Billy Pack

1930 - 2025

Billy "Bill" Lowell Pack was called to his heavenly home on November 11, 2025, at Woodland Oaks Health Care Facility following a lengthy illness. Bill was born on November 1, 1930 in Paintsville, Kentucky to Willie and Mary Lester Pack. When He was only five years of age his father was killed on the highway by a drunk driver. From that point on, both he and his younger sister Betty were raised by their mother who worked full time. His father's family helped whenever they could, such as bringing food to the house by boat when the 1937 floodwaters completely surrounded their house, stranding them inside.

Bill attended Paintsville City schools and held several jobs during that time to help earn money. A few of these included mowing grass, working as a service station attendant, clerking at an auto parts store and helping out in a radio repair shop.

Following graduation from Paintsville High School in 1948, Bill went on to college. He first attended Morehead Teachers College for five semesters. He transferred to the University of Kentucky to study electrical engineering, and while still a student he worked as a draftsman creating new parachute designs at Irving Air Chute Factory in Lexington.

In 1953 Bill graduated with a BS in electrical engineering. He went to work in Columbus, Ohio for North American Aviation, a Naval contractor. There he was assigned to the engineering support group for the FJ-3 jet fighter which was operational at this time. He became the group leader for the FJ-3 instrument group and simultaneously was completing initial instrument design work on the new TJ-1 Naval jet trainer. This position took him to the West Pacific to go aboard three aircraft carriers to evaluate FJ-3s.

While in Columbus Bill began dating Flora Diana Rankin after they met on an arranged blind date. Diana was from Louisa, Kentucky and they shared an eastern Kentucky background. Bill and Diana married in June of 1956, and moved to Ashland from their home in Westerville, Ohio when Bill accepted a job as Electrical Engineer with Ashland Oil and Refining Company. They welcomed their only child, a daughter, in 1959.

He became a supervisor in utilities engineering at Ashland Oil. By the time he retired in 1992 Bill was Manager of Electrical Engineering and Electrical Construction for all Ashland Oil refineries and terminals in the U.S. Later, one of the two 1,000,000-dollar power substations built at Number 2 refinery would be named the Pack Substation in honor of his years of service and contributions to the company. He remained a member of IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) throughout his life.

As hobbies, Bill enjoyed working on all things mechanical and electrical. He provided pro bono work for the Paramount Art Center on an electrical project as well as work for Kirksville Baptist Church in Kirksville Kentucky. He helped friends and neighbors with similar problems, often making repairs in their homes. He especially enjoyed spending time with his family as often as possible.

Bill loved the field of aviation and was a passenger on more than forty types of aircraft during his lifetime. He followed updates on aircraft and flights into his mid-nineties through reading and news programs. He passed his love of aviation on to his daughter. His name has been inscribed on the National Air and Space Museum's Wall of Honor at the Steven F. Udvar- Hazy Center (air and space.si.edu>support>wall-honor>find-honoree) in Chantilly, Virginia in honor of his contributions to the field of aviation.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Betty Pack Cox, and his former wife Diana.

Bill is survived by his only daughter Lisa Bradway, his niece Terry Epps (Robert) of North Padre Island, Texas and his nephew Macklin Cox (Sharon) of Richmond, Kentucky. He is additionally survived by his sister-in- law to whom he was close, Betty Rankin of Salisbury, NC, his niece Kim Russ also of Salisbury, and his nephew David (Myra) Rankin of Harbeson, Delaware.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, November 15, 2025 at the Steen Funeral Home Central Avenue Chapel by Pastor Mark A. Kloha. Burial will immediately follow at Rose Hill Burial Park in Ashland.

Visitation will be Friday evening from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

To express a condolence to his family or to view his video tribute, please visit www.steenfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers please send donations in his memory to St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Salvation Army in Ashland, Kentucky or Facing Hunger Foodbank.

https://give.salvationarmykentuckyandtennessee.org/,https://facinghunger.org/donate-now/.