Celebrating the life of
Alan "A.B." Bills
June 05, 1948 - September 16, 2010
Lawrenceville, GA – L. Alan "A.B." Bills, age 62, passed away September 16, 2010 surrounded by his family after a three-year battle with prostate cancer.
He was born June 5, 1948 in Springfield, MO and graduated from Glendale High School in 1966. Alan was a veteran of the United States Army and served one tour in Vietnam as a decorated helicopter pilot in the Big Red One Division. After completing his tour, he was assigned to Fort Stewart, GA and remained in Savannah, GA for 25 years. He was a successful restaurateur and affiliated with Spanky's for many years in both Savannah and Athens, GA. Alan's greatest joys in life were his family, baseball, the Georgia Bulldogs, golf and storytelling. He had many friends around the state and will be greatly missed by all that knew this humorous, fun-loving, and kind man.
Alan was preceded in death by his parents, William Duane and Joanne Bills. Survivors include his devoted wife of 18 years, Michelle Russell Bills, two sons, Brandon and Chandler Bills all of Lawrenceville; sister, Tammy Bills of Springfield, MO; mother & father-in-law, Sharon Forbes Russell and John Russell; brother & sister-in-law, Barry and Dawn Russell; nieces, Isabelle and Madeline Russell all of Savannah; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and dear friends.
The family will receive friends and family from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Saturday, Sept. 18 at Tom M. Wages Lawrenceville Chapel. Additional visitation will be held on Sunday, Sept. 19 from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel.
A Memorial Service Celebrating Alan's Life will be held Monday, Sept. 20, 2010 at 1:00 P.M. at Fox & Weeks Hodgson Chapel with Fr. Ronald P. Gatman, O.S.B. officiating. Military Honors will be rendered at Greenwich Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to your local American Cancer Society Chapter in memory of Alan Bills.
Arrangements entrusted to Tom M. Wages Funeral Service, LLC, Lawrenceville, GA 770-963-2411 and Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel, Savannah, GA 912-352-7200.
Condolences may be sent or viewed at www.wagesfuneralhome.com or www.foxandweeks.com.
Michelle, I am so sorry for your loss. I will keep you and all of your family in my prayers. Shari
- Shari Simmons, Lawrenceville, GA
AB, you will be sorely missed by all you befriended. Thank-you for your friendship, your insight and all of the wonderful memories.
- Bruce Ford, Savannah, GA
May God's grace comfort you during this time.
- matt mixon, clarkesville, GA
To the Bill's family I would like to extend my deepest sympathy. AB was such a great and respected part of not only my life but of many in the Savannah area. He will be so saddly missed by all that knew him. So long olde boy, Gator an Bonnie will be thinking of YOU.
- Thomas Connolly, Savannah, GA
I just read of A.B.'s passing...My heart is broken along with his many, many friends...Reflecting on the wonderful years of 'young' Spanky's...his warms smiles & big hugs were a given..Thanks for the memories A.B. God's blessings to his family... Cheri Stokes Keller Pooler, GA
- Cheri Stokes Keller, Pooler, GA
Michelle and Boys: Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this most difficult time.---love Perry
- Perry & Priscilla Russell, Ellabell, GA
Michelle and Boys: Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this most difficult time.---love Perry
- Perry & Priscilla Russell, Ellabell, GA
Michelle and Boys: Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this most difficult time.---love Perry
- Perry & Priscilla Russell, Ellabell, GA
Michelle, Brandon and Chandler, I am sorry for your loss. 'A.B.' was a great friend and I have SO many fun, fun memories of the days when I first starting dating Berry in 1977 and they were best friends. I know you made him a very happy and proud man and he loved you so much. I will always cherish my memories and know that he and Berry are reunited in a better place. God Bless.
