Billy Lincecum

Billy Joe (BJ) Lincecum, 82, of Surprise, Arizona, died Thursday, Nov. 27, 2014.

He was born July 25, 1932, in Chaffee, Missouri, to Charley and Georgia Trigg Lincecum.

Billy Joe graduated from Delta High School, married his high school sweetheart, Betty Sue Campbell, and promptly joined the Air Force.

A Vietnam veteran and a member of the Skunk Works, U-2 and SR-71 programs, he spent time in Newfoundland, Canada; Morocco, North Africa; and Madrid, plus numerous tours to Vietnam and Thailand when overseas.

His son, Michael, was born in Newfoundland and daughter, Tina, at Laughlin AFB, Del Rio, Texas. Stateside bases included Luke AFB, Arizona; MacDill AFB, Florida; Laughlin; Davis Monthan AFB, Arizona; Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio; and Robins AFB, Georgia. He retired from the Air Force in 1974 and returned to Cape Girardeau.

Billy Joe became a Cape Girardeau police officer, then detective and police department polygraphist and forensic hypnotist before he retired again in 1994.

Billy Joe and Betty Sue traveled the country in three different motor homes over the next 12 years before settling permanently at Happy Trails Resort in Surprise.

They spent time in all 48 states and loved visiting friends and family while seeing all comers of this great country. Billy Joe's heart was broken when Betty Sue died in January, and soon after learned of his cancer. He seldom minced words; a true realist, about people and life; but never missed an important date or event for special friends and family.

Billy Joe is survived by two children, Michael of Owings, Maryland, and Tina Lincecum of Cottonwood, Arizona; two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and many extended family members and friends in middle Georgia, Maryland, California, south Texas and Missouri.

We miss you greatly already!

Announcement courtesy of Ford and Sons Funeral Home.