William B. Hood

William B. (Bill) Hood, 91 of Knoxville, passed away unexpectedly Friday, April 9, 2021. Born to Beulah and Clarence Hood on Dec. 30, 1929, Bill grew up exploring the riverbanks and caves of the Tennessee River around the family neighborhood of Lily Avenue, where UT’s Tom Black Track now stands. At the age of 14, he began a lifelong love of airplanes by becoming part of an experimental young pilot’s program off Western Avenue (near West High School today). Part of his teenage legacy of “hoodwinks” included piloting low-level “missions” above local golf courses, buzzing the family home and once, crashing gently in a Blount County tobacco field, running for his life from the angry farmer whose cash crop had been ruined.

At Knoxville High School, he was a member of the Rifle Club, and met the love of his life, Betty Jane McMahan. Upon graduation in 1947, they both began attending the University of Tennessee, and several years later, he joined the United States Air Force and married Betty in 1950. Following his military service during the Korean War, he worked in engineering at Fulton Sylphon Co., Knoxville, and Oak Ridge’s Union Carbide Y-12 Plant. In 1965, he went into sales at Roadway Trucking Company and in 1969 joined The Tool Crib, Inc., as a machine, tool and die salesman, where he served in local leadership in the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME). He retired from the Tool Crib at age 75, in 2004, according to his motto, “When you rest, you rust.”

Proud of his draftsman skills, he designed the blueprints of the family home built in 1955 in South Knoxville, where he and Betty raised their family and lived until 2018, when they moved to Powell Morning Pointe Assisted Living. In his retirement years, he continued his love of aircraft by being selected into one of the first classes of the McGhee Tyson Airport Aviation Academy, and delighted in visiting Washington, D.C. as a member of Honor Air. . At his new home at Powell Morning Pointe, he served as President of the Resident’s Council and was a member of the Mobile Meals team, riding the MP van around the community and providing meals and a smile.

As chairman of the deacons and Sunday School teacher of the South Knoxville Baptist Church young men’s class, he mentored many teenage boys and later young couples, inviting them to his and Betty’s “cabin” up in Wa-Ni Village on Cherokee Lake, dishing up advice as well as his famous “Bill’s Burnt Burgers.” It was at the lake that he delighted in skiing and fishing with his children and grandchildren, piloting the family’s ski boat and finally its “float boat.” His idea of “heaven on earth” included his feet propped up either on the boat’s console, stereo softly playing as the family cruised the lake, or with feet propped up on the railing of the cabin, enjoying the lake view…but always with a good cigar in his hand and “the Redhead” (Betty) by his side.

He was a proud world traveler who loved adventures ranging from Hawaii to the Caribbean to Switzerland, and all places in-between. Born into the Wesleyan Methodist faith, he was saved in 1943 and then baptized into the Baptist faith in 1950 during military service in Wichita Falls, Texas. He and Betty most recently were members of Paul Pickens’ Sunday School class, Sevier Heights Baptist Church. His love for the Lord was evidenced by his life and kindness, sharing JOY (his favorite word!) to all who knew him – he never knew a stranger!

He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Betty; son Mark Hood, Memphis; daughter Lisa Hood Skinner (Steve), Knoxville; and son Scott Hood (Karen), Knoxville and their children Andrew Hood (Katherine), San Diego; Molly Hood, United Kingdom, and Noelle Hood Kim, Knoxville, whose daughter Yuna Kim has been one of the joys of Bill’s later years.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2:00 pm, Thursday April 15th in the chapel of Berry Funeral Home, 3704 Chapman Hwy, Knoxville, Tennessee. Rev. Hollie Miller to officiate. Due to the COVID 19 pandemic face masks must be worn. Please join us at https://www.facebook.com/BerryFuneralHome for the live streaming of the Celebration of Life service.

An interment service at the East Tennessee Veterans Cemetery will be held at a later date.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.berryfuneralhome.com

In lieu of flowers, the family is encouraging donations to Sevier Heights Baptist Church https://sevierheights.org or Alzheimer’s Tennessee. https://www.alztennessee.org