William Keith Bailey, 93
William Keith Bailey, 93
William Keith Bailey, 93, was reunited with his wife Dolores in Heaven on Wednesday, November 4, 2021 following a brief illness. Bill was born to Carl and Dorothy Bailey on July 4, 1928.
In addition to his wife Dolores, Mr. Bailey was preceded in death by his parents, mother-in-law and father-in-law Albert and Bertha Milhoan.
Left to cherish the memory of Bill are his son Rodney (Cheryl) Bailey, daughter Rita (Larry) Ball, brother Robert (Wilovene), and Darlene (Jim) Emmitt. Also left to remember their grandfather are Renee (Brent) Buckley, Shellie (Colton) Stewart, and Wyatt (Annisha) Ball. Additionally, Bill leaves behind three great-grandchildren, Hunter, Grace, and Turner Buckley, the older of which Great Papaw often enjoyed a hearty board game with – not giving an inch, no matter their age difference. Lastly, Bill will be remembered by nieces and nephews, cousins and great many others who considered him a friend.
Bill grew up and spent most of his life in Meigs County, aside from time spent on the island of Korea in the 1950’s, from which he returned with a Purple Heart. Upon his return from The Forgotten War, Bill met the young lady who would become his wife and they settled into the Bradbury community where they would raise their son and daughter. They faithfully attended Laurel Cliff Free Methodist Church, Bradbury Church of Christ, and Middleport Church of Christ. Bill made his living as a machinist spending his career at Imperial Electric and Federal Mogul. Bill and Dolores spent 62 years together before her passing in 2019. He firmly believed that his family was his greatest accomplishment.
Anyone who met Bill would know instantly that details mattered to him. Beyond his work as a machinist, which undoubtedly equipped him with all the tools to care about details, when recalling his trip to pick up Dolores for their first date, Bill couldn’t help but tell the story with the make, model, and color of every car he passed along the way. Bill’s neighbors could probably tell you the exact minute he picked up his mail on a daily basis and his family loved to laugh about the five cereals he ate, in order, every morning. He had a knack for detailed story-telling and always enjoyed a good joke – always stopping short of a line he shouldn’t cross but certainly knowing that the possibility made it all the more humorous. Additionally, Bill will be remembered by those that knew him as a man who very sincerely wanted to enjoy the company of and not be a burden to his family. He was a very caring man and always put the needs of those around him as his top priority.
Calling hours for Bill will be Monday, November 8, 2021 from 12-1 p.m. with a funeral service to follow at Anderson McDaniel Funeral Home in Pomeroy, Ohio with Pastor Al Hartson officiating. A graveside service will be held at Meigs Memory Gardens. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that donations be made to Meigs County Senior Citizen’s Center Meals on Wheels Program at 621 South Third Avenue, Middleport, Ohio 45760. Or, if you prefer, Bill would be most delighted by you passing along an act of kindness and a hearty joke in memory of a man who left his mark on this world.
