William Matt "Bill" Firestone

William Matt (Bill) Firestone was born November 17, 1939 at Holy Name of Jesus Hospital in Gadsden to Beulah Johnson Firestone and Amon Firestone. His life spanned until November 20, 2023 through 84 years of uncommon favor with his charming, creative drive to make life as good and adventurous as he and God’s gracious Spirit put together.

He was a friend to many people from Gadsden High Class of 1959, Southside Baptist Church, his many travels (He never met a stranger.), and from 36 years of working at Goodyear. He wore his Firestone name with humorous pride there.

His great loves were his wife, Susan, and their three daughters, Mandy, Cassie, and Anna; his sons-in-law, Shane Youngblood, the late Jimmie Harp, Jr., and Dr. Marc Miller. His grandkids delighted him. They are Ashleigh, Lindsey, and Matthew Youngblood; Baylor, John, Carley, and Michael Harp; Annabelle, Bo, and Emme Miller.

His favorite remaining relatives are his brother, Mike, and sister-in-law, Sandy; his first cousin who was more like a sister, Glenda Jones; and his Firestone cousins, Felix and Kenneth. He also loved his in-laws: Warren and Sandy Fuhrman, Tommy and Sally Robertson, Phillip and Glenda Fuhrman, and Cindy and Glenn Abbott.

His funeral service will be held at Southside Baptist Church on Sunday, November 26th at 2PM, with visitation beginning at noon. Burial will be at Pilgrim’s Rest Cemetery in Southside. Pallbearers are his sons-in-law and grandsons. The honorary pallbearers are the men in Bill Thornton’s Sunday School Class and the 1959 classmates in the “Golden Tigers,” Third Saturday Lunch Club. He was truly devoted to each of you.