William “Bill” Finch, Jr.

TYLER — William “Bill” Finch, Jr., 86, of Tyler, passed away on December 25, 2024, in Bullard, Texas. A memorial service will be announced at a later date.

William Whitman Finch, Jr. was born on March 7, 1938, in Odessa, Texas, to William Whitman Finch and Jessie Quintilla (Bozeman) Finch. He graduated from Sam Houston State University with a Master’s Degree in Education and dedicated over 30 years of his career to teaching and coaching, primarily in DeKalb and Jacksonville. Bill enjoyed spending time outdoors, engaging in activities such as fishing, camping, farming, and traveling across the country, ultimately visiting every state. He also applied his teaching skills to study and share the Bible in various settings, demonstrating a deep passion for spreading the Christian faith. Bill was involved in prison ministry and participated in mission trips to Africa, with a special highlight being a trip to the Holy Land with his wife, Maxine, to whom he was married for nearly 60 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Maxine (Grimes) Finch.

Survivors include his wife of seven years, Betty (Bonner) Finch; his children, William “Whit” Finch and wife Lisa, Tammy (Finch) Stephenson and husband Chuck, and David Rockland Finch and wife Marlynne; his sister, Mary (Finch) Hodges and husband Charlie along with their children Dawn (Hodges) Townsend and Paul Hodges; his grandchildren, Michelle (Stephenson) Dotson and husband Zane, Landry Finch and wife Audrey, Logan Finch, Bryan Stephenson, Cameron Finch and wife Laura, and Bailey Finch; and his great-grandchildren, Charli Kate Dotson, Brady Layne Finch, and Kelby James Dotson.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Heart to Heart Hospice Foundation.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Chandler Memorial Funeral Home family.