William (Bill) Billingsley, 95, of Huntsville, Ala., passed away peacefully with family by his side on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. Bill was born and reared in Winona, Miss. He graduated from Winona High School in 1948, from Mississippi State College in 1952 in Business, and in 1955 in Engineering. After working in the industry for several years, he accepted a job in 1962 with the U.S. Army Missile Command on Redstone Arsenal. About that same time, he married Sara Martindale from Batesville, Miss. They met while Sara was teaching fourth grade in the elementary school in Winona.
Bill retired from the Arsenal in 1992, and since retiring, enjoyed watching his six grandchildren grow up. He loved his grandchildren and always looked forward to taking them for rides in his truck or shopping for candy. Bill also enjoyed church activities, working in the yard, and eating out with friends. He was a member of Whitesburg Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and on several committees. He was also a member of the Gideon’s. Bill had a special place in his heart for his hometown of Winona and loved sharing memories of his childhood adventures.
Bill is preceded in death by Sara, his loving wife of 62 years, his brother, Chut Billingsley, and his sister, Sarah and husband Ronald Shultz of Jennings, La.
He is survived by his daughter, Stacy Baldwin, and her husband Jeff, of Millbrook, Ala., and his son, William Billingsley Jr. and his wife Linda, of New Market, Ala.; his grandchildren, Hudson Baldwin and his wife Stacia (Knoxville, Tenn.), Stephanie Baldwin (Huntsville, Ala.), Katherine Baldwin (Millbrook, Ala.), Ally Billingsley (Denver, Colo.), Nikki Billingsley (Denver, Colo.), and Jenna Billingsley (Atlanta, Ga.). He is also survived by Chut’s wife, Mitchie, of Winona, Miss.
Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the South Campus of Whitesburg Baptist on Sunday, Nov. 2, followed by a celebration service in the Chapel where family and friends will gather to honor both Bill and Sara. Their faith and commitment to the community will be remembered by all who knew them. Memorial donations may be made in Bill’s memory to Gideons.org
