William Dale Harrell

William Dale Harrell was born in Decker, Indiana, on September 3, 1939 to the late Walter Dale Harrell and Sarah Pearl Vetra Harrell. His family later moved to Princeton, Indiana where he graduated from Princeton High School.

Bill and Barbara met in 1957 and married in 1958. Throughout their marriage, they were blessed to have toured all of the contiguous United States and took several trips to Europe and the Middle East.

Bill was employed as Road Foreman of Engineers by Southern Railway and Norfolk Southern for 32 years where he trained and supervised locomotive engineers. He was the youngest person to have been certified to operate a steam engine and was the District Engine Supervisor of the Freedom Train Excursion in 1976, the biggest nation-wide celebration of America's Bicentennial.

Bill was a faithful member of Irondale United Methodist Church where he served as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for many years and spearheaded “Helping Hands”, a ministry to provide free repairs to the congregation’s widow’s.

As a member of the Department 56 Housing Authority Collector's Club, he served several terms as president, entered display competitions and enjoyed annual conventions. Bill's other interests were bonsai and woodworking.

When Barbara was President of the Third District Women’s Club, Bill became known as the “The Knight on Call”, lending his many skills to maintaining the historic club house on Highland Ave.

After retirement, Bill became known as the “Gentle Guardian” when he began volunteering as a driver for the Irondale Senior Citizen’s Center. His role quickly grew to becoming part of the staff and expanding services to include taking the seniors on bus trips to get their groceries, field trips, helping seniors with home repairs and teaching classes on bonsai, the Japanese art of dwarfing trees and shrubs.

The family wishes to thank his many outstanding caregivers, specifically Kendra Holt and Michelle Mufasa.

Bill is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Barbara Head Harrell, son and daughter in law: William B. and Anna M. Harrell of Odenville, Alabama; daughter and son in law: Robin Yvonne Raney and Rev. Dr. Donald C. Raney; granddaughter Katherine LeighAnne Raney, grandson Joseph Donald Raney, all of Lubbock, Texas; his brother and sister in law: Robert Vetra and Sue Harrell of Princeton, Indiana and several other family members.

The family will receive friends at Irondale United Methodist Church on Friday, July 9, 2021 beginning at ten o'clock with the Celebration of Life following at eleven o'clock.