William Bryant “Bill” Behling
William Bryant “Bill” Behling, 94, of Shady Dale, died Friday, December 28, 2012, at his residence.
Bill Behling was born in Morgan County to the late Benjamin Suarez Behling and Lucy Pauline McAdams Behling. He worked for the railroad most of his younger years. In fact, he said the first job they gave him on the railroad was working two mules on a construction job. He was proud to remember the numbers of famous old steam engines.
He served in the Navy during World War II as a Machinist Mate. He was trained in aircraft maintenance and his unit was stationed on Okinawa through the end of the war.
In 1957, he moved to Shady Dale and went to work for Shady Dale Stock Farm. He loved horses and drove horses to sales as far away as New York. Bill had a small museum behind his house which included everything connected with a mule or harness. It is a great collection and he could name everything there and what it was used for. That is why he was referred to as the “mule man.” He recently traded his remaining mule to a dear friend for a plug of chewing tobacco. At the age of 62, Mr. Behling retired from Dexter Axle as a truck driver.
A daughter, Jane B. Bourne; brother, Edgar Lawrence Behling; three step-brothers; and one step-sister, preceded him in death.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Ellen Gates Behling of Shady Dale; children and spouses, Hugh L. Behling of Shady Dale, Patricia B. and Melton Rogers of Monticello, Mary E. “Betty” and Cecil Jordan of Collierville, Tennessee, Bryant and Charlene Behling of Perry, and Margaret B. and Richard Siler of Ashville, North Carolina; grandchildren, Henry E. Bourne, Jr., Missy Grooms, Banks Behling, Leigh B. Rye, Derrick M. Rogers, Terrell B. Rogers, Cecily C. Jordan, Valerie B. Brown, Molly B. Weaver, Alex Behling, and Madison Siler; great grandchildren, Sawyer Behling, Scout Behling, Justin Rye, Mary Ashleigh Rye, Bailey Grooms, Collin Ray Grooms, Zachary Brown, and Zoe Brown.
Funeral services were held Sunday, December 30, 2012, at Providence Baptist Church in Shady Dale. Interment was held in the Brownwood Cemetery, 1521 Thankful Road, Madison, Georgia 30650. Rev. Ed Westbrook officiated.
Serving as pallbearers were Banks Behling, Derrick Rogers, Terrell Rogers, Alex Behling, Sawyer Behling, Leroy Wood, Paul Bridges, Larry Champion, Jason Greenway, and Clifford Chadwick.
The family suggests donations be made to the Providence Baptist Church, P.O. Box 15, Shady Dale, Georgia 31085.
Jordan Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. For more information, please visit our website at www.jordanfuneralhomemonticello.com.