William Howard Whitfield

William Howard Whitfield, age 83, passed away on Monday, October 24, 2016. Howard was born on June 10, 1933 to Ruth Tidwell Whitfield and Benjamin Phillip Whitfield in Nashville, Tennessee. Howard grew up on Music Row in Downtown Nashville and spent his childhood and young adult days playing softball on organized leagues, playing horseshoes, and playing practical jokes on the members of the local Fire Department. Howard graduated from Hume Fogg High School in 1951. After graduation, Howard proudly served two years in the United States Army and was honorably discharged. Howard then worked at Western Electric and its successive companies with AT&T for 30 years before retiring in 1986.

Howard is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Helen Edison Whitfield, his devoted daughter, Treva Jane Whitfield of Birmingham, Alabama, and his canine Shetland Sheepdog grandchildren Savannah and Paxton. Howard's favorite Sheltie grandchild, Jasper, preceded Howard to Heaven in 2015. Howard was an active member of the Fishermans Sunday School Class at First Baptist Church of Goodlettsville, which provided him so much spiritual comfort and support in his final days.

A funeral service will be conducted at 2 pm on Friday, October 28, 2016 at Forest Lawn Funeral Home with burial to follow in the Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens. Visitation with the family will be Thursday, October 27, 2016 from 3 pm to 7 pm and two hours prior to the funeral service on Friday from 12 to 2 pm. Officiating as pallbearers are Tucker Aguirre, Rod Edison, Jerry McCloud, Bryan Roehrig, Keith Abner, and Rick Taylor. Serving as honorary pallbearers are Bob Norris and members of the Fishermans Sunday School Class at First Baptist Church of Goodlettsville, with honorary distinction given to his special friend, Joe Durham.