William E "Billy" Fitzgerald

William E. "Billy" Fitzgerald, 85, retired owner of Fitzgerald Plumbing & Heating Company, died Friday, August 25, 2017, at his residence on Theta Pike. A memorial service will be conducted Tuesday at 2:00 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with his grandchildren officiating. A private family inurnment will be in McCain's Cemetery with military honors provided by Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19. The family will visit with friends Tuesday from 12:00 - 2:00 P.M. at the funeral home. The family suggests memorials to McCain's Cumberland Presbyterian Church, P. O. Box 29, Columbia, TN 38402. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com. Born April 4, 1932 in Maury County, he was the son of the late Joseph Elmer Fitzgerald and the late Margaret Elizabeth McMeen Fitzgerald. Following his graduation from Columbia Central High School in 1951, he served two years in the U. S. Army during the Korean War. After his time in the service, he joined his father in the plumbing business and later established Fitzgerald Plumbing and Heating Company. He worked as a contractor in Maury and surrounding counties, and dealt with commercial, industrial, and residential custom work. He was completely devoted to his work as a "Master Plumber", and was always on the job, whether it be working in a ditch or calculating a blueprint. Mr. Fitzgerald served twenty-seven years on the Maury County Zoning and Appeals Board and was a member of American Legion Post 19, serving as Past Commander. He was an avid fisherman, quail and pheasant hunter, and trainer of bird dogs. Mr. Fitzgerald had an impact on many people's lives, and will be remembered as a hardworking, dedicated man to his community and family. He was a member of McCain's Cumberland Presbyterian Church where he had formerly served as an elder, and a past member and elder of First Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Survivors include his wife whom he married August 20, 1960, Beverly Little Fitzgerald of Columbia; son, Gregory Mac Fitzgerald of Columbia; daughters, Suzee Jo (David) Sanders of Columbia and Bonni Lake (Alan) Smith of Murfreesboro; grandchildren, Amanda Fitzgerald, Margaret Mae Sanders, McClary Clark Sanders, William Bain Smith, Lillian Foster Smith; and sisters, Joann Kerley and Mary Jane Hardison, both of Signal Mountain. Honorary pallbearers will include Jacson Chapman, James Barr, Bain Smith, Alan Smith, Mac Sanders, David Sanders, Ronnie Vann, J. P. Hatch, Jim Cook, Freddie Fitzgerald, Donnie Walters, and Richard Paulk. The family would like to thank the staff of Hospice Compassus for their care and support over the past months.