- Debbie Rich, Savannah, GA
Michelle, I too am truly sorry for your loss, but please take comfort in the fact that the world was a better place because A.B. was a part of it. I have many fond memories of A.B. in Savannah, Athens, and Perry. I'll always remember A.B. making a call on me at home plate in one of the Spanky's softball tournaments. He was grinning from ear to ear as he said 'That was one beautiful slide, but you are out'. Another time after a Georgia football game in Athens a group of us went to Spanky's and were told it would be a wait of about an hour and a half to be seated there was a long linethen I saw A.B. and told him that we had a group of around 20 people from Savannah so he opened up the back room and took us in immediately and even stayed with us the entire time we were there. I also really enjoyed the times I was able to play golf with him in Perry.also new years eve in Perry with Artie and Denny A.B. will truly be missed.
- Fred McBride, Savannah, GA
Michelle, Brandon & Chandler: I am so very sorry to hear about your beloved A.B. Your family and your faith will see you through this very sad time in your life. I love you and let me know if there is anything at all that you need. Finally, he is in no more pain but resting in peace.
- Eileen Forbes Fenlon, Fayetteville, NC
Michelle and Boys, We were saddened to hear about Alan. May God give your Great Strength during this time.Everyone is in our thoughts and prayers! Deanna,Alan and Stefanie Dasher
- Deanna Dasher, Savannah, GA
Michelle, I am so sorry for your loss. I will keep you and all of your family in my prayers. Shari
- Shari Simmons, Lawrenceville, GA
AB, you will be sorely missed by all you befriended. Thank-you for your friendship, your insight and all of the wonderful memories.
- Bruce Ford, Savannah, GA
May God's grace comfort you during this time.
- matt mixon, clarkesville, GA
To the Bill's family I would like to extend my deepest sympathy. AB was such a great and respected part of not only my life but of many in the Savannah area. He will be so saddly missed by all that knew him. So long olde boy, Gator an Bonnie will be thinking of YOU.
- Thomas Connolly, Savannah, GA
I just read of A.B.'s passing...My heart is broken along with his many, many friends...Reflecting on the wonderful years of 'young' Spanky's...his warms smiles & big hugs were a given..Thanks for the memories A.B. God's blessings to his family... Cheri Stokes Keller Pooler, GA
- Cheri Stokes Keller, Pooler, GA
Michelle and Boys: Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this most difficult time.---love Perry
- Perry & Priscilla Russell, Ellabell, GA
Michelle and Boys: Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this most difficult time.---love Perry
- Perry & Priscilla Russell, Ellabell, GA
Michelle and Boys: Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this most difficult time.---love Perry
- Perry & Priscilla Russell, Ellabell, GA
Michelle, Brandon and Chandler, I am sorry for your loss. 'A.B.' was a great friend and I have SO many fun, fun memories of the days when I first starting dating Berry in 1977 and they were best friends. I know you made him a very happy and proud man and he loved you so much. I will always cherish my memories and know that he and Berry are reunited in a better place. God Bless.
- Debbie Rich, Savannah, GA
Michelle, I too am truly sorry for your loss, but please take comfort in the fact that the world was a better place because A.B. was a part of it. I have many fond memories of A.B. in Savannah, Athens, and Perry. I'll always remember A.B. making a call on me at home plate in one of the Spanky's softball tournaments. He was grinning from ear to ear as he said 'That was one beautiful slide, but you are out'. Another time after a Georgia football game in Athens a group of us went to Spanky's and were told it would be a wait of about an hour and a half to be seated there was a long linethen I saw A.B. and told him that we had a group of around 20 people from Savannah so he opened up the back room and took us in immediately and even stayed with us the entire time we were there. I also really enjoyed the times I was able to play golf with him in Perry.also new years eve in Perry with Artie and Denny A.B. will truly be missed.
- Fred McBride, Savannah, GA
Michelle, Brandon & Chandler: I am so very sorry to hear about your beloved A.B. Your family and your faith will see you through this very sad time in your life. I love you and let me know if there is anything at all that you need. Finally, he is in no more pain but resting in peace.
- Eileen Forbes Fenlon, Fayetteville, NC
Michelle and Boys, We were saddened to hear about Alan. May God give your Great Strength during this time.Everyone is in our thoughts and prayers! Deanna,Alan and Stefanie Dasher
- Deanna Dasher, Savannah, GA
Services under the direction of:
Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel
912-352-7200
