Billy graduated from Hallettsville High School in 1947, and he had been a very active participant in football, FFA, band, softball and the Brahma yearbook staff. Performing at local functions, Billy was a singing member of a quartet which included Bootsie Ehler, Norman Rubin, and Leon Smothers. He was also a volunteer firefighter for the city of Hallettsville. Upon graduation, he joined the US Navy to serve his country, and he completed his duty with the USN Reserves until 1955. Billy enrolled at Southwest Texas State Teacher's College in San Marcos, Texas, but shortly thereafter, returned to Hallettsville to open a business serving a variety of tasty recipes and good old fashioned hospitality, named "Devall's".

On December 19, 1954, Billy married Gladys Schaefer of Hallettsville at St. James Episcopal Church. Billy also worked for Tom Breeze as a surveyor. In 1955, he then began working for the Carnation Company in the San Antonio area as a route distributor and later a supervisor. Then Billy became a district manager to the Austin area and in 1962 moved his family to Luling to be an independent distributor for Carnation. Billy worked for the Carnation and Superior Dairies for over 25 years. He enjoyed helping the children at the Luling schools with special projects, such as FFA auctions, and he distributed countless ice cream treats for special occasions in the community.

Upon his retirement in 1982, he and his wife, Gladys, moved back to Appelt's Hill and enjoyed raising cattle. His other interest was hunting at the Eagle's Nest deer camp in Vienna. Billy enjoyed helping out Hubbard Wyatt at the feed store in town and also raking hay for neighbor, Leroy Schroeder, until 1999, when his declining health no longer allowed him to continue. Billy loved to hunt and fish, especially with his dad.

Other civic involvement included: Central Appraisal District Board member for many years, president of the Zion Lutheran Church, president and lifetime member of the Appelt's Hill Gun Club, chairman of the Lavaca County Texas Sportsman Association, and a volunteer driver for the American Cancer Society Road to Recovery Program.

Bill Devall is survived by his wife, Gladys; three daughters and sons-in-law, Vera and Kenneth Brown of Luling, Iris and Greg Grein of Seguin, and Virginia and Robert Axtell of San Antonio; five grandchildren, Kimberlee Bratcher & husband Wayne, Heather Hudgens & husband Michael, Trisha Nall & husband Greg, Cary Fullen & wife Jana, and John Fullen & wife Nichol; seven great-grandchildren; sister and brother-in-law Mary and Jerome Smith of Hallettsville; brother-in-law William Barry of Huntsville, Alabama; and numerous nieces and nephews. Billy was preceded in death by his brother and sister-in-law Sam B. and Christine Devall of Hallettsville; his sister Sara Barry of Huntsville, Alabama; and his parents.

Funeral Service: 2 pm, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011 at Zion Lutheran Church in Sublime, Texas. Visitation: 3 pm, Saturday, at Kubena Funeral Home. Prayer Service: 6:30 pm, Saturday, at Kubena Funeral Home. Pallbearers: Kenneth Brown, Greg Grein, Robert Axtell, Wayne Bratcher, Cary W. Fullen, John F. Fullen, Michael Hudgens, Greg Nall, and Ty Hudgens. Honorary Pallbearers: William Muhlstein, Lee Chambers, S. J. Grahmann, Russell Obelgoner, Martin Rightmer, Al Schneider, Leroy Schroeder, and Doyle West. Burial: Willow Creek Cemetery, near Vienna, Texas. Officiate: Rev. Herb Beyer. Memorials (In Lieu of Flowers): Zion Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 43, Sublime, TX 77986; Alzheimer Association, 3429 Executive Center Drive, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78731-1626; or Hospice of South Texas, 404 North Texana, Hallettsville, TX 77964.

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