William Joseph “Bill” Warnke, 85, passed away September 4, 2026. A holy mass will be held on Friday, September 18th at 1:00 p.m. in the Holy Family Chapel of Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Wichita Falls,Texas.

A family graveside service will be held at a later date.

Bill was born August 22, 1941, in Elk City, Oklahoma, to Bernice and Lawrence Warnke, the oldest of four children. The family was raised on a farm in Canute, Oklahoma, and Bill began his career in the oil field. A lifelong Catholic, Bill was a member of Our Lady Queen of Peace, a member of Mensa International, and a long-time fan of the University of Oklahoma Sooners. He was blessed with two daughters, Shelly and Paula.

Bill married Peggy Fudge in Chickasha, Oklahoma, and his family increased. After retiring from the ranching business in Rush Springs and Guthrie, Oklahoma, they moved to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina in 1999, to savor life at the beach with family. Bill owned a mobile locksmith business, and enjoyed volunteering at Second Helpings, where Peggy was executive director of the nonprofit that rescues and purchases food and donates it to local food pantries in the Hilton Head area.

Following Peggy’s death, Bill married long-time friend Sally Davis Holder, moved to Wichita Falls, and his family increased again, much to his happiness.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings Beth, Tony, and Jim; by his wife Peggy Fudge Warnke, daughter Shelly Warnke Wells, and grandson Kyle Krawtzow. He is survived by his wife Sally, sister-in-law Sue Warnke of Elk City, his daughters Paula Bowers (Mike) of Amarillo, Gretchen Goss (Ken) of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina; and Gennifer Crabb of Rush Springs, Oklahoma; Melanie Wright (Greg) of Wichita Falls, Brad Bassett (Stacy) of Rockwall, Texas; thirteen grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren, and many other beloved family members and friends, all of whom cherished his involvement, guidance, and sense of humor.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Hospice of Wichita Falls www.howf.org or Second Helpings - Hilton Head Island www.secondhelpingslc.org.