William Zeiss

William Edwin "Bill" Zeiss, 81, former advertising director for the Tyler newspapers, died late Monday. Services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday at Fairwood United Methodist Church with the Rev. Rick Tate officiating. Burial is scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday at Ryall Cemetery in Jasper under direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home in Tyler. Zeiss began his career with the Tyler Paper in June 1961. He was named retail advertising manager in March 1965 and retired in June 1991. "I was fortunate to be able to work closely with Bill Zeiss during the entire number of years that he was one of the valuable members of the Tyler newspaper organization," said Calvin Clyde Jr., chairman of the board for the Tyler Paper. "As I recall, Bill had no prior newspaper employment experience, but quickly showed one of his strongest aptitudes when given a chance to learn and to make valuable use rapidly in his new knowledge. "Even with the heavy leadership role and personal workload that soon became his, Bill maintained his high regard for additional advanced education, and added an advanced college degree under an executive workload not many would have attempted," Clyde said. "His unexpected loss has taken a former colleague and an enduring friend." In 1975, he served as president of the Texas Newspaper Advertising Managers Association and became advertising director of the Tyler newspapers in 1976, In 1984, he was elected to the board of directors of T.B. Butler Publishing Co. Inc. Zeiss was born Oct. 8, 1926, in Brenham to the late William Owen and Gladys May Whitmore Zeiss. He was a graduate of Brenham High School and Blinn Junior College. He attended Texas A&M University before going to East Texas State University, where he received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees. He was a veteran of the Army, having obtained the rank of sergeant. He moved to Tyler in 1957 as manager of the American National Insurance office and was a member of Glenwood United Methodist Church, where he was chairman of the board in 1977 and 2006. He served as a lay delegate for Glenwood UMC to the annual Methodist conference in 1979, 2005 and 2006. Zeiss was very proud of having been a 16 gallon blood donor. He had been a past officer in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (B.P.O.E.), past president of the Jasper Rotary Club and former member of the Breakfast Optimists Club in Tyler. Survivors include his wife of 59 1/2 years, Patsy Sue Ryall Zeiss, Tyler; son, William Adrian Zeiss, Dallas; daughters, Tanya Darlene Zeiss Atwood and Kimberly Hitt, both of Tyler; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Roy Atwood, Terry Hitt, Britton Atwood, Taylor Knight, Parker Cuvelier and Mike Paulsen. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Highway, Tyler. For more information and to share your condolences please visit www.stewartfamilyfuneral.com.

William Zeiss

October 8, 1926 - January 7, 2008