Donald William “Bill” Fryrear
Donald William “Bill” Fryrear, 85, passed away on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, in Big Spring, Texas.
The family will hold visitation at Myers and Smith Funeral Home at 301 E. 24th St, Big Spring, Texas, on Sunday, May 22, from 3-5 p.m. Memorial services will be held on Monday, May 23, at 10 a.m. at Midway Baptist Church in Big Spring. Burial will follow at Trinity Cemetery; arrangements are by Meyers and Smith Funeral Home.
Bill was born in Haxtun, Colo., to Willie and Marjorie Fryrear on December 8, 1936. Along with his three older sisters, he grew up on the family wheat farm. In high school he was part of the Future Farmers of America and a stand-out football player. Bill's family farm was deeply important to him and served as the source of his lifelong passion for improving agriculture. After high school he earned multiple degrees, including an Associate in Arts in pre-engineering from Northeastern Junior College, where he was later honored as one of their most distinguished alumni. It was at Northeastern that Bill met his future wife, Sherry Watson. The two celebrated 65 years of marriage in 2021.
Bill's distinguished academic career took him on to Colorado State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering, and then to Kansas State University where he earned a master's degree in the same discipline.
After graduation Bill began his multi-decade career with the United States Department of Agriculture. There he pioneered new technologies that dramatically reduced erosion and improved crop yields around the world. The BSNE dust sampler he developed revealed major errors in existing wind erosion science and continues to be used by researchers around the world.
Bill has presented his work in Syria, Hungary,
Austria, Egypt, China, South Africa, Germany, Spain, Italy, Niger, Mali, and Mexico, and authored over 120 academic publications. His list of accolades is too lengthy to print here, but includes honors from the USDA, Colorado State University, Lamesa Cotton Growers Association, and the American Society of Agricultural Engineers.
While his professional and academic achievements are impressive, in his adopted home of Big Spring, Texas, Bill further distinguished himself as a devoted father and husband and a vital member of Midway Baptist Church. He served as head deacon for Midway Baptist, and personally oversaw construction of multiple expansions of the church building. Bill had a lifelong love of the outdoors and was an avid sportsman who took multiple hunting trips with his family throughout his life.
Anyone who knew Bill has experienced his love of conversation. He truly enjoyed speaking to people and had a gift for genuinely listening and making whoever he was speaking with feel like the most interesting person in the world. Throughout his international travels he never met a stranger; he had sincere respect and empathy for people of all walks of life.
Bill is preceded in death by his parents and two of his sisters, Donnie Oliver and Joyce Zwirn. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Sherry Fryrear, and their two children Ken Fryrear (wife Cindy) and Debra Farr (husband Richard, deceased); four grandchildren, Andrea Fryrear (husband Dan Partain), Jake Farr (wife Sadie), Brad Fryrear (wife Ginger), and Jill Driver (husband Cody); and nine great-grandchildren, Brennan and Caroline Partain, Hayes and Nick Fryrear, Wyatt and Wynn Farr, Knox and Kane Driver, and Zoie Hinton.
Pallbearers will be Dan Partain, Brad Fryrear, Jake Farr, Cody Driver, Brent Zitterkoff and Dan Watson.
Memorials may be given to Midway Baptist Church in honor of Bill Fryrear.
Pay your respects online at www.myersandsmith.com