyterian Church, Abilene, TX

Bill Rood was born in Steuben, Oneida Co, NY on November 11, 1932, and resided in Cato, NY thru high school. During his youth he was in the Boy Scouts and attended their Jamboree in 1950 at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Cato-Meridian High School in May of 1952 and six months later, in December of 1952 Bill joined the United States Army and was sent to Fort Riley, Kansas for Basic Training. During his time in the Army, he was promoted to Drill Sergeant. His final year was spent at Fort Carson, CO and where he was honorably discharged in December of 1954 and serving eight years in the reserves. He served in the 10th Mountain Regiment & 86th Infantry Co.

Upon his honorable discharge from the Army, he returned to New York and worked in the construction business. In 1957 he decided to travel out West to Wichita, KS to visit his two sisters who with their husbands had moved to Wichita, KS earlier. On his way to visit his sisters, he was driving across Canada, had a car accident which took all the money he had saved for the trip, so he was broke by the time he arrived in Wichita, KS. His sister was working for Western Auto, so he found a job at the Western Auto Warehouse, working in the warehouse. While working there he met and married the love of his Life, Mona Lee Haag, an employee in the office of the warehouse.

He married Mona Lee Haag September 13, 1958, in Wichita, Kansas and forgot about returning to New York.

Bill transitioned from warehouse to Truck Driver, to managerial positions in Western Auto Retail stores, to representative in Wholesale Dept. to a Company auditor.

In 1968 the Roods moved from Wichita, KS to Lawton, OK as Bill had been transferred to

the Wholesale Dept. as a Western Auto representative and called on Western Auto Associate Stores within his assigned territory.

In Sept of 1975 the Roods moved from Lawton, OK to Gardendale, TX, where Bill set up his Quarter Horse Operation on Rawhide Acres with 9 quarter horses which continued until his job took him on the road. Bill served on the Gardendale Volunteer Fire Department, supported their Little League Baseball and Gardendale Park Board.

Bill Rood was employed by Western Auto for over 42 years retiring in 1999. Bill and Mona returned to Gardendale, Texas in 1999 and made their home in retirement.

Bill was an avid golfer. If there was a golf course near when he traveled, he was on it. He played just about every golf course in each town that had a Western Auto store that he called on as a Western Auto Representative.

After retiring from Western Auto, he went to work on the Ratliff golf course in Odessa, TX. He had played golf all over the United States while traveling for Western Auto, so he was able to work at a golf course and play all the golf he wanted to for free. It was his dream job come true. At that time he was 66 and did not retire AGAIN until he was 80 from the golf course. He played golf two times a week until the move to Abilene in 2013.

Bill Rood was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Abilene, TX and had previously served as Sexton at First Presbyterian Church in Odessa, TX where he was a member for many years before moving to Abilene.

In October of 2013 they sold their property in Gardendale, TX and moved to Abilene, TX to be near their daughter where they have lived for over 10 years.

Surviving are his wife, Mona, three children, Jamie Rood and (Marcella), of Austin, TX, Lee Ann and (Beth) Rood of Abilene, TX and Jody Rood of Austin, TX, step grandchild, Mariela Gunera, Kaleb Rood (Hope) of San Antonio, TX, Seth Rood (Rachel) of San Antonio, TX, Sydney Rood of San Antonio, TX, Ransom, Noa and Wilder Rood of Abilene and step great grandchild, Jamie Gunera, and great grandchild, Eliott Stone Rood.

Bill Rood was a lifetime member of the American Legion Post # in Fairview, Kansas.

Bill Rood was truly a gentle soul. Throughout his years, he made lifelong friends and was known for his kindness and gentle spirit.

In lieu of flowers, you may make a donation to a veteran’s organization, Tunnel To Towers Foundation, 2361 Hyland Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10306 or the website www.t2t.org.