William "Bill" Lee Quillen

William Lee (Bill) Quillen 84 of San Angelo passed away on February 12, 2024. Bill was born on May 24, 1939, in Houston, Texas. At a young age, his family moved to Dallas where he started the first grade at Walnut Hill grade school and graduated from Hillcrest High School in 1957. Bill attended Washington and Lee for two years, the University of Texas for one year, and graduated from Southern Methodist University in 1961 with a degree in banking and finance. He immediately reported for active duty in the U.S. Coast Guard serving five and a half years in active and reserve duty.

Upon leaving the Coast Guard, Bill returned to Dallas and took a position in the First National Bank of Dallas’ Management Training Program. After five years at the First National Bank of Dallas, Bill took a loan officer position at the Amarillo National Bank, spending four years with the Ware family. He then took a loan officer position with the State National Bank in Odessa – a member of First United Bankshares in Fort Worth. The move to Odessa was the beginning of 21 exciting years and five ownership changes. While in Odessa, Bill was a loan officer, Head of Lending, Chairman of the Board, President, and CEO, a position he held for 17 years. The bank is now a JPMorgan Chase bank.

After Bill retired in 1995, he and Carolyn moved to their ranch southeast of San Angelo where they began their second career. They retired from active ranching in 2019, turning over the operations to their sons.

Bill married Carolyn Upton on September 2, 1967. They were married for 56½ years and have two sons, Bill and Blake. Bill loved banking, hunting of any kind, dogs, his friends, his First Presbyterian church family, and a good two-inch rain.

Bill is survived by his wife, Carolyn, his sons, William Upton (Bill) Quillen and his wife, Ginger, and James Blake Quillen; two grandchildren, William Paul (Will) Quillen and Morgan Michelle Quillen; sister-in-law, Harriett Upton; nieces, Candice Upton Powell (Roy), Margaret Upton Porter (PJ), Susan Cortelyou Ray (Randy), Pamela Cortelyou Schoults (Brian); nephews, Lee Upton and Bill Cortelyou.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, John Lee and Ruth Dunn Quillen; his in-laws, William Cullen (Bill) and Eloise Barbee Upton; sister, Mary Ann Quillen Cortelyou; brother-in-law, William Herschel (Bud) Upton; grandparents, John William and Minnie Meyer Quillen, and Rev. Robert Franklin and Mary Luella Spruill Dunn. Rev. Robert Franklin Dunn was West Texas’ first Methodist circuit rider.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to PAWS, P.O. Box 2604, San Angelo, Texas 76902, West Texas Rehab Center or the charity of your choice.

A visitation will be held on Friday, February 16, 2024 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Harper Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held Saturday, February 17, 2024 at 2:00 PM at First Presbyterian Church of San Angelo.