Mr. W. L. “Bill” Maddox, 89, beloved husband of the late Helen Simons Maddox, entered into rest on Wednesday, March 15, 2017 at University Hospital.
Graveside services will be held at 3:00 PM on Sunday, March 19, 2017 at Westview Cemetery with the Rev. Michael Davenport officiating.
Mr. Maddox was born in the Harrisburg area of Augusta, and joined the Navy in 1942. He was assigned to the Third Fleet in the South Pacific on the USS Pasteros and the USS Celebs. In 1945, he was aboard the USS Waukesha when it entered Nagasaki three weeks after the United States dropped the atomic bomb on that city. On August 30, 1945, he participated in the initial landing and occupation of the Tokyo Bay area and the capture of the HIJMS Nagato, which symbolized the unconditional surrender of the Japanese Navy. He was discharged from duty after the war ended, and in 1949, he married Helen Simons. During the Korean War, the Navy recalled him to duty, and in 1952, he was discharged again. He returned home to his wife, Helen, and was hired by the Augusta Fire Department. In 1974, he was promoted to Chief, and three years later, he was selected chairman of the Fireman’s Pension Board. He was named Chief of the Year in 1992, and in 1996, he was named Chief of the consolidated Augusta Richmond County Fire Department. Later that year, he retired. He went on to serve on the Augusta Richmond County Coliseum Authority and the county Planning and Zoning Committee. He and Helen were members of Central Christian Church for 50 years and then moved their membership to National Hills Baptist. They were married for 65 years before her death in 2014.
He is survived by his son, Rocky Maddox (Faye), a sister, Ruth Partain, his grandchildren, Traci Thigpen (Craig) and Nicole Hinds, and his great grandchildren, Kayla Hinds, Jacob Thigpen and Phoebe Thigpen. He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen, two children, Phillip Dean Maddox and Annette R. Maddox, his parents, Willie and Inez Maddox, his brother, Howard Maddox, and his sisters, Katie Nellie Moore and Mary Francher.
Pallbearers will be Lee Van Buren, Tommy Moore, Craig Thigpen, Robert Partain and Johnny Melles.
If so desired, memorials may be made to National Hills Baptist Church, 2725 Washington Road, Augusta, GA., 30909.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday evening, March 18, 2017 from 5:00 until 7:00 PM.