William (Bill) Pierce Newkirk

William (“Bill) Pierce Newkirk, age 87, died peacefully at his home in Knoxville, Tennessee on the morning of May 14, 2019. Bill lived a long, colorful and fulfilling life as a son, husband, father and grandfather. Bill was born to William Jennings and Myrtle Zinschlag Newkirk August 25, 1931 in Chicago, Illinois where he lived until 1939. He then moved to Chillicothe, Ohio, where he graduated high school in 1949. That fall he took a job as a night time ticket agent for the B&O Railroad in Athens, Ohio, while simultaneously attending Ohio University. Bill graduated in absentia (as he liked to say), as he was by then serving proudly in the United States Army from 1953-1955. After his honorable discharge from military service in1955, Bill was married to Sally Lewis and entered law school at the University of Cincinnati. He transferred the following year to the University of Tennessee School of Law, where he earned his juris doctor in 1957. Bill practiced law in Knoxville until he was appointed Judge of the Knox County Chancery Court in 1969. After serving the residents of his home county as Chancellor, he returned to private practice in Knoxville. Bill concluded his long and illustrious legal career serving as a specially appointed judge for the Tennessee Court of Appeals and as an Administrative Law Judge for the United States Department of the Interior and the Social Security Administration. After working for the B&O Railroad, Bill developed and maintained a lifelong interest in rail transportation. This was evidenced by his complete refurbishing of an old caboose, which he maintained on his family farm. Later, Bill’s interests expanded to air transportation. When the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority was founded, he was appointed to and served on the initial Board, eventually serving as its Chairman. Another of his interests was cattle. In the early 90’s he became enamored with Angus cattle and raised breeder and beef stock with the help of his family. A Gentleman Farmer, lawyer, judge, pilot and converted East-Tennessean, Bill lived a full and diverse life. Bill is survived by his wife of 64 years, Sally; their sons, Brian (Margie) Newkirk of Knoxville; Timothy Newkirk of Knoxville; daughter Sarah (Glenn) Ireland of Vestavia Hills, Alabama; two granddaughters of whom he was very proud, Anna Pierce and Margaret Ireland of Vestavia Hills, Alabama; and sister-in-law Betty A Lewis of Knoxville. If you wish to make a memorial donation please do so to Remote Area Medical (2200 Stock Creek Blvd, Rockford, TN 37853) Phone 865-579-1530 or at Web address https://www.ramusa.org/

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William (Bill) Pierce Newkirk

May 14, 2019