BENTON, KY - Rev. William J. (Bill) Sullivan, age 83, of Benton, KY passed away Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at Western Baptist Hospital. He was surrounded by family and friends.
Bill was born on August 5, 1928 in Akron, Ohio. He was the second of three children born to Rev. William Goble and Bessie Billington Sullivan.
He was a loving and compassionate man with a heart for Jesus and the gospel. He never met a stranger and always had a story or joke to tell.
A previous milkman, Bill was called into the ministry, along with his brother Paul, in 1955. He graduated from Murray State University and then went on to Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. He and his wife, Doris, have spent more than 55 years of their lives pastoring several churches with their passion and love for Jesus Christ.
Bill "Papa" is survived by his wife of 63 years, Doris "Honey" Nance Sullivan, one daughter, Jan Rose Wadkins and husband Allen of Benton, KY; three granddaughters, Tia Wadkins Banks and husband John Banks, Sr. of Asheville, NC, Allison Wadkins Schulz and husband Robert Schulz of Naples, FL, Nicole Elizabeth Wadkins of Lake Charles, LA, one great-grandson, John "J" Banks, Jr. and one sister-in-law, Gail Sullivan.
He is preceded in death by his parents, one sister, Geneva Cook, one brother, Paul Sullivan, and one infant son, William Joseph, Jr.
Funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 2:00 p.m., Rev. Don Wilson officiating.
Interment will follow at Marshall County Memory Gardens, Benton, KY.
Visitation will be held on Friday, February 17, 2012 between the hours of 5:00 and 8:00 p.m. at Collier Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to one of the following: The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28201, Feed the Children, P.O. Box 36, Oklahoma City, OK 73101, or St. Jude's Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142.
Copyright © 2012 SurfKY News Group, Inc. all rights reserved. SurfKY.com is an eNewspaper providing local news FREE to Kentucky 24/7. Read Statewide Kentucky News, Sports, Obituaries and more for Kentucky covering: Calloway, Christian, Daviess, Henderson, Hopkins, McCracken, Muhlenberg, Warren, and Webster Counties as well as the Kentucky Lakes Area.
