William "Bill" Hurley Few Jr.
September 15, 1932 ~ September 23, 2022

William Few was the first born son of William H. Few, Sr. and Elva Jewell Cleveland Few. In the late 1930's the family moved to the "Mill Block" in Love Field for his dad's employment. His dad slipped and fell on a banana peel at work and suffered severe back pain the remainder of his life. With the insurance settlement, Mr. Few bought land on Shady Trail in Dallas and built their first home, a small, two-room house. They later added two more bedrooms, a kitchen, and bath.
The family was suffering financially due to Mr. Few's injury, so Bill decided to join the U.S. Air Force on his 18th birthday, thinking he could send money back home each month to help support his four siblings. He excelled quickly and became a jet plane mechanic. He built a "flight shack," and other mechanics asked him to make them a "flight shack" also. After serving two years, two months, and nine days, he was discharged to go home and help financially. One stipulation in the discharge required that he be employed upon dismissal from the Air Force. He secured a position with Manor Baking Company in Dallas to be employed as a door-to-door bread salesman. When he arrived home, he learned that the family owed Chambers' Grocery Store almost $800.00. He took his mom each week to buy groceries and would pay an additional amount on the debt until it was paid. He also purchased a used Chevy to transport the family.

The Field City Baptist Church Valentine Banquet in 1953 was coming up, and he had no date. A friend needed a ride for his date, so he asked Bill if he would furnish transportation to the banquet. Bill didn't have a date, so the friend told him to call Joan Butler, the Valentine Queen. She accepted, and they began dating. During a revival at the Field City Baptist Church a few months later, Bill came down the aisle and announced that he had been called by His Lord to preach the Gospel. Mrs. Few shouted in a Baptist church that night.

By this time, Mrs. Few had employment with the Dallas ISD as a pastry cook, and the family's financial status became much better. Prior to this time, when Bill would mention marriage to Joan, the question would always come up as to what would happen to the family when Bill could no longer assist. With the question answered, Bill and Joan were married on October 8, 1953, in Field City Baptist Church.

In June 1954, Bill began his education at Decatur Baptist College (now Dallas Baptist University). Joan continued employment downtown Dallas in a CPA's office. In the fall of 1955, they moved to Brownwood to attend Howard Payne University. Bill graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1957 and their first son, William Elkanah, was born just a month before his graduation.

Prior to graduation, Bill was called to Pastor the Indian Creek Baptist Church, where they met two Sunday's each month, alternating worship services with the Methodists. Bill, Joan, and Kanah began a new venture when they moved to Fort Worth for Bill to attend Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He earned a Bachelor of Divinity Degree in 1963 and a Master of Divinity Degree in 1973.
While he was attending Southwestern, Bill was called to Pastor the Bethlehem Baptist Church near Crockett, Texas. They had a parsonage for Bill and Joan to live near the church. During this time Bill commuted to Fort Worth each Tuesday and returned home late Friday afternoon.

After serving in Crockett for 3 ½ years, Bill was called to Pastor the Knight Lane Baptist Church in Irving. Shortly after moving to Irving, second Kelvin Hurley Few, was born; followed by Candace Joan Few the next year. Bill pastored the Knight Land Baptist Church (later named Memorial Baptist Church of Irving) from 1963 to 2015.
In 2014, Bill fell off the back steps and fractured his upper arm, which was the beginning of a downward spiral physically. After several months of treatment, he was admitted to Avante' Rehab in Irving, where he served as "In-house Chaplain" for the next five years. COVID halted all worship services and shut down Avante' for an entire year.

Bill was a student of God's Word and considered to be a theologian by some. He wrote out his sermons; and for many years, Joan typed a copy for everyone to read and take home. He would always say that the manuscript kept him on track, keeping him from "chasing rabbits" and preaching too long. When he was forced to retire in 2015 due to health issues, he tearfully kept repeating from his wheelchair that he did not want to retire. Our Heavenly Father provided a way for Bill Few to preach another five years until his 87th birthday. He loved and served His Lord, preaching 64+ years. He could say with Paul, "I've fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."

Survived by Joan, his devoted wife of 69 years; one son, Kelvin Hurley Few, grand children, great-grand children, sister, Doris Tidwell, brother, Freddie Few and many other family members and friends.

Preceded in death by his parents; brother, Max Few; sister, Loretta Land-Armstrong; his children, Candace Joan Donaldson in 2014 William Elkanah Few in 2021 and infant son, Keaton Cleveland Few in 1968.

Funeral services will be held September 30, 2022 in Irving. Interment will follow at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Dallas, Texas...BRFH

 Forest Lawn Cemetery, Dallas, Dallas County, Texas