Billy Wyatt Kettenhofen, 85, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by loved ones, 8th day of November, 2017.

He leaves his wife of 29 years Ruby Austin Kettenhofen; his sister Nancy Gastil; his daughters Colleen and Alison Kettenhofen; his step-children Brian (Lisa) Graf, Dawn (Brent) Petersen, Julie (Greg) McMahan. He was blessed with four grandchildren, Karch Petersen, Kyle Petersen, Chelsey Graf Brown and Kendall Graf; and 2 great-grandchildren, Alivia Graf and Hudson Brown.

Born in Chicago, IL to Gwendolyn (Wyatt) and Leonard Kettenhofen, Billy spent most of his life in the Los Angeles, CA area before retiring to Fredericksburg, TX in 2003.

In his early years, he worked as a newspaper boy, stocker, and cattleman in the Kansas City Stockyards before graduating from Los Angeles High School, where he was a star of the track team. He worked his way through college as a parking valet at the Beverly Hills Hotel, where he enjoyed meeting many celebrities. At the University of California - Los Angeles, he lettered in track, was a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, nd graduated in 1954 with a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration. He later obtained his Master of Science in Business Administration and Finance from  California  State  University  - Long Beach  - the first in the program's history to  earn a 4.0 grade point average.

Billy began his Naval Career in 1955 as a Boat Group Commander and continued to serve as a member of the Naval Reserve. He retired in 1987 with the rank of Captain (one of his proudest moments).

He began his professional career with Mobil Oil Corporation and Douglas Aircraft Company/ McDonnell Astronautics. He continued his career as Managing Director at  Price Waterhouse, LLP before retiring in 2001.

Billy had a passion for cruising throughout the world, logging 139 cruises. He and his wife, Ruby, enjoyed 129 cruises together, enabling them to visit all seven continents.

The family gives special thanks to Dr. Mark Deleon and his wonderful staff for their unconditional love, the caring physicians and staff at Hill Country Memorial Hospital, and the Hill Country Memorial Hospice team for their compassion in his final days.

Honoring Billy's request, there will be no public service. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date for family and friends. A "Burial at Sea" service will be conducted by the U.S. Navy.

Memorials in his name can be sent to: Hill Country Memorial Hospital, 1020 South State Highway 16, Fredericksburg, TX 78624.