Billie Joe "Billy" Word

Billie Joe “Billy” Word, 75, Evansville, IN, passed on June 14, 2016 at Gateway Hospital in Clarksville, TN. A native of Christian County KY, he was born Oct. 06, 1940, to the late Clay Meryl and Mae Lee (Norman) Word.

Billy moved with the family about 1950 to the west side of Evansville, IN where he grew up near Helfrich Park and walked to Centennial Grade School. He was a 1959 F.J.

Reitz High School grad and an avid R-Men’s Club member and often reminisced of his State Championship football days. He was a 1963 Evansville College grad with a split

degree in Business, Marketing, and Sociology. After college, he moved to Indianapolis where he served six years in the Army National Guard in Indianapolis 738th Headquarters and Maintenance Battalion (Cyclones), raised two of his sons and became and accomplished homebuilder and businessman. In later years, he adopted a third son from Columbia, South America whose mother died during childbirth. He returned to Evansville and worked for Brinks and Enterprise Rent-A-Car as he loved to drive and attended many Reitz football games. He professed faith in Jesus Christ, his Lord and Savior, and often said that was the best decision he ever made. Billy was a member of Crossroads Christian Church where he sang in the choir and fellowship with loving friends. We cherish these and many other aspects of Billy’s life.

His sister, Catherine Word; brothers, Glendel Ray (Ola) Word, Carl Wade (Willie) Word, Maxie Lee Word; sister-in- law, Cap Word; and nephews, Stanton Rigney and Stanley M. Word; and special friend, Bonnie York preceded him in death.

Survivors include two sons, Brett Franklin (Leslie Hurst) Word, of Parkesburg, PA and Chad Andrew (Rachael) Word of Douglasville, GA, both sons of his first marriage to Janet Berry; two grandchildren, Levi Daniel and Olivia Mae Word; one adopted son, William Meryl Word of Cleveland, TN, with third wife, Ligia Bocanegra; one Aunt, Flora Ann Jeffries of Evansville, IN; two brothers, Layton Grant (Hilda) Word and Herbert Clay (Della) Word both of Evansville, IN; two Sisters-in-law, Georgia Word of

Henderson, KY and Mary Lou Tippitt, Greenville, KY; several nieces, nephews, cousins; and a host of loving church friends and extended relatives.

The family would like to thank all those that visited and helped him during his last few months of battling his lung illness.

Funeral services will be held 10:00 AM Friday June 17, 2016, at Crossroads West Side Ministry Center, 2240 Bismark Ave., Evansville, IN 47720, officiated by Pastor Rod Hoschouer.

Memorial contributions may be made to Crossroads Christian Church, PO Box 5386 Evansville, IN 47716. Condolences may be made online at www.AlexanderWestChapel.com.