Obituary for William “Billy” Thiele

Ponca City Now - May 17, 2022 4:41 pm

William Thiele

October 8, 1945 – May 12, 2022

William (Billy) Joseph Thiele, 76, passed away Thursday, May 12th, 2022, at his home in Ponca City, OK, surrounded by loved ones and friends. A Graveside Ceremony will be held at 2:00 PM, Friday, May 20, 2022, at Resthaven Memorial Park. A procession of classic cars will escort Billy to the cemetery. Cars should begin to arrive at 12:00 PM in the Trout Funeral Home parking lot and will be leaving the funeral home at 1:15 PM. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Crematory, 505 W Grand Ave, Ponca City, OK 74601.

William was born October 8th, 1945, in Blackwell, OK, the youngest of 4 children to Edwin and Lela Thiele. He attended grade school at Excelsior school in Kay County, OK and graduated from Ponca City High School in 1963. After High School, Billy studied Auto Trim and Interior at Oklahoma State Tech in Okmulgee, OK and graduated in 1965.

He enlisted in The Oklahoma National Guard and attended basic training in Fort Bliss, TX in 1967 and advanced training at Fort Huachuca, AZ then assigned to the Field Artillery unit in Blackwell, OK.

In his younger years, he held many positions in the construction and automotive industries to include a position as a skilled auto interior technician for Georges’s seats and upholstery. He eventually settled into a career as a Pipefitter in the local Union, for which he traveled for up to months on end nationally and internationally including the Dakotas, the East Coast, Ireland and Great Britain.

His hobbies and interests included motorcycles, cars, clock repair, traveling, radio repair and generally working on anything mechanical or technical. He was an AHRA Drag Racing Class Champion as well.

He had a zest for life and enjoyed causing a stir and getting a rise out of anyone that he could when the opportunity presented itself, including some of Blackwell’s Finest police officers. Whatever he was doing, no matter how random, he loved having friends and family around to enjoy it with.

He was married to Brenda Swinford in June 1981, to which two children were born, a son, Aaron Thiele and a daughter, Kayla Thiele. They were divorced in 1993.

He is survived by his siblings Raymond and Ruth Thiele, Leroy Thiele and Carolyn Miller, his children Aaron Thiele and Jessica Derossett, and Kayla Thiele. Other survivors are his grandchildren, Ian Jinkens, Riley Thiele, Danielle Thiele, Britten Knox, Jackson Daniels, Damian and Loralie Bilyeu; as well as, many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother-in-law and close friend Bobby Miller.

Source: Trout Funeral Home