August 4, 1929 –  April 21, 2017  GAINESVILLE-Memorial services for William “Bill” Floyd Nolan ,87, will be held at 10:00a.m., Wednesday, April 26, 2017 at Whaley United Methodist Church of Gainesville, Texas with Rev. Jerry Jones officiating. Bill passed away on Friday, April 21, 2017 at his home in Gainesville with his family by his side. Services are under the direction of Meador Funeral Home of Gainesville. Most people remember Bill as the owner of Nolan Chevrolet, but Bill was much more multifaceted than most people realize. Bill was born on August 4, 1929 in McDade, Texas to Herman Bruno and Mary (Belz) Paenitz. He was raised in a cotton field, his family was a farming family and Bill spent his youth working cattle, horses, and farming vegetables.
When Bill left home he tried his hand at many things such as driving a taxi, selling vacuums, driving a school bus, and finally found his niche in finance which led him to automobile sales. Bill’s career took him all over the state of Texas, finally settling in Gainesville where he bought his first auto franchise in 1974.
Bill was very active with local youth, even using his personal plane to fly the local football scores from Friday night to the newspaper to make the Sunday edition, donating cars for local drivers-ed courses, animals for fundraising events for the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce , and various other things around the community.
Bill retired from the auto industry in 2001 to his beloved ranch where he spent his time working cattle, playing with his dogs and spending time with his family.
Survivors include his wife, Linda (Bragg) Nolan; children, Sharrie Nolan-High, Debby Nolan, Phillip Nolan and wife, Rachel, Kathleen Nolan- Barteau and husband, Chad; brothers, Melvin Painetz and Delbert Painetz; four grandchildren, Ryan Tabbert, Cole Tabbert, Acelee Barteau and Hunter Shuflin: three great-grandchildren, Kaden, Kylee and Elijah Tabbert; step-children; Greg Vincent, Tracy Rickert, Mike Woods and Alex Woods: six step- grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Mary Paenitz.