William Hilton Chamblee (Bill) took his last breath on December 26, 2023.  He was 79 years old.  Bill was born to Mary Louise (Hilton) Chamblee and Herman Nathaniel Chamblee on October 28, 1944 in Shreveport, Louisiana.  The family moved to Dallas in 1948.  They attended Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas all of Bill's growing up years.  Bill graduated from Highland Park High School in 1964 and briefly attended Arlington State College before joining the Air Force.  He  served as a C-130 flight simulator specialist during the Vietnam War.  After being honorably discharged in l968 from the Air Force, Bill attended Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas and played college baseball.  He met Marcia (Gover) Chamblee at First Baptist Church, Abilene and they married on June 6, 1970 in El Paso, Texas.  After Marcia graduated, they moved to Denton in 1971 and Bill graduated from UNT with a B.S. degree in Physical Education in 1973.  He attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and graduated with a Masters in Religious Education in 1983; and was ordained to the ministry at FBC, Denton in 1984.

Bill and Marcia have three children:  Jim, Sarah, and Katherine.  He supported every activity they chose to participate in and was always their coach and/or biggest fan!  He had the privilege of leading all three of our children to the Lord, which is the most important decision each of them has ever made.  We are so blessed that all of our children are teaching our 8 grandchildren to know and receive God's love and how to share it with others.

Bill was hired in 1971 by Dr. L. L. Armstrong as part-time Minister of Recreation. He became First Baptist Church's first full-time Minister of Recreation in 1973. The Armstrong Christian Life Center was built in 1975 under Bill's supervision.  During his ministry years at FBC, Bill provided leadership for all activities scheduled in the building in addition to heading up the college ministry and Royal Ambassador program.  Bill also taught College Sunday School and Young Married Sunday School; led Bible studies on every Ski trip and RA backpack trip; led weekly college Bible studies; and mentored many young men who worked for him, played sports, or just "hung out" at the CLC.

Bill also refereed basketball, umpired softball, and refereed volleyball to help support his family.  He loved all sports - both watching them and playing them.  Bill was very active in the Texas Baptist Recreator Association, serving as an officer and making life-long friends with men and women who served in Church Recreation Ministries all over the country.  He also went on many 'work trips' to help build churches in Gunnison, Colorado; Flat Head Lake area of Montana; Lake Placid, New York; Costa Rica; and Prague, Czech Republic.  He also led sports camps in Botswana, Southern Africa and went to the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China to share the gospel with athletes and spectators from around the world.  After his retirement from First Baptist in 2008, Bill began the Sports Ministry Outreach which will continue on with volunteer help and provision from the Lord.

Bill is survived by his wife, Marcia; son, Jim Chamblee and wife Leslie of Highland Village, Texas; daughters, Sarah Armstrong and husband Jeremy of Cedar Park, Texas and Katherine Johnson and husband, Ben of Waco; brother, Stephen Chamblee of Dallas; and brother Tom, wife Susan and family of Tampa, Florida.  Bill was "Papa" to eight grandchildren: Trace and Hudson Chamblee; Ella, Hannah, and Lydia Armstrong; and Ava, Haley, and Levi Johnson. Bill was a living example of the quote he displayed in the Christian Life Center:  "Share the Gospel, When Necessary, Use Words".  Bill leaves a legacy that will continue for generations because he loved his Lord, his family, and friends well!  He touched many lives and will be greatly missed by all who knew him and loved him for the genuine, loving and kind man he was, and for the Savior he served, and in Whose presence he now stands.

A private family graveside service will be held on Wednesday, January 10, 2024 at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, Dallas, Texas.  A Celebration of Life service will be held on Thursday, January 11, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at First Denton (First Baptist Church), Denton, Texas.  In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Sports Ministry Outreach.

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