William Ellis Sullivan Jr. "Bill", 82, passed into his heavenly life after a long illness on Monday, June 28, 2010. He was a patient, kind, and loving person whose passion was teaching what he knew to others. Bill honorably served in the U.S. Army during WWII and Korea. He was a Kentucky Colonel and former Masonic Mason and Shriner. During Bill's career, he was awarded the Robert M. Watt Life Saving Award and the Edison Electric Institute Life Saving Award for saving a life of a co-worker. He was a respected electrician for over 40 years and founder of Sullivan Electric where he taught and worked alongside his two sons. He and his sons worked proudly for many horse farms around the Bluegrass region. He was also a founding member of Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church here in Lexington. William "Bill" was the son of the late William and Ada Sullivan. He leaves behind his loving wife of 64 years, Rheba McClanahan Sullivan. He also leaves behind his beloved sister, Betty Ann Manley; his children, William Ellis Sullivan III "Buzzy" (Ann), Katie McCormick (Kevin), Arthur "Joe" Sullivan (Diane), and Carl Allen McClanahan; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and several cousins, nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by a sister, Alice Stewart Furnish, his daughter, Judy Hutsell, and his grandson, Shane McCormick. He will be missed dearly by all. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Kerr Brothers Funeral Home-Harrodsburg Rd. Burial will be in Blue Grass Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations are appreciated and can be sent to Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, 101 Sanders-Brown Building, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536-023 or Hospice of the Bluegrass, 2312 Alexandria Drive, Lexington, KY 40504.



Published in Lexington Herald-Leader on June 30, 2010