William Franklin White Jr.

But then what seemed to be a minor bout with some seasonal bug — fatigue, shortness of breath, nothing to fret about — became something else altogether.

And a week later he was gone.

William (Bill) F. White. Jr., of Smyrna, Tenn., died May 17 of complications from bone cancer. He was 77.

He met Heather F. Pigeon nearly four decades earlier, when a mutual friend introduced them at a Ruby Tuesday in Antioch, Tenn. They hit it off, and would’ve gone out the very next night, but that was Bill’s birthday, and he had plans with his parents. So, their first date got pushed back a week.

Two years later, on Aug. 4, 1990, they were married.

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Born March 6, 1949, in Nashville, Tenn., Bill graduated from Hillsboro High School there in 1967. A stint in the U.S. Army followed; he served from 1969 to 1972, including a yearlong tour in Vietnam with the 1st Signal Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. He was based first in Saigon as a typist before being sent to the field to disassemble signal towers.

Back in the States with an honorable discharge, Bill attended Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, graduating in 1977 with a business degree and the nickname “Wild Man.”

In 1985 he joined Horizon Wine and Spirits, winning numerous sales awards over a 30-year career. The owner of one store he served said he looked forward to Bill’s calls because he was the only sales rep’ he liked.

Once a smoker, he quit after taking a work-sponsored smoking-cessation class — the only one of the 20 men in the class to finish it and kick the habit for good.

Bill knew his way around a golf course, playing in the men’s league at the Old Fort Golf Course in Murfreesboro. He eventually moved to the senior league, quipping that he “couldn’t hang with the young boys.”

This Eagle Scout (Troop 121, BSA, 1964) also enjoyed hiking Tennessee’s state parks, visiting local farmers’ markets, and — as you might expect — cooking. In recent years he tried his hand at baking; cinnamon muffins became one of his favorites, and Heather loved them too.

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Bill is survived by his wife of 35 years, Heather F. White of Smyrna; a brother, Donald White, and sister, Linda White, both of Nashville; in-laws Beth and Darren Morgan of Woodsboro, Md., and Shannon and Patrick O’Grady of Albuquerque, N.M.; and Magdalene, an 18-year-old tabby cat (Bill and Heather parented eight cats in their years together and fostered many more).

He was preceded in death by his parents, William F. White Sr. and Nannie (Nan) Louise Whitfield White.

Celebration of life and internment will be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee or WMOT Roots Radio.

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And that grill? Heather’s going to buy it herself.