William "Bill" E. Denny

William (Bill) E. Denny

William (Bill) E. Denny went to be with his Lord on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, shortly after his 87th birthday. He was born in Carlsbad, New Mexico on Sept. 21, 1925. His dad was John William Denny, a pioneer in the oilfield industry in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Magic City, Texas. His mom was Ella Jane Holstein of West Virginia. Bill was raised in the oil fields of Lance Creek, Wyoming. He was one of seven children and his remaining sister, Eleanore, resides in Enid, Oklahoma.

Bill was active in high school sports, and graduated from Manville High School in Manville, Wyoming. Three months later he joined the Army Air Corps to serve his country in World War II. Stationed in Burma, he flew "the hump" from Burma to China delivering gasoline to fuel America's B-17 bombers. Bill had the courage of those of the Greatest Generation. After the war, he played minor league baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals. His dad encouraged him to quit and find real work. He returned to Wyoming and met and married Nina Belle Lamb on December 10, 1950. Bill began his career in the propane industry in 1951 with Wyoming Gas Service in Lusk, Wyoming. He also honed his skills at fly fishing and hunting in Wyoming and Montana for the next several years. Bill then began a long successful career with Petrolane. He traveled the world and represented his company with integrity and honesty serving as President of the LP Gas Division. Among many other successes, Bill served as the President of the National LP Gas Association. He retired after 37 years with Petrolane but didn't stay idle for long. He helped form an insurance venture tailored to the propane industry. Then Bill retired to enjoy his life with Nina and perfect his golf game. Arizona provided him the ideal home for both.

Bill helped many people start their own careers and find their success along the way. His co-workers and peers in the industry became lifelong friends. Business people still sought his counsel long after he retired. Many thanks to the good people of Petrolane for making his work a privilege and so fulfilling.

Over the years Bill helped found and build two churches, was a volunteer fireman and served in many civic organizations in the communities where he lived.

He will always be honored and missed by Nina, loving and dedicated wife of 62 years, son Lee and wife Carol Denny of Lusk, Wyoming, Jay and wife Beverly Denny of Dallas, Texas, Kent and wife Brenda Denny of Houston, Texas, and daughter Andrea and husband Dennis Heath of Graham, Texas. He was further blessed with nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

He made time to play with his kids, teaching them how to hunt, fish, ice skate, ride a bicycle, shoot a .22 and catch a fly ball. He attended every painful piano recital, enjoyed the band and choir concerts and ball games of his growing kids. He never wavered in his love for Nina, who was his anchor in life. His Irish heritage afforded him a wonderful sense of humor, and an enthusiastic love of life, dancing in the kitchen with Nina and making his toddlers laugh with his "Donald Duck" impersonations. He was a supportive and loving dad in good and bad times. He passed through this life to the next with the unending love and respect of his family.

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