William “Bill” Leon Eash

1948 - 2020

Posted

William “Bill” Leon Eash, 71, of Bulverde, Texas, passed away in San Antonio, Texas, on April 18, 2020.  He was born on July 18, 1948, to William N. and Ruth A. (Miller) Eash in Washington, Iowa. 

He enjoyed Spurs basketball, the Boston Red Sox, wine and Arabian horses. His involvement with the horse industry included serving as a USEF Steward C 2 and as president and on the board of directors for the Alamo Arabian Horse Association, on the board of directors for the Alamo Dressage Association, as state representative for Arabian Horse Association Region IX, the Alamo Spring Fiesta Show manager, Alamo Dressage Association Show chair as well as serving on various Arabian Horse Association committees.

He showed his mare Gulf Coast Garnet to the Arabian Horse Association (AHA) Half-Arabian Anglo-Arabian Reserve National Championship Sport Horse Mares Amateur Handler in 2003 and Garnet was the AHA Half-Arabian Anglo-Arabian National Champion Sport Horse Mare shown by trainer Liz Petty in 2003. As amateur handler Bill showed Garnet to the HA/AA Mares AHA Region 9 Sport Horse Championship and the AHA Region 9 Dressage Training Level Amateur Owner Championship. He also showed his purebred mare Muscarene to a Top Five Hunter Pleasure AOTR 40-plus at Arabian Horse Association Region 9 Championships in 1993.

He worked with Henry Elliot & Company as a contractor and was a senior developer at Halfaker & Associates on VA projects. Previously, he worked as a software developer on VA projects at PruTech Solutions Inc., as a consultant/contractor at Quest Diagnostics, a senior professional at DXC Technology, and in field service, sales, & marketing at Digital Equipment Corporation. He was a sergeant in the United States Air Force and served from August 1967-August 1971 at Laughlin AFB, Texas, Kwang Ju- Suwon, Korea, and Robins AFB GA.

He attended the one-room Mid-Prairie schoolhouse through eighth grade, the Iowa Mennonite School his freshman year and graduated from Mid-Prairie High School. He studied at the University of Iowa, and returned to Iowa after military service to complete an associate degree in computer science at Indian Hills Community College.

He is survived by his wife: Rose Marie Eash; sister: Velda Chapman and nieces Susan (Mike) Benedict and Elizabeth (Carroll) Bogart; brother: Dennis J. (Nancy) Eash, niece Jessica (Chris) Plowman and nephew Nick Eash; brother: Michael W. (Angie) Eash and nephews Zac (Rachel) Eash and Seth Eash; and their families and numerous cousins.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents: Bill and Ruth: and his sisters: Verla and Judy.

A private family visitation was held Friday, April 24, 2020, with interment to follow at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date in San Antonio and Iowa.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Mid-Prairie Foundation’s Fund for Academic Excellence in the name of “Bill Eash, Class of 1966,” are appreciated: https://www.mphawksalumni.org/Fund-for-Academic-Excellence.

Please sign the guestbook at www.doeppenschmidtfuneralhome.com.