William Dolphin Gathright Jr.

William Dolphin Gathright Jr., born in Corsicana, Texas, on Sept. 15, 1945, passed July 16, 2025. He was the son of the late William Dolphin Gathright Sr. and Rosa Iona Hopkins, and stepson to the late Dr. J.B. Riggs.
Bill, as he was known later in life, was a loving father and husband who had the privilege of seeing two great-grandchildren be born before his passing. His hardworking and easygoing nature made him well liked and respected by both his employees and friends. He put effort into everything he did, but what he was truly great at was being a wonderful father to his two sons.
Billy, as he was known then, was a Varsity Football player for the Groesbeck Goats, and met his first wife Sherry Kay Myers while attending Groesbeck High School before graduating in 1963.
He attended East Texas State and graduated with a Bachelors degree in 1968. He got his first job after college with Sears and would go on to open two hardware stores in Teague and Wortham. His second calling in life would be 17 years as a Commissioned Peace Officer and Superintendent for Texas Parks & Wildlife at Matagorda Island State Park and Mustang Island State Park near Port Aransas, Tx, where he would meet his second wife, Mimsy Suzette Kendrick.
He was an avid triathlete who competed in the Texas Water Safari and earned a brown belt in Karate. When not at the gym, he could be found cheering on or cursing the Dallas Cowboys.
He loved being on the water or at the beach watching his two boys surf, and never missed a Jimmy Buffett concert.
Bill is survived and missed by his wife, Mimsy Gathright, his sons Darrin (Lisa) and Will Gathright, and his grandsons, Dustin (Celina), Travis, and Dillon Gathright.
His great-granddaughter Ada Gathright and his great-grandson Waylon Gathright will no doubt
grow up hearing endless stories of their great-grandfather.