Born in his home during the Great Depression, not sure to make it through the night, William Earl Maxwell lived an incredible 91 years, taking new paths each time his path diverged in the woods, and learning not to look backwards. A First Lieutenant in the Army National Guard during the Cold War, an East Texas farmer and rancher, a high school teacher, a college professor, a realtor, and a published author of many books, he will most lovingly be remembered as a beloved husband, father, grandfather “Na”, and friend.

Kindness, generosity, dependability, and respect were guiding lights, and his example lives on through his family and those he befriended and mentored during different phases of his life—as a co-worker, a professor, and through AA in which he achieved 43 years of sobriety. When each of his children found themselves in an unfortunate predicament, it was to him that the phone call was made, and he was there in a heartbeat. He never imposed preconditions on anything. He gave them the freedom and power to make their own choices and mistakes, never interfering, yet he was always there to talk and work through decisions and problems.

He was hilarious, also, telling The Little Big Mouth Bird over and over to shrieks of laughter from his young children and their friends. His animated rendition of Preacher and the Bear was matched by no one. Pulling his metal pointer out of his pocket at restaurants, he would loudly proclaim a direct line to the president, to both the delight and eye rolls of his children. Earl’s blue eyes had a true twinkle that was as vibrant at 91 as at 1.

When he met his wife, Dana, they began a decades-long path together that involved travel adventures, deep love, respect, and companionship. Their adventures included evading a pickpocket on a tour bus in London, having a spiritual experience at Stonehenge, and camping amidst the Redwoods in California. Whether they were traveling or sitting on the bench in their front yard, it was spending the time together that they enjoyed the most.

Earl’s lifelong passion for history and government inspired his family and over forty years of students to stay informed about current affairs and to vote, to be active participants in choosing our leaders. He was always the person you’d want to explain current events and could point to the globe across the room and identify any country with precision, explaining its history.

Perhaps Earl’s favorite quote, which he would always recite perfectly from memory, was

The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,

Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit

Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,

Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.

By Omar Khayyám

“The Moving Finger” exemplifies Earl’s abiding practice, which was to work to live in the moment, to appreciate each day, and to avoid looking backwards with regret about things one can no longer control. We will endeavor to make this our practice, too, Dad.

Earl is survived by his wife, Dana; his children Gina Maxwell Ulbert (Kevin), Bill Maxwell (Amy), and Robert Maxwell; grandchildren Maxwell Ulbert, Maesie Ulbert, John Maxwell, and Jamie Maxwell;

and stepdaughters Gina Humble and Bethany Bearden (Chase). He also leaves behind numerous family and friends, including his dear friend, Dan Corbett. Earl was preceded in death by his first wife, Margaret (Tat), with whom he shared the blessing of their children, grandchildren, and a lifelong friendship.

We will be celebrating Earl’s well-lived life in Lovelady, Texas, on October 17 and in San Antonio on November 7. Please contact a family member for details.