William Sitz Bill Vining, Jr.

December 30, 1928 – September 11, 2009

William "Bill" Sitz Vining, Jr., 80, went to be with the Lord on September 11, 2009, at his home in Houston following a long battle with Parkinson's. Bill was born on December 30, 1928, in Savannah, Georgia.
He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Jean Wingate Vining, of Houston, Texas; daughter and son-in-law, Ashley and Curtis Hillier and grandson, Nicholas, of Round Rock, Texas; brother, Donald C. Vining, Sr., and nephew, Donald C. Vining, Jr., of Alpharetta, Georgia; niece, Diane Butler and family of Savannah, Georgia; cousin, Lucy Chambers Exley and her daughters, Ann Sheilds and Kay Gunkle and their families; and his cousin Thomas "Tommy" Wilson and family.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents William Sitz Vining, Sr., and Effie Chambers Vining, his aunts and uncles, Letitia Chambers Wilson and William Wilson and Lucy and William Chambers, and his aunt, Agnes Vining.
While growing up in Savannah, Georgia, Bill was a member of the Boy Scouts Troop 6 and practiced the motto of "always be prepared;" was an active member of Hull Memorial Presbyterian Church and Grace United Methodist Church, the Savannah Optimist Club, and served as a volunteer with the American Red Cross of Chatham County. Bill was a graduate of Savannah High School, attended Armstrong College, graduating from the University of Georgia with a BBA degree in Business Administration in 1960 and was one of the first persons to obtain the Certificate of Purchasing Managers from the N.P.M.A. He served his country with pride in the U. S. Air Force during the Korean War and was a member of the 114th Fighter Squadron of the Georgia Air National Guard, receiving an honorable discharge as a person of excellent character in 1951. He was also a charter member of the158th squadron of the Savannah Association of Flying Air National Guardsmen.
His professional career included inside sales and purchasing for Georgia Supply Company and purchasing and procurement for American Cyanamid in Savannah, Georgia. He and his family were transferred to New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1969, where he lived in Metairie where he later joined Brown & Root in engineering and construction purchasing, materials, traffic, and administration, transferring to Houston in 1981. He retired in 1994. In Houston he was an active member of the Purchasing Management Association of Houston, Memorial Drive United Methodist Church where he was active in the Men of Action, Probers, and served on the Administrative Board. He enjoyed the swimming program of the Houston Area Parkinson Society and the YMCA.
A memorial service to celebrate Bill's life was held on Friday, September 18, 2009, at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas. Graveside services and internment will be held at Bonaventure Cemetery, Savannah, Georgia, on September 30, 2009, at 2 p.m. with Fox and Weeks Funeral Directors, 7200 Hodgson Memorial Drive, Savannah, Georgia 31406 in charge. A reception for family and friends will follow at Johnny Harris's at 1651 East Victory Drive from 3-4:30 p.m.
Remembrances: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Memorial Drive United Methodist Church, 12955 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77079, or to the Arch Foundation benefiting the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia, 394 South Milledge Avenue, Athens, Georgia 30602.
The family appreciates the constant support of Memorial Drive United Methodist Church, the Probers Sunday School Class, Vitas Hospice, and the many years of care given by Dr. Robert Vanzant, Dr. Harold Kurlander, the staff and nurses at Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center, and especially Mrs. Adeline Clark, his faithful caregiver. Rest in peace, Bill--husband, father, PaPa, brother, uncle, friend, and all around good fellow--we will cherish you always.
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Fox and Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel