William L. "Bill" Mckinion, Jr.

Services for William L. “Bill” McKinion, Jr. will be held Thursday, November 17, 2016 at 11 a.m. at Antioch Baptist Church in Neshoba County with Rev. James Young, Dr. Ray Spence and Rev. Mike Truhett officiating. Assisting will be Dr. Dan Lanier, Rev. Randy Miller, and Dr. David Watson. Burial will follow at Pine Grove Church in Martin. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Robert Barham Family Funeral Home.

Mr. McKinion died Monday, November 14 in Meridian, MS surrounded by those who loved him best.  He had lived in Collinsville since June of 1972. He was born in Neshoba County, MS on January 31, 1935 and was the eldest child of William L. McKinion, Sr. and Inez Rucker McKinion. He had three wonderful siblings and grew up in a large extended family of aunts, uncles, and cousins in the time when everybody had every Sunday lunch at Grandma's house.

He graduated from House High School in 1952 where he loved playing basketball. He retired from the U. S. Air Force as a Chief Master Sergeant on January 29, 1995 after a 42-year career serving in the Air Force and MS Air National Guard for the 238th Combat Communications Squadron at Key Field, Meridian. He was a member of the Neshoba County Gideon Camp in Philadelphia, MS and numerous other organizations related to his military and church affiliations. He loved his God, family and country and was an inspiration to all who knew him.

While working for the city of Jackson, he met and married Sarah Estelle (Stella) Rankin from Sandy Hook, MS in 1955 and from this union his four children were born. He is survived by these children Kathy Sansing of Collinsville, Kay Godfey (Bill) of Meridian, David McKinion (Jill) of Collinsville and Kevin McKinion (Denise) of Crestview, Florida. He is also survived by his second wife, Glenda Jackson McKinon, of Collinsville. His happiest moments were the births of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Grandchilden are Shanna Alexander Lyon (Travis) of Bristol, TN, Sarah Sansing Farmer (Keith) of Meridian, Viki Port Gibbs (Matt) of Hampton, VA, Leah Port of Meridian, Natalie Sansing Culpepper (Daniel) of Collinsville, Curtis McKinion (Jennifer) of Destin, FL, Eric McKinion (Tiphannie) of Dayton, OH, Emily McKinion (engaged to Zach Herman) of Crestview, FL and Tim Sansing of Collinsville.  Great-grandchildren are Mason Anthony, Stella Anthony, Gavin Gibbs, Emma Gibbs, Eva Farmer, Emmett Farmer, Titus McKinion and Abigail Culpepper. He was also Granddaddy to the children and grandchildren of Bill Godfrey and the children of Travis Lyon. He is also survived by his brother, Raymond McKinion (Peggy) of Meridian and his sister, Peggy Palmer of Union, MS.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Stella McKinion; his parents; his brother, Lamar McKinion of Little Rock, son-in-law, Jack Alawine, of Collinsville, and his brother-in-law, Bob Palmer, of Union, MS.

Pallbearers will be nephews, Steve McKinion (honorary), Kenneth McKinion, Keith McKinion, Greg Winstead, Dennis Rigdon, Wayne Culpepper, Jack Jackson, Daniel Culpepper, Nathan Cross, and special friend, Frank Evans. Other honorary pallbearers will be special friend, Steve Tucker, and members of the Senior Men's Sunday School Class at Antioch Church.

Memorials may be made to Antioch Baptist Church Building Fund, 12150 Road 298, Union, MS 39365 or The Gideons International, P. O. Box 244, Philadelphia, MS 39350.

Friends and family may sign the online guestbook at robertbarhamffh.com.

He has claimed the promise of his favorite Bible verse: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31.