William Odell "Bill" Compton, 86, was born to Homer and Betty Garner Compton in Nash, TX on September 13, 1924. He married the love of his life, Ruth Smith, in 1943. He was drafted into the US Army 10 months later in 1944 and served in the 43rd Infantry of the US Army during WW II where he earned two Bronze Stars and additional decorations and citations. He fought in the Philippines for a year during which time his unit went into a prison camp under fire and rescued prisoners that were in the Bataan Death March. One of the prisoners that Bill carried out over his shoulder was later identified as a four-star officer in the Army. He later served to help occupy Japan where he was transferred to the 103 Calvary and served as a military policeman for six months before his honorable discharge in May 1946. Bill was employed with the Ford Motor Plant in Dallas, Texas for about ten years during the 1960's; was later a self-employed contractor in Ellis County; and later employed at Tyler Refrigeration until retirement 17 years later. He was known around Waxahachie as the "Bicycle Man" during his retirement, repairing and selling bikes for youth around town. He also worked as a school crossing guard for several years for WISD. Survivors include his loving wife Ida Ruth Compton; daughters, June and husband Jim of Hot Springs, AR, Carol Hayes of Waxahachie, TX, Linda Bates and husband Jeff of Keller, TX; son, Sammy and wife Vicky Compton of Little Rock, AR; sisters Ludean Green, Wanda Howard, and Betty Robinson; brothers, Herman Compton, Robert Compton, Doyle Compton, and Eugene Compton, grandchildren, Shannon Lundberg, Chad Hayes, Courtney Jennings, Eddie Craven, Derek Hayes, Whitney Loibner, Mathew Compton, and Richard Bates; and eight great grandchildren. Visitation will be 6:00 - 8:00 PM Tuesday, March 29, 2011 at Waxahachie Funeral Home. Funeral Service will be 10:00 AM Wednesday March 30, 2011 at University Assembly of God Church. Burial will follow at the DFW National Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Waxahachie Funeral Home