William T Bledsoe III's Obituary
William T Bledsoe III, 80, of Memphis, Tennessee, went home to be with our Lord on January 5, 2024.
A devoted and loving husband to his wife Martha Jane (Hawks) Bledsoe for 55 years, William T set the standard for husbands and dads forever. He was a proud father of daughters Bonnie Bledsoe Lee and Jennie Bledsoe and son-in-law David Lee. He was most proud of his grandsons, Thomas Harrison Lee and John William Lee. In addition to a portion of his name, he shared a unique bond with each grandson, whether talking about cars with Thomas or telling jokes with John William.
William T was born on December 14, 1943, to William T Bledsoe, Jr. and Mary Lou Bledsoe in Humboldt, TN. After graduating from Humboldt High School in 1963, he entered the Air Force, proudly serving three tours of service in Vietnam as an airplane mechanic. After his service and starting a family, he completed his associate degree in electrical engineering from State Tech. He earned his Bachelor of Science in business administration from Christian Brothers University in 1990.
William T met Martha Jane in high school but swept her off her feet when he returned from service and invited her to dinner. They married on December 21, 1968, and they epitomized a Godly, loving and loyal marriage. Each day, he took the opportunity to tell her how cute he thought she was. They raised a family who admire and respect their dedication to each other and live each day to make them proud.
He worked for Bell Systems for more than 40 years, eventually retiring from AT&T in 2009. Starting as a lineman and later moving to the central office, he frequently joked about working in a job for the same company while the company changed four times. He was also a realtor for Heritage Homes and a tax professional for H&R Block.
William T loved all things cars. He was happiest when under the hood of a car. He never missed a NASCAR or Indy race. His most prized possession was his C4 Corvette. He also loved to learn, always picking up an instruction manual or online course to try a new skill. He could fix anything. He wrote three children’s books that showcased his love of animals—specifically dogs. If he was sitting in his chair, there was likely a dog in his lap or at his feet. He was their favorite.
Raised in the church, William T served as a deacon for East Park Baptist Church. He has been a member of Hope Presbyterian since 2007 and found strength and comfort in his relationship with the Lord. He lived his faith daily through caring for his family and those around him.
He was predeceased by his parents and his mother-in-law, Nell Blackwood Hawks. He is survived by his wife Martha Jane, children Bonnie and David Lee, Jennie Bledsoe, and grandsons Thomas and John William Lee. He is also survived by his brother Louis Bledsoe, his sister Rosemary Bledsoe, and nieces and nephews.
A private family graveside service was held earlier this week. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Michael J. Fox Parkinson’s Foundation or the Gary Sinise Foundation for veterans.
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