William B Monroe
May 1, 2017
William (Bill) B. Monroe, who made his home in Archer Florida for the last twelve years, passed away on May 1, 2017. Bill was born in Anniston, Alabama to William and Dorothy Monroe on March 23, 1934. He was formerly from Knoxville, Tennessee and Alva, Florida.
Bill is survived by his wife, Linda (whom he nicknamed Kayce), his daughters Mänette Monroe MD and her husband Mike Gaither, Leigh Monroe-Krieps and her husband George Krieps, his grandchildren Kylie and Kevin Krieps, and his cousin Carl Monroe. He considered his daughters and grandchildren his greatest achievement and he adored them and was incredibly proud of them.
As a young man, Bill was an accomplished athlete in track, football, and other sports. He was a record breaking star at his high school in Anniston, and received a football scholarship from Vanderbilt University in Nashville.
An avid boater, Bill built his own boats and logged many nautical miles in Florida and the Caribbean with his friends, chief among them T. J. (T-Bone) Whatley. He also built yurts, gardens, and most anything else you can think of.
A builder of things, Bill's major talent was drawing. He was a published cartoonist and sold his drawings across the country. Always entertaining friends and family with his endless supply of jokes, his work continues to create smiles and laughter in homes and offices all over the world.
His infectious smile and funny tales endured him to everyone he met. When meeting someone new, Bill would always ask "Where are you from?", because he had a great interest in people and their stories.
In his later years, Bill became fascinated with bamboo and planted a bamboo forest on his property in Archer. He received the original Madake sapling from his good friend, Larry Martin, who guided him on it's cultivation. Bill spent many hours of contemplation under the bamboo, playing a flute he made from one of the culms, while his dog Barney lay at his feet.
He is resting now, safe with his father, Willy B: his mother, Dottie; his grandfather Henry; and his beloved grandmother, Mary Jane.
The family requests donations in Bill's name be made to Horses and Heroes, an equine therapy program for veterans, established by his daughter.
Address:
McCormick Research Institute, Inc.
Horses and Heroes Program
4651 Rummell RD
St. Cloud, FL 34771
(407)933-7433
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Just saw this today while researching ancestry. My father Robert D. Blanton Jr was first cousin to Billy. His Mother Lucie Catherine Ruehl (1903-1977) was sister to my great-aunt Dottie. I remember Dottie and Bill very well. The attached picture is from the summer of 1958 and shows the whole family of Mary Jane Hill Ruehl. I am right in the middle of the picture.
Please email me jcblanton@gmail.com so that we can reconnect.
John Blanton
son of Robert D. Blanton Jr (Bob) and Dorothy Blanton (Pug) (both deceased) Fincastle VA