William “Chip” was born in Fort Pierce, Florida, January 23, 1958 to Bill and Etta Merle Hendry. He was raised, along with his sisters Pam and Dion, in Okeechobee, Florida, and graduated from Okeechobee High School Class of 1976.
He studied Business Finance and Accounting at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. After graduating in 1980 he worked for Texas Bankers Association. He became a CPA and began working at Peat Marwick. He worked on Citrus World’s account and soon became their comptroller. When he retired last year he was Florida Natural Grower’s Chief Financial Officer, serving in that capacity for the last 30 years.
Chip was married to wife Marilyn in 1981 and they had their son Andy in 1995. He enjoyed a wonderful life with his family and friends. He loved riding dirt bikes since he was a teenager, and got Andy started at the young age of 5. It became a family event to take the bikes out on the family property in Okeechobee. Chip also loved fishing, boating, and shooting. He had a love/hate relationship with the UCF Knights football team. He loved going to the games and tailgating. Chip also loved traveling with family and friends; he visited many places in the USA and also overseas.
Chip is preceded in death by his mother, Etta Merle; mother-in-law, Helen Lukac; father-in-law, Charles Lukac; brother-in-law, Robert Lukac; and sister-in-law, Linda Lukac.
Chip is survived by his wife, Marilyn; son, William Andrew (Lea); father, William L. Hendry; sisters, Pam Butler (Bob) and Dion Raulerson (Tommy); brother-in-law, Sonny Lukac; sister-in-law, Lorraine Tuminello (Ray); and many nieces and nephews.
He had a great sense of humor, something he inherited from his mother, and he loved to have a good time with family and friends. Chip will be forever in our hearts, loved and missed every day.
Chip passed away at his home in Orlando Wednesday, October 18, 2023. A funeral and burial was held October 27, 2023 at Woodlawn Funeral Home and Memorial Park in Gotha, Florida.