Mr. Bill Harwell
A highly decorated World War II Army Veteran, Mr. Bill Harwell of Carthage, died at the age of 93 at 9:32 p.m. Saturday evening, June 9, 2018, at the Riverview Regional Medical Center in Carthage where he was admitted Thursday afternoon, June 7th, from his Park Avenue home, suffering from complications of pneumonia.
Bro. Randy Teat officiated at the 3 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, June 13th, funeral services from the Carthage Chapel of Sanderson Funeral Home and a granddaughter, Breanne Dixon Kintz, delivered the eulogy. Burial with full military honors followed in the Garden of Gethsemane at Smith County Memorial Gardens with Eld. Junior Dickerson officiating.
The only boy of nine children, he was the son of the late Hugh Conway Harwell, who died at the age of 73 on July 11, 1967, and Alice Elizabeth Harwell who died in 1928 when Bill was 3 years old.
He was born William Emerson Harwell in the Pisgah community near Pulaski in Giles County on May 7, 1925.
The step-mother that was a part of his growing up life was Mrs. Lillian Beard Harwell, who predeceased him.
Also preceding Mr. Harwell in death was a daughter, Teresa Harwell Smith, who died at the age of 41 on November 30, 2004, two sons-in-law, Danny Potter, who died at the age of 72 on March 28, 2014, and David Armstrong, who died at the age of 54 in October of 2014.
Four sisters preceded him in death, Annie Margaret Harwell Watson, Rebecca Harwell Rogers, Sarah Elaine Harwell Gaines and Joan Harwell Clark Hardy.
He was united in marriage on June 23, 1990 at the Christ Church Pentecostal Church in Gordonsville by then pastor Bro. Arnold Dugan to the former Olene Butler Grisham.
Known as a kind, quiet, gentle, humble man, he always claimed he didn’t have much to say because Olene talked enough for the both of them. He enjoyed attending UT football games, deep sea fishing and time with family and friends. More often than not, he was blamed for the mischief of small children and never hesitated to become involved with their antics. Later, the Harwell home was a beacon for many hungry teenagers, and they got a kick out of never knowing who would be waiting for them when they came home.
For many years he and Olene attended Christ Church Pentecostal and in more recent years they attended North Carthage Baptist Church, as long as his health permitted.
Mr. Harwell was employed for ten years with the Tennessee Home Improvement Co. before retiring in 1990.
He was of the Pentecostal faith.
Mr. Harwell proudly served our country with the United States Army during World War II and was inducted at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia on July 30, 1943 and was honorably discharged at Fort George D. Meade Maryland on March 21, 1946 having served combat duty in the Rome-Arno Campaign and had total overseas service of five months and thirteen days and had a total military service of two years, seven months and eighteen days.
For his meritorious service he was awarded a Good Conduct Medal, two Purple Heart Medals, the American Theater Ribbon, the European Middle Eastern Theatre Ribbon, the World War II Victory Ribbon, a Combat Infantry Badge and the MKM M-1 Rifle badge.
He was assigned to the Company C, 168th Infantry Regiment and received wounds in Italy on May 26, 1944.
Locally he is survived by his loving wife of twenty-eight years, Olene; daughter, Phyllis McCall and husband, John, of Tanglewood; granddaughters, Shawna Dixon Zody and husband, Michael; and Breanne Dixon Kintz and husband, Stephan; and two great-granddaughters, Casbie Emerson Kintz and Annabelle Zody, as well as special family friend, Barbara Williams of Carthage. He is also survived by three daughters, Joan Potter of White House; Linda Armstrong of Nashville; and Pam Thackxton and husband, Mike, of Nashville; five grandchildren: Jeff McAnally and wife, Tabitha; Eric Hollingsworth and wife, Anna; Chris Hollingsworth and wife, Michelle; Brandy Mugford and husband, Elliott; and Daniel Smith and wife, Tarsha, as well as nine great-grandchildren. He is also survived by four sisters: Marilyn Woodard of Dickson; Betty Taylor of Tullahoma; Martha Carvell of Pulaski and husband, Terry; and Dorothy Beaty of Nashville.
The Harwell family requests memorials to the Plunketts Creek Missionary Baptist Church.
