William (Bill) Arthur Berger

William (Bill) Arthur Berger, 98, passed away peacefully on New Years Day, Wednesday, January 1, 2025.  Bill was born April 18, 1926, in Victoria Texas to the late Fred William and Lena Reuter Berger.

The oldest of six children, at the age of 17 and with his parents’ permission, he enlisted at Fort Sam Houston in January of 1944.  He trained in Texas, Arizonia, Florida, Michigan and finally North Hampton England, where he was assigned to the 92nd Bomb Squad and the 327th Bomber Squadron.  His crew was trained in combat, aerial maneuvers and gunnery.   Later in life he spoke about those successful missions as a tail gunner. One happened on his birthday, April 18, 1945.   While on a mission and flying formation, the lead plane took a hit and exploded. The force of the blast caused the second plane to flip upon the third and they both exploded.  His plane felt the blast and as he looked to his right, saw a burning engine headed toward them. He yelled on the intercom “hard right rudder!” The pilot did just that and it saved their plane. Bill flew only one more mission the next day and was told to stand down.  Then came the end of the war in Europe and Berger’s life as a combat tail gunner was over. 

He returned home and met Ruby Nell Dreier and they were married on September 30, 1946, in Victoria County.  Bill and Ruby enjoyed life and were blessed to share 77 years together along with their three sons.  On December 25, 2023, Bill lost a big part of his life with the passing of Ruby.

Bill served in the Air Force Reserve for over 20 years.  After doing a brief stint as a delivery driver for RC Cola and Nehi Beverage. Bill then became a DPS trooper in 1947 where he was assigned as a driver license examiner, and Bill spent 33 years and 10 months in that position. While on duty in Nixon in 1951, Bill was almost shot in the line of duty.  He had gone into a bank to have a check cashed, but the bank was being robbed while he was there.  He had his uniform on, and the robbers thought he had been called to the scene.  One took a shot at Bill, but it hit the teller window as shrapnel hit Bill. He hit the floor and played dead like he had been trained in the military and survived.  After serving nearly 34 years as a DPS officer, Bill retired and then became the Justice of the Peace of Gonzales County on July 1, 1981.  He served in that position for 20 years before retiring in 2002.  Bill Berger was a STUDENT.  WARRIOR. FATHER.  DPS OFFICER. and JUDGE.

Bill is survived by his sons Robert Berger (JoAnn), Richard Berger, and Randall Berger (Trish), Grandchildren; Wayne Berger, (Mariah) of Cuero, Keith Berger of Gonzales, Jessica Baldassari (Matthew) of Schertz, Michelle Berger Schoener of Victoria, Ashley Berger (Dominic Vega) of Meyersville.  Brother Fred Alvis Berger (Marie) and sister-in-law Lillian Berger and a great-grandson Aaron Berger.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents, wife, brothers, Allen Berger (Edna Mae) and Baltus James Berger, sisters, Doris Liest Eichman (Daniel & William Loest) and Marjorie Tater (Charlie).

The family will receive friends from 5 pm to 7 pm Monday, January 7, 2025 in Seydler-Hill Home, with prayers of the Holy Rosary following at 7 pm. A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 10 am, Tuesday, January 7, 2025 in St. James Catholic Church with Fr. Paul Raaz as celebrant. Interment will follow in Hermann Sons Cemetery.  Pallbearers include government dignitary and friends Pat Davis, Johnnie Hall, Ronald Holub, Ken Hedrick, Keith Schmidt and Pete Cenotti.  Honorary pallbearers include Jim Connally, Tim Markham and Richard Dawson.      

For those who wish, memorials may be made to Heart to Heart Hospice, St James Catholic Church or The Heights of Gonzales. The family wishes to express their gratitude to the Heights of Gonzales for their loving care of their mom and dad for the last 2 years and 10 months. Friends may leave their condolences to the family by visiting www.seydlerhillfuneralhome.com

Services are under the care and direction of Seydler-Hill Funeral Home.