Dr. William "Bill" Ward Canon, age 87, of Columbus, MS passed away Saturday, July 28, 2018, at Trinity Health Care, Columbus, MS.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 31, 2018, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM and Wednesday, August 1, 2018, from 10:00 to 11:00 AM at Lowndes Funeral Home, Columbus, MS. A funeral service on Wednesday, August 1, 2018, at 11:00 AM in the Lowndes Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Gary Shelton officiating. A private interment will be in Vaiden Cemetery in Vaiden, MS with Lowndes Funeral Home, Columbus, MS directing.

Dr. Canon was born on December 31, 1930, in Vaiden, MS to the late Jesse Lee Canon and Marilla Vail Canon. His parents operated at the farm, which he resided during his childhood years, about two miles south of Vaiden, MS. Dr. Canon was active in the Boy Scouts and in the 4-H Club. He was a national 4-H Club winner and an eagle scout. Dr. Canon was president of the Vaiden Club and also served as president of the Junior County Council. He was a National 4-H Club Winner and an Eagle Scout. Dr. Canon graduated from Vaiden High School in 1948 and entered Mississippi State University. He finished pre-veterinary work there in 1950 and spent the next 4 years at Auburn University obtaining his D.V.M. degree in 1954. Dr. Canon interned at the William Greene Animal Clinic in Nashville, TN and practiced there for a year after graduating from Auburn. He moved to Memphis, TN and worked with Belview Animal Clinic in 1956. In 1956, Dr. Canon entered The United States Department of Agriculture in the Poultry Inspection Division. He entered active duty with The United States Air Force in 1957 and later entered the Air Force Reserve serving as a Lt. Colonel, Staff Officer and Liaison Officer to the Veterinary Department at Mississippi State University. Dr. Canon married Maxine Godwin Buckingham in 1959 having met at Columbus Air Force Base and moved to Washington State. He moved back to Columbus in 1960 with his wife and two children- Margie Canon and Linda Margaret Buckingham Durand. Dr. Canon purchased a farm in Lowndes County and soon sold it, entering into veterinary practice with the late Dr. E.C. Bozeman. In June 1960, Dr. Canon became associated with Dr. E.C. Bozeman, (Auburn 1945) in Columbus, MS. Dr.'s S.E. Wilcox (Auburn 1972) and Cecil Boswell (Auburn 1976) were later associates in the practice. Dr. Canon had been active in the Mississippi Veterinary Medical Association since his graduation from Veterinary College. He served as president of MVMA from 1983-1984. In 1989, he received the Veterinarian of the Year Award. From 1976 to 1979, Dr. Canon served in the Mississippi House of Representatives. In 1979, he was elected to the Mississippi State Senate. Dr. Canon retired from the legislature in 2003. He also served on the Mississippi Prison Industries Board and was a member of First Independent Methodist Church, Columbus, MS. In addition to his parents, Dr. Canon was preceded in death by his brother- Jesse Canon, Jr.

Dr. Canon is survived by his daughters- Marjorie "Margie" Canon of Columbus, MS and Linda Margaret Durand of Greenwood, MS; and grandchild- Robin Durand of New Orleans, LA.

Pallbearers will be Buddy Easley, Paul Lavender, Rone Burgin, Benard Buckhalter, Burt Holiday, and Charlie Owen. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Eddie Bozeman, Dr. Ben Woodson, Wesley Barrett, Dr. Brett Brown, Dr. Bonnie Blake, Dr. Sammy Wilcox, Ray Gore, Dr. Cecil Boswell, Mac McCarty, Shelly Woods, Mayo Ruffin, all members of the former Man Cave, Sen. Richard White, Rep. Gary Chism, Archie Noy, Dr. Deigo Valesco, Bill Lawrence, Joe Wayne Langford, Dow King, Irb Benjamin, MS Prison Industries Board and Staff, Allen Delk, James May, Dr. Taylor Henry, Tommy Reynolds, Charles Jenkins, Thomas Wiley, Vickie Reed, Sonny Cole, John Wiggins, and Trinity Health Care and Staff.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Columbus-Lowndes Humane Society, P.O. Box 85, Columbus, MS 39703.