BILLY RICHARD CURINGTON

CURINGTON, BILLY RICHARD - age 72 of Knoxville, passed away Saturday, June 2, 2012 at Physicians Regional Medical Center. An active member of Roseberry Baptist Church, he was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and a true servant to all mankind. Retired from Rohm & Haas after 35 years. As a young man he began his service to God and country in the US Army during the Vietnam Era. In 1990 he and Joyce began their service together as bi-vocational missionaries, with his first trip to Bolivia where he helped build homes and churches. Bill and Joyce continued their missionary work through the years serving in El Salvador, Honduras, Gaza and Mexico. As a member of the Tennessee Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Team, he was quickly on site to many disasters traveling with the mobile kitchen preparing meals for workers and displaced families. He served the first responders and workers at Ground Zero after the 9/11 Attack. Bill and the team were quick on the scene after Hurricanes Katrina, Hugo and Andrew, preparing food for those affected by the storms. One of Bill's most meaningful trips was when he and Joyce traveled to Indonesia to serve after the great tsunami in 2004. He worked with Mission of Hope, serving Rural Appalachia. He was a member of the International Gideons and the Mascot Masonic Lodge #738 F&AM. Preceded in death by parents, John and Comfort Curington; brothers, Bruce and Bob Curington. He is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Joyce Curington; daughters, April Oakley and husband Bobby of Knoxville, Beverly Kerr and husband Travis of Virginia; sons, Kevin Curington and wife Jill of Nashville, and Terry Sawyer and wife Becky of Knoxville; sisters, Betty Holbert (Bob) of Knoxville, and Blanche Webb (Dennis) of Virginia; grandchildren, Cory Oakley and fiancé Katelyn Hodge, Ryan Oakley, Landon Kerr, Samantha, Skyla and Spencer Curington, Nathan, Daniel and Justin Sawyer; three great grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Lois Curington, and Deloris Curington. Funeral services will be 7:00 pm Monday, June 4, 2012 in the chapel at Bridges Funeral Home with Rev. Kenny Shinlever and Rev. Kevin Curington officiating. Bill's good friends, Jack Riggs, Sam Headrick, Jim Moser and Walt Lowe will serve as Honorary Pallbearers. Memorials may be made in memory of Bill to Roseberry Baptist Church Building Fund, 2920 Roseberry Rd., Mascot, TN 37806. Family and friends will meet 12:45 pm Tuesday at Roseberry Cemetery for a 1:00 pm interment. Military Honors will be provided by the East Tennessee Veterans Honor Guard. The family will receive friends Monday 5:00 - 7:00 pm at Bridges Funeral Home, 5430 Rutledge Pike, 523-4999.