Dr. William Brock Brentlinger, 82, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, February 19, 2009. He was born in Flora, Illinois on August 21, 1926. Upon graduation from Flora High School in 1944, he entered the United States Navy. After his discharge from the Navy he married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Jean Weir, on December 29, 1946. The young couple moved to Greenville, Illinois, where he entered Greenville College. In May of 1950 Brock graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in speech. He went on from there to earn a Master’s degree from Indiana State University and his doctorate in speech and rhetoric from the University of Illinois.
For eighteen years Brock was employed at Greenville College as a professor of speech and later as Dean of Academic Affairs. Besides his work at the college Brock was a member of the Greenville City Council and also held leadership positions in his church where he taught an adult Sunday School class, was a member of the deacon board and sang in the adult choir.
In 1969 Brock accepted a position as the Dean of the School of Fine Arts at Lamar University and the family made the move from Illinois to Beaumont, Texas. The family joined Calder Baptist Church where he served on the deacon board, taught an adult Sunday School class, was a member of the adult choir as well as a number of committees. Besides these local responsibilities Brock also was appointed to the Texas Baptist Christian Education Coordinating Board.
Among his many community service activities, Brock served as chairman of the Beaumont Library Commission and as president of the Southeast Texas Arts Council. He has served on the board of directors of the Jefferson Theatre Preservation Society, Young Audiences of Beaumont, Texas Library Association Bicentennial Committee, Beaumont Habitat for Humanity, Beaumont Sister City Commission and was president of the Rotary Club of Beaumont. At Lamar University he was instrumental in securing approval for a Lamar radio station, KVLU, and helped raise funds for the College of Fine Arts through the establishment of the Friends of the Arts. In March of 1992 he was named the interim President of Lamar University and then continued on as an assistant to the president until his retirement in 2005. Brock was the winner of the Julie and Ben Rogers Community Service Award and the Public Citizen of the Year in 1982.
Brock and Barbara were married sixty-two years and raised six children, all of whom attended Lamar University. A son, Geoffrey Brentlinger, preceded him in death in 1989. Brock is survived by his wife, Barbara; three sons and two daughters; Gregory and Dorothy Brentlinger of Beaumont, Gary and Dee Alice Brentlinger of Houston, Rick and Rebecca Brentlinger Ray of The Woodlands, Garth and Terri Brentlinger of Nederland and Bobbie Brentlinger of Houston. Brock is also survived by ten grandchildren.
A gathering of his family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Saturday, February 21, 2009 at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. His funeral service will be 3:00 p.m. Sunday, February 22, 2009 at Calder Baptist Church, 1005 North 11th Street, Beaumont, with burial to follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park under the direction of Broussard’s.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Calder Baptist Church, 1005 North 11th Street, Beaumont, Texas 77702; Lamar University Friends of the Arts, P.O. Box 10011, Beaumont, Texas 77710; or to Greenville College, 315 East College Avenue, Greenville, Illinois 62246.
