Ret. Army Lt. Col. of Infantry and Assistant Comptroller of Mississippi State University, William R. “Bill” Nettles Jr. passed away on Christmas Day, December 25, 2024. He was 101 years old. Born in Tishomingo on February 15, 1923, he was the son of William R. and Lizzie Young Nettles. His education included Tishomingo High School, Mississippi State University and Syracuse University. He accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior on September 4, 1936. He married the love of his life, Ruby Gilley, on January 1, 1944. His military service included World War II, Korea, Cuban Crisis, and Vietnam. Assignments were Ft. McClellan, Alabama; Ft. Benning, Georgia; Europe; Ft. Knox, Kentucky; Japan; Ft. Meade, Maryland; Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas; Korea; and Ft. Amador, Canal Zone. Bill’s favorite military award was the Combat Infantry Badge which he received during World War II. The men of his platoon said he had only one command: ”Follow me.” After a career in the Army from 1942-1966, he was employed at Mississippi state University from 1966-1988 as Assistant Comptroller and Director of Auxiliary Services. Sports played an important role throughout his life. Bill achieved All-State basketball and track (1936-1940), received a four year scholarship to MSU (1940-1946), was inducted into the MSU Sports Hall of Fame (2004) and the Sports Hall of Fame Mississippi Senior Olympics (2012), as well as the National Champion Shot and Discus, USA Track & Field (1993-2009).
Bill leaves behind his daughter Sherron Porter (James); sons, William R. Nettles III (Suzanne) and Christopher Jerome Nettles (Patricia); grandsons, William R. Nettles IV (Dana), Brian Wills Nettles (Christy), and Christopher Jerome Nettles Jr.; granddaughters, Rebekah Crawford (Charles) and Rachel Daniel (Malcolm); great-grandchildren, Fiona Crawford, James Crawford, Chandler Nettles, Natalie Nettles, Ryan Nettles, Noah Daniel, Evan Nettles, C.J. Nettles, and Gilley Ann Nettles.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 76 years Ruby Nettles; and a brother, Eugene Thomas Nettles.
Services will be 11 a.m. Friday, December 27, 2024 at the Jefferson Street Chapel of Pegues Funeral Directors. Graveside services will follow at Tishomingo Cemetery. Visitation will be 10 a.m. until service time Friday at Pegues, Tupelo.
Pallbearers will be Bob Nettles, Chris Nettles, Robert Nettles, Brian Nettles, Jerome Nettles, James Porter, Charles Crawford, and Malcolm Daniel. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Men’s Bible Class at Calvary Baptist Church of Tupelo where Bill was a faithful member for many years.
