Billy R. Pounders, 86, passed away on Friday, December 1, 2017. He was born in Arkansas but grew up in north Georgia (Dalton). He is married to, and is survived by his high school sweetheart, Carolyn Jean Barton.

In their 68 years of marriage, together they produced 5 wonderful children, sons, Randy (deceased in 2007), Ric, Mickey (Rose) and Tim (Jill) all residing in Pensacola, and daughter, Kim Brown of Gulf Breeze. In addition, they are survived by 13 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

He graduated from Dalton High School, Pensacola Junior College and the University of West Florida. He joined Chemstrand/Monsanto in 1957 and after 29 years retired from their Monsanto Spartanburg, S.C. plant. During those years he served in 7 different locations and in a number of positions, 3 in S.C., Pensacola twice and in Ohio and Missouri, all in the Human Resources field.

Fortunately able to retire at age 55, he and Jean loved traveling, and not only traveled the United States, but literally the entire world. They especially enjoyed cruising, taking 14 of them.

Bill loved and followed competitive sports and participated in many of them; including football, basketball, fast pitch softball, bowling, golf plus several others, with golf dominating in his retirement years, mostly with the "Lunch Bunch" at the Chemstrand/ Monsanto/Solutia/Cypress Lakes Golf Course. As he always said "I was pretty good at all of them but not outstanding at any."

Never one to just sit around, he developed a variety of interests over the years. These included time as a Boy Scout Master, gardening, wine making, wood working, coin collecting and was an avid reader.

Bill always said he had a wonderful life made possible by his loving wife and a wonderful family and that he could never thank them enough, especially enduring all the trauma of their many moves.

Visitation will be held from 1:00pm until a Funeral Service at 1:45pm Thursday, December 7, 2017 at Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel with Chuck Harris officiating. Private Committal will be at Holy Cross Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Covenant Care (Hospice), 5041 N. 12th Ave., Pensacola, FL 32504.

Special thanks are given to his longtime friend, Dave Morgan and his personal caregiver, Trudye Copa.