Billy D Proffitt

Billy D. “Uncle Bill” Proffitt, 90, of Van Wert, passed away at 3:30 a.m., Friday at Vancrest Health Care Center, Van Wert.
He was born in Mercer County, Ohio on March 30, 1929, to Rev. Clayton Manley and Sarah Elizabeth Proffitt. He married the former Margaret Louise Campbell and they celebrated 71 years of marriage on August 8, 2019.
Other family members include their children, Trena Proffitt Bartz and Bobby Don (Becky) Proffitt all of Van Wert; three grandchildren, Elizabeth Anne (Terry) Wilson, Preston (Mandy) Proffitt and Jessica (Drew) Cano; seven great grandchildren, Stephany, Brittney, Isabella and Alexander Wilson, Clayton, J.J. (Aiden), and Raelyn Proffitt; and a great great granddaughter, Adilynn Grace Wilson. Also there are many nieces, nephews, great nieces & nephews and great great nieces & nephews.
Besides his parents, Billy was preceded in death byu three brothers, Glenn Proffitt, Norville Proffitt and Rev. Carl Proffitt; and three sisters, Pauline Clark, Mary Mueller and Edith Walker.
Billy attended grade school at Jennings school, then moved to West Plains, Missouri when he was twelve years old. He Attended West Plains High School and graduated in 1948. After marriage, he and Louise moved to Van Wert and he worked at Borden Foods. After the birth of their daughter, they moved back to West Plains and Billy worked as a mechanic at the Ford garage. He attended automatic transmission school in St. Louis. They lived a short time in Dade City, Florida, then returned to Van Wert in February of 1957. He worked at the Bushong Ford dealership and at Proffitt’s garage and later as a greens keeper at Willow Bend Golf Club until 1970. He then worked at Van Wert Propane for seven years and retired from Van Wert Auto Supply in 1991 where he was a machinist. He repaired carburetors at home until Alzheimers forced him to quit in 2008.
Bill loved to sing. He started singing at church when he was four years old with his brother Carl who played guitar. As an adult, he sang in the Gospel Ambassador quartet for 15 years at First United Brethern in Christ Church. Then then sang solos and eventually sang duets with Louise off and on for 24 years at First Church of God.
Bill also loved to travel by automobile especially in the West. Montana was the favorite state. They traveled with travel trailers or a small motor home for 26 years. He loved the youth and helped coach the “Bills” Acme baseball team in 1968-69 when they were state champs. He taught Jr. Hi Sunday School for 14 years. He was also on the church boards for several times and co-chaired the food bank and Church of God for five years.
He was a life member of the National Rifle Association and the North American Hunting Club. He was a former member of the Van Wert Kiwanis Club. He was known to the dependable, compassionate, loving, giving, honest, and loved to help people in need.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 3 p.m., Saturday, September 7, 2019, at Grace Bible Church. There will calling one-half hour prior to the service.
Preferred memorials are to Gideons International and the Alzheimers Association.
 

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