Herman Wilson Van Dyke, 82, of Bay City passed away Sunday, March 9, 2008 at his home. He was born November 25, 1926, one of nine children born to Minnie & Wilson Van Dyke, and grew up in Belton, Texas.

Serving in the Navy during World War II he was stationed on an island in the Philippines, and was honorably discharged in 1946 after serving two years. He was a life member of VFW Post 2438 in Bay City.

He married Juanita Etheridge in 1946, not long after getting out of the Navy. They moved to Bay City in 1958, and he worked for many years on Crouch's Ranch in Markham before going to Townsend's Lease Service as a bulldozer operator, working for 25 years before retiring in 1983.

He was well known in the rodeo circles during the 1940's competing in bareback and bull riding events across the country and was one of the organizing members of the Southwestern Rodeo Association. He appeared in one of the first Matagorda County Fair and Livestock Shows and was one of the first competing teams in the Wild Cow Saddling in 1968. He was preceded in death by his wife Juanita Van Dyke, parents Minnie & Wilson Van Dyke, sisters Lola Bell Burks, Helen Burks, brother Billie Joe Van Dyke & Anderson Van Dyke & son Michael Van Dyke.

Survivors are his daughter Sandy & Billy Hayes of Wadsworth; daughter-in-law Linda Van Dyke of Liberty; sons Mickey & Dee Van Dyke of Lockhart, Marshall Van Dyke of Navasota & Roger Van Dyke of Dayton; sisters Mary Ruth Dudley of Henderson, NV, Eula Bea Regan of El Paso, Dorothy Dale & Bill Crew of Portland, OR & Juanita Mosley of Belton; grandchildren Kim & Jerry Ruiz of Lake Jackson, Bubba & Stacy Uher of Lafayette, TN, Heather & Ricky Palacios of West Columbia, Larry & Jennifer Arnold of Van Vleck, Marty & Tiffany Van Dyke of Sweeny, Crystal & Bryan Baker of Austin, Jimbob Van Dyke of Richwood, Cullen Van Dyke of Liberty, Paul & Sandra Kubecka of Edna, Robbie Kubecka of Hobbs, NM, Pete & Jodi Kubecka of Sweeny, Julie Lange of Lockhart, Steven Kubecka of Florida & Jeremy Van Dyke of Lockhart and 20 great grandchildren. He is also survived by a very special friend, Jeanette Weldon.

The family will receive friends and relatives from 6pm to 8pm Wednesday, March 12, 2008 at the funeral home. Funeral service will be 11:00 AM Thursday, March 13, 2008 at Taylor Bros. Funeral Home with Bro. Larry Macomber officiating. Interment will follow at Cedarvale Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Marty Van Dyke, Jimbob Van Dyke, Bubba Uher, Larry Joe Arnold, Jr., Jeremy Van Dyke, Jerry Ruiz, Ricky Palacios & Bryan Baker. Memorials may be made to the Phillip H. Parker VFW Post 2438, PO Box 269, Bay City, TX 77404-0269.