William Young “Bill” Poythress, passed away surrounded by family on Friday, December 18, 2015 after a long battle with COPD and Parkinson’s disease, a causative of having proudly served his beloved nation during a time of war in which Agent Orange was used. A Funeral Service for Bill will be announced. Arrangements have been entrusted to Croxford Funeral Home.

Bill was born on May 2, 1930 in Henderson, NC, to parents Ola and Cyrus Poythress. He was the 5th born of six children growing up on a tobacco farm where he helped out by driving a mule to plow the fields. After high school, Bill enlisted in the Army Air Corp at the age of 18. He later met is first wife Marcia (Williams) Poythress who he married in 1952 shortly before his orders took them to Japan. From that union they were blessed with six children. He and Marcia later settled down in Great Falls, MT where he later retired from the Air Force as a Master Sergeant having proudly served 23 years. He then found new employment with Blue Cross Blue Shield. Sadly, Marcia was laid to rest in March of 1981.

Later, Bill met his 2nd wife, Jean (Walker-Hill) Poythress, who he soon married at Unity Church on June 17, 1984, extending his family with Jean’s four children. The two spent the next 31 years devoted to loving each other and their numerous children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Bill was a great man, amazing husband, loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He will be forever loved and remembered and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Bill is survived by his ever loving wife, Jean, all ten of his children including William Y. Poythress Jr., Joseph Poythress, John Raymond Poythress, Mary (Poythress) Hughes, Richard Poythress, and David Poythress, James Hill, Lori Hill, Patricka Hill-Poythress, and Joseph Hill; grandchildren, Sarena (Hill) Guthmiller, Marcia Poythress, Lindsey Hughes, Mathew Padden, Samantha Poythress, Ronald Hughes, Bethany Poythress, Jenna Hill, Kendra Hill, CiCi Poythress, Eva Poythress, Elena Poythress, Lacey Hill, Monty Poythress, Mandi (Kroft) Poythress; great-grandchildren, Madison Fuller, Sarenaty Guthmiller, Carmela Padden, Thomas Fuller III, Wyatt Guthmiller, Nathanial Padden, Aspen Fuller, Makaiya Guthmiller, Lucas Hayes, Ryder Guthmiller, Layla Hayes, Kailey Rush, Aiden Rush, Brendan Downs, Troy Fuller, and Isaac Fuller.

He is preceded in death by his parents Ola and Cyrus Poythress, grandparents, and grandson, Bobby Madern.

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