William Bruce Blythe, known to his friends and family as Billy, lifetime resident of Opelika, passed at home on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023, after a lengthy illness. He is preceded in death by his parents James Kyle Blythe and Gwendolyn C. Blythe; brother James Kyle Blythe Jr. and his beloved granddaughter Taylor Lillian Thornton.
He leaves his wife of 45 plus years, Jean F. Blythe, sister Cynthia (Ron) Coan, four children, Sherren Jennifer (Cindy) Blythe, William Allen (Priscilla) Blythe, Joseph Kyle Blythe, and Ashley Lynn (David) Thornton; three grandchildren, Alli Anne Blythe, W. Grant Blythe, and McCrae Thornton; two nieces, a nephew and great-nieces and -nephews.
He was an Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War. He retired from Auburn University in 2015, and previously worked for GE Betz, Ampex and Uniroyal.
Memorial services were held at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home, Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023. Visitation was held from 12:30 to 2 p.m., followed by a ceremony at 2 p.m., with Dr. Tim Thompson officiating. The family respectfully declines flowers and encourages memorial donations to be made to the:
American Cancer Society
PO Box 6704 Hagerstown, MD 21741 or donate.cancer.org.
