Billy Ezell

Billy Burton Ezell, 95, of Spartanburg, SC, died Tuesday, June 20, 2017, at White Oak Estates-Spartanburg. Born August 17, 1921, in Spartanburg County, SC, he was the son of the late Burton Thorne Ezell and Ruby Mae Cudd Ezell and husband of the late Iris Fayssoux Gentry Ezell. A 1938 graduate of Spartanburg High School, Mr. Ezell received a BS Degree in Applied Mathematics and Pre-Medicine in 1942 from Wofford College and was a 1951 graduate of Clemson College School of Architecture. Billy was a registered architect in North and South Carolina and was employed with Lockwood Greene Engineers as Architectural Project Manager. He retired in 1984 from Lockwood Greene after 36 years of service. He was a World War II veteran of the U. S. Army Air Force having served in the 6th Air Force stationed in Panama. As a member of First Baptist Church Spartanburg he served as deacon and as a member of the Mission Team to build churches in Brazil. He also served as a volunteer for many years for Mobile Meals Service in Spartanburg. Mr. Ezell was a talented craftsman having hand-carved and painted over 18,000 "Big Willie" and "Little Willie" fishing lures, as well as building flight-powered model aircraft for which he won numerous awards. Surviving are three step-children and their families, Maurice Glenn Cox, Jr. of Spartanburg, SC, Will Jamison Cox (Carrie) of Mount Pleasant, SC, and Robert H. Cox (Cristen) of Spartanburg, SC; seven step-grandchildren, Chance Jamison Cox of Aspen, CO, Tawney Shea Bevacqua of Venice Beach, CA, Anthony Bevacqua (Kiersten) of San Diego, CA, Robert Hamilton Cox, Jr., Deacon Mills Cox, Marnie Suzanne Baxter, and Brian Robert Cox, all of Spartanburg, SC. In addition to his parents and wife, he was predeceased by a sister, Raymoth Ezell Rivers. A graveside service will be conducted at 3:00 PM Thursday, June 29, 2017, in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, 1300 Fernwood-Glendale Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29307, by the Rev. Robert C. Morgan. Visitation will be at the graveside. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mobile Meals Service, PO Box 461, Spartanburg, SC 29304. Floyd's North Church Street Chapel To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Billy Burton Ezell please visit our Sympathy Store.