William "Bill" Shelby Polk, Jr.'s Obituary
William “Bill” Shelby Polk, Jr., passed away on Sunday, June 24, 2018. Bill was born on January 18, 1927 in Hughes, Arkansas and grew up in Memphis. He was preceded in death by his mother, Bessie Huddleston Polk, father, William Shelby Polk, Sr., and four sisters, Ruth Polk, Winnie Polk, Anita Polk Keywood and Elizabeth Polk Rude. Bill leaves behind his wife of 70 years, Martha Babb Polk, two sons, William Shelby Polk, III. (Emily Webb), Rodney B. Polk (Dr. Susan Murrmann), grandchildren, Candice Polk Landrum (Tommy), Adam Polk (Traci), Brian Isonhood (Heather), great-grandchildren, Austin Polk, Jessica Polk, Julia Polk and Lake Landrum, nephews, Sidney Keywood and Sidney Rude, and nieces, Julia Keywood and Carole Crowdes. Bill was a WWII Veteran serving in the U.S. Navy on the USS Zaniah from 1944 to 1946. He returned to Memphis after his enlistment and attended Memphis State. He worked for the Department of Defense for 31 years as an Industrial Engineer retiring in 1985. Bill was a 32nd Degree Mason, a member of the Scottish Rite, a Shriner with the Al Chymia Shrine Temple serving as 1978 Commander of the Legion of Honor. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that contributions be made to the Shriner’s Crippled Children’s or Burns Hospital through Al Chymia Shrine Temple, 5770 Shelby Oaks Drive, Memphis, TN 38134, or to the charity of the donor’s choice. The family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday, June 28th from 1:30pm until the time of the funeral service at 2:30pm at Memorial Park Funeral Home, 5668 Poplar Avenue in Memphis. The burial will immediately follow.
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