Final “Good Bye” for Bill

Bill Chalko

On August 5th, 2021, family, relatives, friends and
Knights of Columbus gathered at St. Joseph’s
Catholic Church in Arlington to bid farewell to Bill
Chalko for the last time. William “Bill” John Chalko
Jr., son of William J. and Josie Chalko passed away
on July 27th 2021 after an extended illness. Bill is
survived by his wife of 44 years, Sandy, and sons
William and Donald and daughter Paula. Bill had a
larger than life personality and will always be
remembered for always trying to get people to smile.
Bill was born on July 16, 1945 and raised in Corpus
Christi. He initially attended a local junior college
after graduating from Ray High School before joining
the Marine Corp in December 1966. He spent 22 ½
years in service to his country including two tours of
duty in Vietnam where he was awarded a Purple
Heart. It was during Bill’s time in the Marines that
he met Sandy, one day before he was scheduled to
end a stay in South Korea in autumn of 1976. He
returned in 1977 and asked her father for her hand in
marriage. Bill’s final assignment with the Marines
was at NAS Grand Prairie. He spent the rest of his
working life at Solar Turbines in DeSoto Texas as a
material planner analyst where he retired in 2011.
Bill was gladly following in his father’s footsteps
when he eagerly joined the Knights of Columbus as a
teenager in Corpus Christi in autumn 1964. His
contributions to the Knights of Columbus in general
and to our Council in particular were recognized
when Bill was awarded an honorary lifetime
membership by Supreme. “I thought it was a thrill to
be joining an organization that my father was in,” Bill
said. Bill was a past Council 8157 Grand Knight (the
1997-98 and ’98-99 fraternal years), his term
including the purchase of the original barbeque
trailer. He previously served as Dick Bates’ Deputy
Grand Knight and Chancellor before that. A year
after being Grand Knight, Bill became District
Deputy, supervised the establishment of a council in
Ferris and saw his territory awarded Star District.
Like his farther he rose to fourth Degree. In his
introductory address as Grand Knight in the July
September newsletter, Bill stated his desire that our
council be ”the best council in Texas and across the
nation.” When he handed the reins over to Ron
Soriano in July 1999, he assured the council was
headed to greater heights.
Bill’s enjoyment
throughout his years of service to the Knights? “The
people,” he said. “The desire to help people”. That
sentiment has been adhered to since his departure.
And even though his presence now can only be felt in
our hearts, his influence will last forever. We shall
sorely miss Mr. Bill Chalko