Mr. William Wendelyn Benz Jr.'s Obituary
William (Billy) Wendelyn Benz, Jr., 92, of Goodlettsville, stepped into the presence of the Lord on June 15, 2020.
The oldest son of William Wendelyn and Frances (Wade) Benz, he was born in Nashville on February 22, 1928.
Billy is survived by wife Margaret (Peggy) Pauline (Williams), sons James (Ned) Edward (Beth), William Wendelyn, III, Gary Wade (Diane) and Curtis Lee, Sr. (Lee Anne); brother Jack (Naroma) Benz; 11 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents, sisters Carrie Louise (Marvin) Smith, Wilhelmina (Petie) Harris, Frances (Harry) Harrison, Ruth (Bob) Lewis, and daughter-in-law Johanna (Hale) Benz.
Billy began a life-long insurance career at Life and Casualty and was an award-winning agent for more than 60 years with New York Life. He was a multi-year member of the Million Dollar Round Table and a member of the National Association of Life Underwriters. Billy served on the Metro Nashville Board of Education from 1971-1975 and the Metro Beautification and Environment Commission.
Serving as vice president of the class of ‘46 at Isaac Litton High School, Billy was active in football and basketball, serving as captain of both his senior year. Billy was named to the All City Football Team in 1945 and All 19th District Basketball Team in 1946. He attended Peabody College (now George Peabody College of Vanderbilt University).
A former Boy Scout leader, Billy served as deacon of Inglewood Baptist Church and in his later years was a member of First Baptist Church of Hendersonville. He served on the board of directors of the Margaret Maddox YMCA, was a member of the Goodlettsville Chamber of Commerce and had been a member of the Bluegrass Country Club.
Billy was the great-great grandson of Captain William Driver who is credited with naming the American flag “Old Glory.” Loyal to the Union, Driver ensured the protection of the original “Old Glory” by having it sewed into a quilt during the Civil War. “Old Glory” is exhibited at the Smithsonian Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. Following the 1831 mutiny of the HMS Bounty led by Captain William Bligh, Driver escorted 65 descendants of the survivors from Tahiti to their home on Pitcairn Island.
In 1945 while at Litton High School, Billy set his eye on the beautiful Peggy Williams, who graciously agreed to be his best girl on September 16, 1945. He convinced Peggy to be his permanent best girl and they were married on July 15, 1948, enjoying almost 72 years of marriage.
An avid outdoorsman, Billy loved hunting and fishing with a particular interest in bass fishing. He loved to take friends and family walking through creeks fishing and snake hunting.
He was an excellent tennis player and shared his love for the sport with his four sons, who struggled to defeat him even into adulthood.
A lover of all things historical, the Connell House caught his and Peggy’s interest in the 1950s and in 1985 they purchased the spectacular home and made it their beloved Three Waters.
Billy loved his gardens and shared his vegetables with family, friends, clients, neighbors and church to be distributed to needy families. In his later years, he became an accomplished baker, specializing in sour dough bread and his famous cinnamon rolls, which he loved to share with friends, family and church staff.
Most of all, Billy was known for his devotion to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, setting a godly example for his family. He was famous for his world-class sense of humor and pulling pranks on unsuspecting people who would immediately become his friends.
Visitation is 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, June 18 at Three Waters, 7723 Old Springfield Pike, Goodlettsville, TN 37072. The service will be at Three Waters at 1 p.m. with Dr. Bruce Chesser presiding.
Arrangements are being handled by Spring Hill Funeral Home and Cemetery.
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