William Lee Dennis, Sr.

Male 1931 - 2022  (90 years)


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  • Name William Lee Dennis 
    Suffix Sr. 
    Nickname Bill 
    Born 5 Sep 1931  Montgomery, Montgomery County, Alabama, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 14 May 2022  Auburn, Lee County, Alabama, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried 17 May 2022  Auburn Memorial Park Cemetery - Auburn, Alabama, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I9343  Cody LeBlanc's Family Tree
    Last Modified 20 Dec 2022 

    Father Jeptha Weldon Dennis, Sr.,   b. 28 Jun 1903, Ansley, Pike County, Alabama, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 20 Feb 1958, Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 54 years) 
    Mother Marianna Swain,   b. 6 May 1908, Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 11 Jan 2004, Auburn, Lee County, Alabama, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 95 years) 
    Married 28 Nov 1928 
    Family ID F4135  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family B. Brackeen 
    Children 
    +1. W.L. Dennis, Jr.
    +2. Richard Jefferson Dennis,   b. 13 Oct 1957, Decatur, Morgan County, Alabama, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 8 Oct 2012, Orlando, Orange County, Florida, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 54 years)
    +3. A.E. Dennis
    Last Modified 10 Nov 2020 
    Family ID F4138  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 5 Sep 1931 - Montgomery, Montgomery County, Alabama, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 14 May 2022 - Auburn, Lee County, Alabama, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - 17 May 2022 - Auburn Memorial Park Cemetery - Auburn, Alabama, USA Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend  : Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  • Photos
    William Lee 'Bill' Dennis, Sr.
    William Lee "Bill" Dennis, Sr.
    1948 Lee County High School Yearbook Photo
    Auburn, Alabama, USA
    William Lee 'Bill' Dennis, Sr.
    William Lee "Bill" Dennis, Sr.
    1951 Auburn University Yearbook Photo
    Auburn, Alabama, USA
    William Lee 'Bill' Dennis, Sr.
    William Lee "Bill" Dennis, Sr.
    1952 Auburn University Yearbook Photo
    Auburn, Alabama, USA

    William Lee 'Bill' Dennis, Sr.
    William Lee "Bill" Dennis, Sr.
    1953 Auburn University Yearbook Photo
    Auburn, Alabama, USA
    William Lee 'Bill' Dennis, Sr.
    William Lee "Bill" Dennis, Sr.
    Obituary picture

    Headstones
    Headstone of William Lee 'Bill' Dennis, Sr.
    Headstone of William Lee "Bill" Dennis, Sr.
    Auburn Memorial Park Cemetery - Auburn, Alabama, USA

  • Notes 
    • Obituary:

      William Lee Dennis, Sr.
      September 5, 1931 - May 14, 2022

      William Lee Dennis, Sr., age 90, went to be home with the Lord on Saturday, May 14, 2022.

      Bill was born on September 5, 1931, in Montgomery, Alabama to Dr. Jeptha and Marianna Dennis. He married his high school sweetheart, Bettye Brackeen, at Auburn United Methodist Chapel in August 1953. He was a proud and loving father to three children and was "TwoDaddy" to seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. After graduating from Lee County High School and the Alabama Polytechnic Institute, Bill served 2 years in the United States Air Force. Following active service, he accepted a job with the Chemstrand Corporation as a commercial artist and moved to Decatur, Alabama. He later owned his own business, Johnson and Dennis, worked for STS Corporation, and retired from Hutto Printing Company. He and Bettye moved to Auburn in 2018. Bill was an avid sports fan, including anything Auburn, Atlanta Braves, and Boston Red Sox. He loved his church, family, and his friends. He enjoyed volunteering at Decatur First United Methodist Church. His hobby of local, church, and family history led him to works including a History of the Dennis Family, editing the History of the First United Methodist Church (Decatur), and several Auburn history compilations. He published two books with his brother, Jep Dennis, about growing up in Auburn: A Kinder and Gentler Time and It Really Was a Lovely Village.

      He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Jeptha Dennis; and his son Richard "Dick" J. Dennis.

      He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Bettye Brackeen Dennis; his son William "Lee" Dennis, Jr. (Leona), and daughter Anna Dennis Solomon (Greg); seven grandchildren (Marianna Dennis Frankwitt (Bill), Clark Solomon (Christina), Will Dennis (Haley), Leigh Anna Solomon Smyth (Patrick), Alex Dennis, Faith Dennis, Jordan Dennis (Liz Dennis, mother); and six great-grandchildren (Haven Frankwitt, Harbor Frankwitt, Eli Dennis, Bo Dennis, Emma Solomon, and Avery Solomon), and nieces Jaye Dennis and Leigh Dennis Manning (Chip).

      He was a member of the Decatur First United Methodist Church, Wesley Fellowship Class, Hilltoppers, Morgan County Historical Society, Auburn United Methodist Church, and Harvesters.

      Visitation will be held at Frederick-Dean Funeral Home from 9:00 until 10:00 a.m. on May 17, 2022.

      Graveside service will be held at Auburn Memorial Park Cemetery at 10:30 a.m. following the visitation with Dr. George Mathison officiating.

      In lieu of flowers, please consider honoring his memory with a contribution to Auburn United Methodist Church or Decatur First United Methodist Church.

      (Published in The Opelika-Auburn News on May 17, 2022)