William John Allsup

William John Allsup, age 83, of Orange Park, FL, went home to be with the Lord on August 14, 2016, at Orange Park Medical Center. Bill, as his friends knew him, was born on May 19, 1933, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Verna (Klein) Allsup and Ethridge Anderson Allsup. Bill is preceded in death by an older infant brother and his two parents. Bill was raised in Semmes, Alabama, and was the eldest of the 3 living sons. In high school he participated in football, baseball, boxing, Student Council, the newspaper staff, the school play, and was acknowledged as a “Who's Who” in his class for having “Best Personality.” His love for sports was a life-long pastime. As the son of a horse trainer, he also developed a love of horses and horse shows and attended them yearly up until about a year before his passing. He cherished sharing this yearly event with his wife, daughter, eldest grandson, and nephews throughout the years. He completed 2 years at Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, and then joined the United States Air Force. In the Air Force he was a cryptographer. During his service to his country, he met his wife of 58 years, Delyla (Nichols) Allsup. After completing his service to our country, he began to work in the steamship industry, working his way up the ranks in his company and earning the respect of his peers, employees, and supervisors. Promotions along the way brought Bill and his family from Mobile, Alabama, to New Orleans, Louisiana, and eventually to Jacksonville, Florida. He retired from Puerto Rico Marine Management, Inc., as Port Manager of Jacksonville, Florida. Bill was very proud of his accomplishments in his career. Bill is survived by his wife, known as Nicky by friends and family; his daughter, Sherry(Robbie) Bumpers; grandsons, Kyle and Kane; and his brothers, Robert and Ethridge(Sheila), and their families. A visitation will be from 6-8 PM on Friday and his funeral service is at 11AM on Saturday, August 20, 2016, at Hardage-Giddens Holly Hill Funeral Home, 3601 Old Jennings Road, Middleburg, FL. Please leave words of comfort at www.hollyhillfunerals.com.