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Memorial service for William Hullinger, 88, of Bedford will be held Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, at Cummings Family Funeral Home in Bedford at 11 a.m. Visitation will be held Saturday, Sept. 12, at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until service time. Inurnment will be held at Fairview Cemetery in Bedford. Memorials may be directed towards the family to be established in William's honor. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.cummingsfamilyfuneralhome.com.
William Conner was born on Sept. 8, 1937, to Lloyd Earl and Clara Fern (Conner) Hullinger in Bedford. He had two siblings, Mary and Glade (Bus). Bill was the youngest of three born to Clara and Lloyd.
As you can imagine following the depression, jobs were not easy to find. In 1941 Lloyd was told about a job opening for a 2nd class machinist lathe operator and he packed up the family and moved to Batavia, N.Y. Bill had his first year of school at Batavia, and then they moved back to the area to be closer to family. He went to first grade in Omaha, and then by second grade they were back in Bedford.
Bill attended Beford Community School and enjoyed athletics. He played fullback, linebacker and tackle in football. He was also the leading punter in the nation in 1955, and named to All Conference that same year, he kicked a punt that went 78 yards in a game in Maryville — that record still stands. Bill also played basketball and was All Conference three years in a row and named to the All Southwest Iowa team by the World Herald. He was well rounded playing sports singing in the boys quartet and a pretty good student. He graduated with the BHS class of 1955.
He attended Clarinda Community College from 1955-1957. He was the first starting pitcher for the Clarinda Merchants (later becoming the Athletics). He moved onto Northwest Missouri State and earned his bachelors in business and education.
Bill met Nancy Needham through friend Bob Newberry. They married on June 1, 1957, at Corning Baptist Church with Ray Schneider and Leona Stevenson standing up for them. They were blessed with four children: Dennis, Billy, Deborah and Jennifer.
Bill’s first teaching job was at Winston, Mo., in 1959 and paid $3,500 a year. He taught in three schools: Winston, Mo. (1959-60); Highland, Kan. (1960-63); and Griswold (1963-67). While he was teaching, he also was working on his master’s as an education specialist. Following receiving his master’s he took on principal positions in Hopkins, Mo. (1967-68); South Page (1968-70); in Corning as junior high principal and coached freshman basketball (1970-73); and Glenwood, also a junior high principal (1973-74). He was superintendent at three different schools: Hopkins, Mo. (1974-75); Kellerton (1975-90); and Albert City (1990-2001). After 41 years in education, he retired in 2001.
Upon retirement, Nancy and Bill moved home to Bedford where Bill served a year on the chamber of commerce and on the city water board for 20 years.
Bill enjoyed fishing, hunting and working with bird dogs. After retirement when he and Nancy returned to Bedford he worked at planting and gardening at the Hullinger Homestead, lovingly called the Ponderosa! In recent years he spent time researching family on Ancestry, staying connected with friends and students on Facebook, feeding the birds and sitting on the deck enjoying nature.
Knowing Bill by his work he was an educator through and through. He loved small schools and made their success his life’s work. He cared about his students wanting them to find their path in the world, he cared about the community the schools were in and worked at building relationships and keeping the budgets in line.
Knowing him by his family he was a loving son who worked alongside his father in manual labor, helped keep his mother in her home, and was the spoiled youngest brother. He was a husband that provided for his family even when times were hard and difficult and it felt like they were moving every few years (because they were). He was a father who enjoyed time with his children — taking the boys and their friends hunting and fishing. He loved his grandchildren, attending events, having them over for weekends, giving the biggest hugs and kisses and sharing ice cream on the deck. He welcomed the in-laws like they were his own.
Bill was a friend and colleague who always had a story to share (mostly the same ones). He was a good neighbor, community servant, caretaker of the land, a steady, generous man who will be greatly missed.
Bill, after a battle with leukemia and being on hospice for two days, died on Friday, May 29, 2026, at CHI Health Mercy Hospital in Corning. He had been blessed by home caretaker Megan Tribolet, and then for almost a month, he was given outstanding care by the staff, nurses, social worker, CNAs and caregivers at the hospital. They helped make Bill’s last few months comfortable, safe and tended with care.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd and Clara; wife Nancy of almost 60 years; son Billy; son-in-law Andre Porter; and sister Mary Dowis.
Left to cherish Bill’s life and remember all those stories are his children: Dennis (Nancy) Hullinger, Deborah Porter and Jennifer (Doug) Mattson; 13 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; brother Glade (Bus) Hullinger; special friend Sally Woollums; nephews, nieces, colleagues and friends.
