Insights

Little Bill Deal with his father, Noah Deal Sr., practicing in the music room.

This page was designed specifically for the fans of Bill Deal to share their memories with the family.

It is wonderful to hear kind words about my father, and your stories may actually uncover new "insights" for all of us to cherish.

We look forward to hearing from you!!! Also, if you have any personal photos of Bill Deal, e-mail them to us...we just may add them to our permanent gallery!!!"

December 11, 2003
Bill Deal Jr's Eulogy Letter
A Special Letter from Bubba to his Dad. Read Bill's letter to Bubba >>>

Dear Dad,
You were the sunshine of my life. You were my very best friend of all time, and you will forever be. Though I cannot imagine that I will never again feel your warm embrace, please know that I will never forget it. Your love, kindness, generosity towards others, and your bright smile will live through me now, and through those you touched. Thank you for these gifts and for the beautiful legacy you have left us. It is truly a blessing to be the son
of someone who was loved by so many, and even greater to have felt that love reflected back onto me, and my family. Though you may be physically gone from this life, you have always been, and will always be my pinnacle of light, hope, happiness, and love. I will always be your "Bubby."

When my time comes, we will be together again, but until then, please guide and watch over me. Please visit my dreams. I never want to stop feeling you, my Dad, my hero. Now go to the light, and find your peace. Sleep peacefully, Dad, and one day, when I walk through those pearly gates, we can resume where we left off. I have always lived through you, and now, you shall live through me. The melody of your life will echo on and on for all eternity; as will our last hug; as will our last "I love you." Happy trails to you, Dad, until we meet again.

I love you always and forever.
Love your son,

~Bubba
Read Bill's letter to Bubba >>>

OTHER INTERESTING FACTS
ABOUT BILL DEAL

My father’s first hit record-well, he played organ on it anyway-was Jimmy Soul’s "If You Want To Be Happy". The song is an American classic, still playing on the radio, in television, and in countless movies.

Fancy restaurants? Not quite. My father’s favorite place for his favorite sandwich was the Belvedere Coffee Shop. The sandwich? A BLT.

My father’s favorite movie was "National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation". In fact, my father was into Christmas probably even more so than "Griswald" himself. At close second was "It’s a Wonderful Life".

Jim Tatum will forever be my Santa Claus. He was dad’s agent (a true genius) who, for one magical night each year delighted my sister and I with his totally believable portrayal of Good ol Santa. We love you Jim! I remember my dad being just as excited as us kids!

My father loved everything Disney, especially Disney World. Throughout his lifetime, we took many trips there together. He believed in "Disney Magic".

My father’s pet peeve? Believe it or not-LOUD MUSIC! In his car you could barely hear the radio.

Most people don’t know this, but my father actually loved country music (so do I).

Unless you knew Bill Deal personally, you would never guess he was actually shy. Though he was a natural and a genius on stage and always approachable, he didn’t much care for the spotlight.

During the seventies, my father "went Vegas", putting on elaborate stage shows as part of his act. Most memorable for me was the "Grease" show", with Freddie and Ada Owens as the leads-they were remarkable!

My father loved to Ski. We took several excursions to various resorts, and after a long day on the slopes, my father liked to build a huge fire and talk of the day’s adventures.

Speaking of skiing, I’ll never forget the trip we took to Killington, Vermont. We were originally bound for a Va. Resort, when my father decided to ‘go for the gusto’ and head to a "real" mountain- we were welcomed in Vermont by a soaking rain! My dad laughed it off, and we ended up at the Va. resort after all.

It seemed my dad simply never lost his temper. Once, the very day he picked up his freshly painted Jaguar, an elderly lady rammed into it. My dad ended up making HER feel better about the situation, and he never took a dime from her or her insurance company.
My father was so giving. Usually, he would surmise that a person was in need (usually a complete stranger), and then devise a plan of action, always anonymously, to help that person.

Once, me and a friend of mine were in the countryside riding around with my father, when suddenly he made a u-turn, pulling up to what looked like a run-down shack with an old lady sitting on the porch. He told us, "Take this money up to her-tell her that you are angels from heaven and the money is a gift from God." That taught me such an incredible lesson.

In my childhood neighborhood, there really was not a place to ride go-carts. One day, my dad instructed me to get in my go-cart and meet him at the lot he owned at the end of our street. What I found was that the lot had been transformed into a full blown, full 8 go-cart track. The man was simply magical.

My father was not much of a handyman, but his creativity made up for that. The tree house he had built for my sister and I came complete with an assortment of t-shirts reading "Bubba’s Tree House in Sarah’s Backyard".

Once, on my boat, which he had dubbed "Bub’s Tub", we got stuck in the mud and stranded for hours-it was simply a matter of "we didn’t have a clue what we were doing".

My father often took us on camping trips, embarking on a true nature’s journey- our R.V. was like a moving house, complete with every amenity- oh well, so much for nature! The trips were a blast, all be it far from "natural".

Being a musician and living in Va. poses a problem-radar detectors are illegal in Va.. Without going into any details, let’s just say this was a slight inconvenience for my father.

My father’s mother, Sarah, died when my dad was a young boy. Though his time with her was brief, he held her incredibly dear to his heart and always spoke of her wearing the warmest smile.

I am the luckiest person on earth to have had Bill Deal as my father. Though he touched millions, to me he was just dad, and I was his "Bubby". I would love to see what the afterlife brought him-surrounded by his mom and dad and brother Robert, not to mention all his friends who are no longer with us, singing, dancing, watching over us. "It’s all about Love" was my dads motto, and it defined his life.

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