Bill Pannell of Madison, AL left this life for a new trail on October 5, 2024. He was 64.
A graduate of Auburn University, Bill had a varied career as an engineer, working in the petroleum industry in Texas and California, for the U.S. Air Force in Georgia, and for NASA and the U.S. Army in Huntsville. In 2017 he was awarded the International Energy Innovator of the Year by the Association of Energy Engineers.
Bill was an avid sailor, spelunker, musician, teacher of youth, primitive camper and back packer. Since retiring from Civil Service in 2017, he logged many miles hiking the Appalachian Trail, Pinhoti Trail, and numerous others. Known as a guy who lived life to the fullest, Bill was either hiking or at the gym almost daily.
Bill is survived by his beloved wife of 40 years, Vivian Harper Pannell of Madison; his children, Harper Pannell (Mathew) of Aurora, CO, and Liam Pannell of Birmingham, AL; his sister Suzanne Pannell Whiting (Tom) of Wake Forest, NC; brother J. Lee Pannell (Kim) of Knoxville, TN; his stepbrother Gus Edwards of Ashville, AL; stepsister Shannon Edwards of Ashville, AL; Stepsister Debbie Hanson (Dan) of Fairhope, AL; stepbrother Steve Michels of Satsuma, AL; and brother-in-law, Mike Harper (Catherine) of Canton, GA. He is the son of Katherine Stevenson Edwards of Ashville, AL, and the late William Powell “Bill” Pannell and Elaine Tompkins Pannell of Fairhope, AL.
Donations in honor of Bill Pannell can be made to the Huntsville Land Trust or the Sierra Club. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
