Willie W. Whitehead

Willie Wesley “Bill” Whitehead, 88, of Knoxville, TN, went home to be with his Lord on June 21, 2014, at the Beverly Park Place in Knoxville.  He was the son the late Robert and Bessie Nichols Whitehead. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 32 years Norma Humpreys Whitehead, sister Larue Lankford and brothers Robert and Hilbert Whitehead.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, June 24 from 9 - 10:45 am at Ridgeway Funeral Home, with a Graveside service to be held at 11:00 am at Memorial Cemetery with Dr. Trent Bullock officiating.

Pallbearers will be Wes Whitehead, Blaire Whitt, Stewart Whitt, Craig Whitt, Danny Nelson and Bob Moultrie.

He is survived by a son Tom (Donna) Whitehead of Knoxville, TN: a daughter Lisa (Ray ) Whitt of Athens, AL; a granddaughter Natalie (Kevin) Ammons of Knoxville, TN, grandsons: Wesley (Meredith) Whitehead  of Athens, AL, Stewart (Lauren) Whitt of Athens, AL,  Blaire Whitt of Athens, AL, and Craig Whitt of Athens, AL.  Mr. White had three great grandchildren: Blaine and Hudson Whitehead and Hailey Mays. He also leaves a brother Ben (Marilyn) Whitehead of St. Florissant, MO., and a sister Aileen (Gene) Anderson of Paris, TN, and several nieces and nephews.

Bill attended Grove High School and graduated from Murray State University in Murray, KY.   He proudly served in the United States Army, 1944-45 in Egypt.   In 1951, he began his career of 31 years with TVA as a Human Resource Manager. He worked at the New Johnsonville steam plant, Gallatin steam plant, Paradise steam plant, Widow’s Creek steam plant, Colbert steam plant, Brown’s Ferry nuclear plant and Hartselle nuclear plant. He retired in 1982 and made his home in Gallatin, TN until 2009.

Bill was a loving and devoted caretaker for his wife Norma during her lengthy illness with kidney disease until her passing in 1982.   After his retirement, he enjoyed traveling with Basden Tours, vegetable gardening and singing in the choir.  He was a dedicated Christian his entire life, a member of the Baptist Church, served as a Deacon and lived a Godly example for his family.   He attended UT Football games for 35 years and was an avid fan of the Cardinals and Braves all of his life.  But his favorite activity was watching his own grandchildren’s sports activities, traveling hundreds of miles to support them.

Bill was a gentle man, loving son, husband, and father, father in law, grandfather, uncle and friend. Sadly, the last 5 years of his life was spent in declining health due to Alzheimer ’s disease. God chose to heal him in Heaven on June 21 and his final earthly hours were peaceful with his family.

Many thanks go to the Beverly Park Place Staff in Knoxville, TN for their loving care and support.

Friends of the family are invited to sign the guestbook at  ridgewayfuneralhome.com.

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