William Pou

POU, William Knox "Billy," 82, of Plant City, died from an extended illness Sunday, November 27, 2005, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. Billy was born in Springfield, S.C., November 20, 1923. He moved with his parents, Marion and Susie Pou, to Plant City as an infant. He graduated from Plant City High School, attended Tulane University and graduated from Florida Southern College with a degree in chemistry. Billy worked at IMC Phosphate Mines as a chemist. In 1953, he began his career at W.S. Badcock Corp. He was executive vice president in charge of warehouse operations and personnel. When he retired in 1993 he said, "I do not miss the job, but I miss the employees." Billy married Maida in 1953. They lived in Mulberry until 1965, when they moved to Plant City. He loved to travel. Billy and Maida traveled to every continent except Antarctica, which they flew over on one of their South American trips. His last trip was to open the W.S. Badcock Distribution Center in Mebane, N.C., in Januar y 2005. Billy was a member of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Plant City. He was director of Hillsboro Bank, now SunTrust Bank, where he continued to serve on the advisory board. He was a trustee at South Florida Baptist Hospital. He was a member of the Plant City Rotary Club, where he was recently named Humanitarian of the Year. He was a member of the Plant City Elks Club, Olin S. Wright Masonic Lodge, where he was a Mason for more than 50 years, and a director of the W.S. Badcock Corp. Billy is survived by his wife of 52 years, Maida Pou, Plant City; son, Bill Pou Jr.; daughter, Ebbie Sue Blackmer; daughter-in-law, Kathy Pou; all of Lakeland; three grandsons, Will Pou III, Mebane, N.C., and Benjamin Pou and Andrew Pou of Lakeland; and many nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, November 29, 2005, at Wells Memorial Chapel. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Plant City. Interment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery wi th Olin S. Wright, Masonic Lodge, officiating. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The F. Marion and Susie K. Pou Scholarship Fund at St. Peters Episcopal Church or the charity of your choice. Wells Memorial Funeral Home Lacey McClellan & Staff (813) 752-1111