Bill Waldrop

William G. “Bill” Waldrop, age 89 of Crane Hill, passed away April 8, 2021. Bill was born March 18, 1932 in Fayette, Alabama to Robert Belton and Eulene Howton Waldrop. Bill graduated from Fayette County High School (1951) and The University of Alabama (1957) with a degree specializing in Accounting. He proudly served his country (1952-1954) in the United States Army. Bill worked as a CPA in Birmingham, Alabama for many years, before being the founder of Gateway Foods- which now operates six grocery stores in Northwest Alabama. Family will receive friends at the Waldrop Home (117 Waldrop Drive, Crane Hill, Alabama 35053) on Saturday, April 10, 2021 from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. A graveside service will be held Sunday, April 11, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at Fairview Cemetery in Double Springs, Alabama. Dr. Roger White will officiate. Bill is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Emma Jo Shipman Waldrop; children, Karen Rawlins, and her husband Kim of Hoover, Alabama, Susan Bouchillon, and her husband Barry of Clemson, South Carolina, and Greg Waldrop, and his wife Ann of Houston, Alabama; five grandchildren, Keri Peterson, and her husband Steven of Hoover, Alabama, Kristen Howard, and her husband Matt of Hoover, Alabama, Mark Bouchillon, and his wife Katie of Spartanburg, South Carolina, Amber Martin, and her husband Patrick of Spartanburg, South Carolina, and Kevin Bouchillon, and his wife Ashley of Beirut, Lebanon; eleven great-grandchildren, Fulton and Ansley Howard, Caleb, Joel, Emma, Lily, and Gabriel Bouchillon, and Samuel, Silas, Charlie, and Remy Martin; siblings, Lurd Waldrop of Brundidge, Alabama and Rita Glenn, and her husband Eugene of Hillsboro, Alabama. He was preceded in death by parents, Robert and Eulene Waldrop; and his siblings Silas, Kathleen, James, Wayne, and Len. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the First Baptist Church of Arley, Alabama or the Sav-A-Life Foundation (1480 McGuire Rd, Birmingham, Alabama 35216 www.savalife.org)