William Elwood Stripling - Spry Funeral Home
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William Elwood Stripling
March 16, 1930 – December 28, 2024
William E. Stripling, “Bill”, “Poppy Bill”, 94, passed away at home and into the arms of his Savior on December 28, 2024.
Bill was born March 16, 1930 on Bull Frog Creek, near Gibsonton, Florida to John W. Stripling and Bessie J. Stripling. Bill was preceded in death by his Parents, his Wife of 59 years, June H. Stripling, his Brother, Gene Stripling and his Sister, MaryAnn Davenport. He is survived by his children John Stripling, Steve Stripling (Suzanne), and Sally Mardis (Chris); his grandchildren Lauren Hart (Kevin), Tyler Stripling, Clint Manry (Hannah), Blake Stripling (Mackenzie), and J. William Stripling; his great-grandchildren Alayna Hart, Riley Manry, Noah Cobb, Aaron Hart, Colin Manry, Lucy Cobb, and William B Stripling.
Upon leaving Florida, Bill moved to Pine Mountain, Georgia where he met June Hasty. Bill was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. Upon his return from the war he married June in 1958. While in Georgia, he began his professional sales career in 1954 at a distributorship of A B Dick Company, a reprographic company. In 1970 he left A B Dick after buying a franchise in Huntsville Alabama to be a self-employed owner. It was a huge step for him and the family, as he had a wife and three children to support and risked everything – career, salary, savings, and marriage. He created success making a comfortable living in Huntsville, Alabama and retired after 41 years in the industry in 1995. He built his retirement home in Limestone County on the Tennessee River. His free time was spent hunting, fishing, gardening and cooking. He was a fabulous cook, with much of the meals centered on what he hunted, caught, grew and canned. He never met a stranger, no matter where his travels took him. He leaves behind many friends from his journeys. A special thank you to his compassionate caregivers. He will be deeply missed by his family and friends.
A celebration of his life will be held at a later time.
Memorial donations may be made to the Cahaba Shriners (1226 Blake Bottom Road, Huntsville, AL 35806), and the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105)
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1 comment
Mark Wilson
2025-01-03 01:38:41
I was reliving good times at Uncle Speedy and Aunt Bettys in the late 60s and 1970s a few days ago and spent a few minutes talking about Bill. I was telling my wife about Bill being in the water working on his dock when it was about 50 degrees outside and about him being a really hardy outdoorsman. I went to Wyoming one year and Bill and John hauled the chuckwagon and Bill made breakfast for all the elk hunters around 4:30 each morning. Bill planned his work then worked his plan.
