William Patterson "Bill" Dennis Sr

William (Bill) Patterson Dennis, Sr., born November 13, 1932 to Annie Patterson and Clarence Earl Dennis, passed away on November 5, 2016.He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Dr. Clarence Earl Dennis, and his in-laws Lura McCord Rayburn and Charles R. Rayburn, Sr.Bill graduated from Columbia Central High School, class of 1951. He then continued his education by attending the University of Tennessee Knoxville. He was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity where he was High Alpha. He graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He went to work for DuPont in Columbia in 1955 and stayed with the plant when it was sold to Spontex. He retired from the Columbia Spontex plant in 1994. He served in the United States Army for two years during peace time. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Nancy Jean Rayburn Dennis; their children Luranne Smith (husband Dr. Tony) of Columbia; William Patterson (Patt) Dennis, Jr. (wife Virginia) of Bell Buckle; and Beth Dennis McAdams (husband John) of Columbia; grandchildren Rheachal Marie Dennis, Dr. Hugh Anthony Smith, Morgan Grace Smith, Annie Elizabeth Smith, Judson Owen Smith, MaryGrace Louise Dennis, Zoe Fayth Dennis, Chloe Jean Hope Dennis, and Holly Kerr McAdams; sister-in-law Pearl Robinson Dennis of Nashville, TN; sister-in-law Anne Rayburn Kelly of Pensacola, FL; and brother-in-law Charles Richard (Rick) Rayburn, Jr. of Charlotte, NC.Among his many accomplishments his years as a Boy Scout and a Scout Leader of Troop 114 at First United Methodist Church were ones he treasured. He received his Eagle Scout ranking in Troop 114. He was the first Boy Scout to get the Order of the Arrow from Maury County. He was a Long Rifle recipient and in 1983 he received the Silver Beaver, the highest honor a council can award a volunteer. He was a member of FUMC all his life and a charter member of the Bruce Strother Sunday School Class. He was a member of the Golden Kiwanis Club. A memorial service honoring his life will be held at First United Methodist church on November 19th. Visitation will be from 1:30 - 3:00 pm in the atrium of the church with the service to follow. Oakes & Nichols Funeral Directors are assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com.The family would like to thank all the people who took such great care of Bill.Memorials may be made to the Boy Scouts of America, P. O. Box 152079, Irving, TX 75015-2079 or First United Methodist Church, 222 West Seventh Street, Columbia, TN 38401.