Taylor Funeral Home

Obituaries
William Reid "Bill" Caldwell
Date of Death or Service Mar 15, 2017
William Reid
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   Dull. That may be where he was from, but it in no way describes Bill Caldwell or the life this great man led. We lost Bill on March 11, 2017 at Alive Hospice in Nashville surrounded by his family, where he continued to hold court and tell tales right to the very end.
   William Reid (Bill) Caldwell was born on May 17, 1932 to Leon "Pistol" and Flora Story Caldwell who preceded him in death.
He was born and raised in the Dull community  (that's Charlotte, Tennessee for those of you who don't acknowledge the suburbs). 
   He is survived by his wife Patsy Caldwell; his children, Shanta Hinson (Mark), Reggie Batey (W.H.), Billie Pastor (Ricky), all of Charlotte, and  Christopher Caldwell, Valrico, FL; his step-children, Bryan Curtis and Kelly Sims (Randy), both of Nashville; his grandchildren, Chas Osborn (Ashley) of Dickson,Tyler Batey (Amy) of Nashville, Adrian "Sissy" Osborn, Nick Batey, and Chase Caldwell, all of Charlotte, Scott Sims (Jordan) and Paige Sims of Nashville; his great grandchildren, Austin Womack, Brooklyn Batey, Brinley Batey, Brody Osborn, and Harper Reid Osborn, and one surviving Aunt, Evelyn Fizer (John) of Charlotte,TN.
   Bill loved God, his wife, his family, and his town. He farmed most of his life, loved a good pair of cowboy boots (he was partial to Luccheses), and loved to make and listen to music. He performed with several area bands, incuding his years-long stint at Dickson's Grand Old Hatchery.
   He began his education at The Peabody School---the one by Jones' Creek, not the one by Vanderbilt---and then graduated from Charlotte High School in 1950. He attended The University of Tennessee at Martin for two years where he hosted a 15- minute radio show sponsored by the Ag Department where he played the guitar and sold eggs. That shot at stardom ended when Uncle Sam called and Bill spent the next four years in the United States Navy serving aboard the USS Radford DDE 486 during the Korean Conflict.  He was a radio operator and copied the message that the Peace Treaty had been signed. He received his degree from The University of Tennessee at Knoxville and his Master's degree in education from Austin Peay State University.
   In 1959, Bill began teaching Agriculture at White Bluff High School. In 1965 ( the first year of integrated schools in Dickson County), Bill served as principal at Charlotte Elementary and Charlotte Jr. High for over thirty years where the sound of his cowboy boots walking down the hall is a sound ingrained in the memories of almost every child under his watch.
   Bill was passionate about helping others and served as chairman of the Charlotte Planning commission and was the chairman of the Dickson County Election Commission on which he served for more than 30 years.
   Once he retired, Bill and Patsy were able to take some great trips. But Bill was just as happy working in the garden, listening to music in the square in Charlotte, and entertaining and feeding  (Patsy did all the feeding) their numerous friends at their home next to the Water Tower. He also enjoyed a good western ( reading and watching).
   Bill Caldwell touched a lot of lives; whether it was helping those less fortunate, helping  others with their recovery, or leading the thousands of students he influenced. The man loved a lot of people and was loved right back by so many. And he knew that.  And for the man from Dull who liked to kick back with his boots propped up on an incredibly messy desk, that is the measure of success.
   Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, March 15, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. from the Walnut Street Church of Christ.  Bro. Steve Baggett, Bro. Clarence DeLoach, Judge Larry Wallace and his daughter, Shanta Hinson will be speaking. Place of rest will be in the Robert's Cemetery  (right in the heart of Charlotte, Tennessee) Visitation will be at Walnut Street Church of Christ, Dickson,TN on Tuesday beginning at 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and will continue on Wednesday beginning at 10 a.m. until time of service.
   Those desiring, memorials are suggested to the Walnut Street Church of Christ Youth Group, 201 Center Ave. Dickson,TN, 37055, The Quest Center for Art and Development in Dickson,TN http://qcdickson.org, or to the charity of your choice.
   Bill's grandchildren will serve as his casket bearers.
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