WILLIAM (BILL) DONALD VEST JR

Throughout his life he was known by many names: Back Bay Bill, Dad, Pap, Coach, or just plain old Bill.  However you knew him, and while surrounded by family and friends, William D. Vest, Jr., 73, left this earth peacefully and entered his heavenly home on September 1, 2021, after a short illness at his residence.

A Celebration of Life memorial service will be held 3:00 pm Sunday, September 5, 2021, at Crossover Church, 2103 Jess Lyons Road, Columbus, MS 39705 with Pastor Bobby Richardson officiating. Church casual attire is encouraged…suspenders are optional.

Born on April 14, 1948, in Montgomery, WV, he was preceded in death by his father, William D. Vest, Sr., his mother, Wanda Marie Hostetler, and his brothers Michael Travis Vest and Rick D. Hostetler.  He was also preceded in death by the numerous deer, fish, squirrels, rabbits, and other edible wildlife he harvested throughout the United States during his lifetime.  Additionally, countless bowls of banana pudding, plates of biscuits and gravy, buttermilk biscuit sandwiches from various fast-food establishments, and bottles of Diet Mountain Dew.

He was the first male in his family in many generations not to go to work in the coal mines of West-By-God-Virginia.  Instead, in June of 1966, he enlisted in the United States Air Force where he enjoyed a 20-year career as a C-130 mechanic, attaining the rank of Master Sergeant.  While in the Air Force, he served two official tours in Vietnam, flew typhoon missions in the Pacific, as well as supporting other operations such as Eagle One (Iran Hostage Rescue Attempt) and the invasion of Grenada to liberate American medical students.  He traveled the world over and went to places others only dream about, and he spoke fondly of his many trips to Europe, Egypt, Korea, Thailand, and The Philippines.  He earned numerous medals, citations, and commendations throughout his career, most notably the Airman's Medal, for helping save the lives of an entire B-52 flight crew that had crash-landed near where he was working.  And, despite his best efforts, he was awarded the Air Force Good Conduct Medal 5 times.

He spent the last years of his military career at Keesler AFB, where he was given the nickname "Back Bay Bill".  This was because, oftentimes, you would find him fishing the waters of the Mississippi Gulf Coast and enjoying the bounty the waters there provided.  When he wasn't hunting and fishing, you would find him coaching football for the 3 ^rd and 4 ^th graders of Bayou View Elementary School, where he also earned a city championship title.

As he was nearing retirement and contemplating having to get a real job, he came to Columbus for a job interview.  When his interview consisted of being told where he could hunt and fish, he moved his family to the Golden Triangle and began working at Columbus AFB.  He worked on T-37s and T-38s for the next 17 years until his second and final retirement in 2005.  Once he moved here, he never once considered living anywhere else, and he called Columbus home for 33 years.

He is survived by his loving wife of 18 years Susan Denny Vest; his children William D. "Bill" Vest, III (Barbara) and Shawn D. Vest of Dallas, TX; Joan M. Bourg (Rachel) of Slidell, LA; Travis D. Vest of Columbia, SC; Audrey and Abigail McClung of Columbus, MS; Matthew McClung of Columbus, MS; Heather McClung of Vicksburg, MS; Jason McClung of Sylacauga, AL; his grandchildren James R. Smith of Chattanooga, TN; Cyaira S. Vest of Milledgeville, GA; Emerson M. and Holden J. Vest of Columbus, MS; Kellan, Jaxson & Liam Vest of Columbia, SC; Camryn and Ashton Cyr of Columbus, MS; Alex Smith and Conor McClung of Dadeville, AL; and great-grandchildren- Tiffany Isabelle "Bella" and Kimberly Michelle "Chelle" Smith of Chattanooga, TN; sisters- Wilma Granam of Akron, OH, Tammy Jarrett of Columbus, OH and Lisa Hill of McMinnville, TN;uncle- Bobby Harrah of Doerun, GA; as well as countless other bonus children and grandchildren.  Finally, he is also survived by the numerous deer, crappie, catfish, and other wildlife he was not able to harvest in Northeast Mississippi and Northwest Alabama.

Honorary pallbearers will be Don Wells, Ron Bracken, Robert Clark, Jr., Curtis Weeks, Former members of the 33 ^rd 80 ^th OMS at Keesler AFB, Staff of Baptist Memorial Hospital Oncology Infusion Center.

The family requests memorial donations are made to the Ronald McDonald House, St. Jude's, any volunteer firefighter department, or to the charitable organization of your choice in his name.

Do not mourn that he is gone from us; celebrate that he lived amongst us.