Charles William "Bill" Potts Jr.

Charles William "Bill" Potts Jr, age 74, of Knoxville, went to be with the Lord on March 10, 2022. During his adolescent years, he earned the honor Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America, and he was an active member of Fountain City United Methodist Church. He graduated from Central High School in 1965, where he was Drum Major and Captain of the Tennis Team. Then he attended the University of Tennessee where he played trumpet in the Pride of the Southland Marching Band. He joined the US Air Force and where he maintained Minute Man Missiles. In 1971, he returned to the University of Tennessee and obtained degrees in Education and Urbanology while remaining in the Air National Guard. He went on to earn a Master's in Education. In 1974 while attending UT, he met his future wife of 42 years, Vicki Robbins, whom he married in 1980 and returned to the Guard full time for the remainder of his 31-year career. Bill's hobbies in his early life included playing tennis, spelunking, water skiing, camping, boating, snow skiing, ice skating. Each Saturday of the Fall he would get out his old trumpet and wake up his family with the tune of "Rocky Top". Bill was an active member of Fountain City Sportsman Club his entire adult life. After retirement in 1998, he poured is energies into leading Boy Scout Troup 55 as an assistant Scout Master and served the Central High School Alumni Association. He also was a self-proclaimed "favorite" substitute teacher at Gresham Middle School for 15 years, "retiring" upon the birth of his first grandchild. He spent his remaining years caring for his four beloved grandchildren. Bill is preceded in death by parents, Charles Sr. and Mary "Louise" Potts. He is survived by his wife Vicki; Brother: Jack (Donna) Potts, Children: Daniel Potts, Shannon (David) McMahon, Grandchildren: Alibelle, Declan, Maddox, and Indie McMahon. The Celebration of Life service will be held at Fountain City United Methodist Church from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Thursday, March 17, 2022. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Wounded Warriors Project or American Heart Association. Gentry Griffey Funeral Chapel is honored to serve Mr. Charles Pott's family and invites you to view and sign the online registry at www.gentrygriffey.com.