Bill Earnest Poole, age 86, passed on December 13, 2022, in Huntsville, AL. He was the son of the late Erelene and Jimmie Lee Poole of Elba, Coffee County, AL.
Bill was a 1954 graduate of Elba High School. Upon graduation, Bill requested to be drafted into the U.S. Army where he did his basic training with the 101st Airborne Division and became a Field Radio Repairman. After service, Bill continued his education at Auburn University School of Engineering earning a bachelor’s degree in 1960 in Electrical Engineering. After graduation, Bill worked for North American Aviation as a field engineer and was assigned to Minot Air Force Base in Minot, ND working on the “Hound Dog” missile program. It was at this time he became married to the late Joyce Spivey Poole of Columbus, GA. Bill and Joyce moved to Huntsville, AL in 1966. In 1973 Bill decided on a career move into Commercial Real Estate and started Bill Poole Realty.
Bill served in many leadership capacities in the real estate profession on a local, state, and national level. Bill was appointed to the Alabama Real Estate Commissioner for twelve years and was Chairman for seven years. He was instrumental in helping create the Alabama Center for Real Estate (ACRE) at The University of Alabama. Bill was a past Chairman of ACRE and served as
Advisory Emeritus. Bill was a past president of the Huntsville Rotary Club.
Bill was very active in the community and enjoyed fun times with family and friends. After attaining his private pilot license, he fulfilled a lifelong dream of owning a personal aircraft and spent many hours flying the skies. Bill also enjoyed the outdoors and was an avid golfer. He will always be remembered by his golf friends as Chairman of the “Poole Group”. While golf was the hobby, it was the cherished and blessed time with the Poole Group friends he enjoyed the most.
Bill is survived by his daughter, Scarlett Poole Qualls (Steve); and three grandchildren, Gabrielle, Jordan, and Jarrett. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jimmie Lee Poole and Erelene Plant Poole; sister, Sarah Poole Sullivan; brother, James Ross Poole; and his wife, Joyce Spivey Poole.
Visitation will be on Sunday December 18, 2022, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Laughlin Service Funeral Home. The funeral will be held on Monday at 1 p.m. at Whitesburg Baptist Church Main Campus. Burial will be at Maple Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Whitesburg Baptist Church (whitesburgbaptist.org/give), Huntsville Hospital Foundation – designated to Hospice Family Care (huntsvillehospitalfoundation.org/ways-to-give), or the charity of your choice.
