William George Baumbach

William George “Bill” Baumbach of Wylie died suddenly on Wednesday night, June 10, 2020 at his workplace in Grand Prairie. Bill left his family and friends too soon, but he packed so much into his life that writing an obituary with any kind of brevity is challenging. The short version is this: Bill was devoted to his family, and was a life adventurer of great intelligence and many talents. He was a deep thinker, a problem examiner, and a force for change.

He didn’t need a so-called “bucket list” because he just went and did what he wanted to do. If he wanted to learn something, he cracked a book or delved into the internet and discovered how to do it. He was fearless to try anything new. He was born near water on July 2, 1951 in Bayshore, New York, but as a young man he wanted to become a cowboy. So, he did. He moved to the rustic and rural base of the Sandia Mountains in New Mexico. When he met the love of his life, Becky Hord, one of their first adventures together was a weekend of exploring the mountains on his horse, Cinnamon.

This fearlessness carried into his great capacity for love where his family was concerned. As the oldest of five stair-stepped children, he knew how to be protective of family and friends. He could instill fear quickly in the men who came around his sisters. Yet, that gruff exterior hid a tender soul that grew to love more and more deeply with each passing year. He and Becky were blessed with two wonderful boys, Toby and Grant. The Baumbachs were a four-pack that knew how to celebrate life together. They shared special holiday traditions like the annual hunt for mistletoe to be hung in the house, themed Christmas meals, and baking gingerbread men. Toby’s passing on Jan. 21, 1997 was a blow to the family like no other, but they girded each other with strength and care and they carried on because of the deep love they had for each other. In 2003, Grant brought to the family a charming wife, Rosalyn, whom Bill loved like a daughter. In 2004, Grant and Roz gave Bill one of life’s greatest gifts, a grandson, Dylan, who obviously carries the genius traits of his father and grandfather. Dylan was quite clearly the target of much spoiling and pride, and Bill loved watching Grant become an incredible father. He adored his nieces and nephews and their babies, too. He would put on a Santa hat to cheer up a Christmas party, and stir up a pot of his famous Wassail. He laughed easily in a room full of children and made it a point to attend as many birthdays as he could.

Bill loved nature in all its forms. He couldn’t wait to get out on a canoe or a boat – anything that could float would do – so he could catch a fish and enjoy the scenery. Riding horses with his sister, Margie, or taking a long car ride with Becky to a new place was his ideal weekend. Among his best friends were several much-loved Irish Wolfhounds. He was a member of the Audubon Society and an avid gardener, especially interested in antique roses and bulbs. He was fascinated with astronomy and had a collection of telescopes to support that hobby. His woodworking was both practical and artistic. He loved classical music, beautiful artwork, and fine food. He loved coffee … he would tell you maybe too much.

Whether he was being paid or not, Bill was a hard worker. He was a talented pressman for the City of Mesquite, plant manager for Cross Media and Padgett Printing, and most recently a printer for the headquarters of Office Depot. His portfolio includes beautiful full-color ad artwork from the days before computers did the heavy lifting. He knew how to set cold type in a type tray, load a press, and produce a beautiful document as only an artisan could. He was a lifelong learner. It frustrated him that it took so long, but in 2000 he graduated Cum Laude from the University of Texas at Dallas.

And then there was politics. Bill could ruffle political feathers. And if he believed in a cause he defended it ferociously. This was true even back in high school, when he was a member of the Young Republicans of Dallas. That is not a typo. Yes, Bill Baumbach was once a Republican. He worked diligently for the Nixon campaign. Bill eventually became a devoted, outspoken member of the Democratic Party. Even though he lived in Texas most of his life, he wasn’t about to be what he called a political good ol’ boy. Around 2002, Bill began using his incredible command of the written language and his sharp mind to help build a healthy two-party system in a Republican stronghold. He was Precinct Chair for most of the last 18 years.

He often spoke passionately at meetings and hearings, and spent many long hours doing research, building databases and websites, and writing his blog, The Collin County Observer , where he shared his investigative reporting, interviews and research. The Collin County Observer became very influential and an important source for major DFW and statewide media, and as a result, Bill became an official contributor to D Magazine’s FrontBurner blog. Because of his dedication, perseverance, and crusading journalism, many positive changes occurred in North Texas, including improvements in indigent healthcare and benefits for rank-and-file county employees.

In 2006, Bill ran for County Commissioner against a 25-year Republican incumbent. Bill received the Dallas Morning News endorsement, which was almost unheard of for a Democrat at the time, and he won 38% of the vote. This may not sound so impressive now, but this was the first time in decades a true competitor emerged.

Bill used his gift for impromptu speaking to lead others to support his position, both at the local and statewide level. He was a delegate to the county and state conventions for many years and served as Delegation Chair.

Voting rights and election protection were also high on Bill’s priority list. He led many efforts to make voting more accessible, and ensure every vote was counted. He was a leading voice on the practicalities of implementing Vote Centers and provided testimony to the Legislature on this and other election related subjects. Recently, he served as Central Count Judge for the 2020 Primary and was scheduled to be an Election Judge in the Primary run-off in July.

A long-time resident of Wylie, Bill served as a member and Chair of the Zoning Board of Adjustments and as a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission. He also worked on many Mayor and City Council elections.

Bill was also one of the founding members of the Collin County Healthcare Committee, a citizens’ committee which advocated for accessible healthcare for disadvantaged residents and volunteered at the Collin County Health Clinic in Plano.

Bill is survived by his wife, Becky, his son, Grant, daughter-in-law, Rosalyn, grandson, Dylan, sisters Margie and Nancy, and brothers George and Greg. He is preceded in death by his son Toby, and his parents, George Joseph Jr and Ann Irene McLaughlin Baumbach, nephew Mitchell Gregory Hall and niece Annie Lee Geiman.

An Evening of Remembrance will be held, Thursday June 18, 2020, 5:00 -7:00 pm at Allen Family Funeral Options, 2112 W. SpringCreek Pkwy, Plano, Tx. For those who care to make a donation in Bill’s memory, he supported Health Services of North Texas (healthntx.org), the Samaritan Inn (saminn.org), or the South Central Irish Wolfhound Rescue (sciwc.org).