Williams (Bill) Earl Magbee
March 2, 1923 ~ August 15, 2015
Born in:
Atlanta, Georgia
Resided in:
Roswell, Georgia
William (Bill) Earl Magbee, 92, died on August 15, 2015 in Roswell, GA. He was born March 2, 1923 in Atlanta, GA to the late Thomas Guy Magbee and Lucille Magbee. Mr. Magbee grew up in West End and was a graduate of Boys High School, where he lettered on the football team and played fullback alongside Clint Castleberry. Next he started school at Georgia Tech but joined the United States Navy during World War 2. He was trained to be a pilot but when the war ended, he returned and completed his Industrial Management degree at Georgia Tech in 1946. His first job was insurance sales in Atlanta but was transferred to Columbia, South Carolina, where he met and married Betty Claiborne in 1950. In 1960, the Magbee family (with two sons) moved back to Atlanta, GA and Bill went to work with his brother Fletcher at Magbee Lumber Company in Norcross, GA. Bill and Betty were strong supporters of Georgia Tech football and after retirement traveled with Georgia Tech throughout the southeast for several seasons. Bill also was an avid collector throughout his life. In 1985, Bill and Betty sold their house in Sandy Springs, GA and built a house in Alpharetta, GA. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Betty, brothers Fletcher and Charles, and sister Katie Lou Peacock. Survivors include his sons Bill Magbee of Decatur and Fletcher Magbee of Alpharetta, grandchildren Cameron Magbee, Thomas Magbee, and Jillian Magbee, and his brother Jim Magbee. Bill was very active starting and supporting The Episcopal Church of Atonement in Sandy Springs, GA for over 50 years. A special thanks to Dr. Kelly Ahn for both his medical care and kindness toward our father over the past years. Funeral services will be Wednesday, August 19, 2015 at 2:00 PM at The Episcopal Church of Atonement, 4945 High Point Road NE, Sandy Springs, GA 30342, with Rev. Chris Starr officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Episcopal Church of Atonement. Online condolences may be expressed at wagesandsons.com.
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
Bill Magbee was a faithful and strong friend and member of the community of The Atonement. I remember with love and joy his rich cheese grits and his attitude in leading the construction of homes for those in need. While encouraging volunteers who were wielding a hammer, he said “Hit it like you live…HARD”.
I give thanks to God for the life of Bill and pray for God’s blessing on his family and friends.
When my family and I heard of Bill’s passing, we reminisced about all the lovely memories we had of Bill and his family
when we were neighbors on Crestline Rd. in Atlanta. Bill was kind and generous and when a tornado badly damaged
our house, he insisted that we take his house in Alpharetta since he was living then with his sister. He was also an artist
and craftsman and I am pleased to have as a remembrance a table he made for me. Bill was an
example of “the Greatest Generation. Farewell, friend.
I remember with great pleasure our small group at the early service in the 70s and early 80s. I can still see Bill in the old kitchen rustling up one of his marvelous egg dishes. When Allison had cancer, Betty was a great comfort to her, especially when she began chemotherapy. No one was more experienced than Betty. Bill was a guide and strength for me in learning what kind of support to give. I last worked with Bill in the kitchen at Holy Comforter. Even in his 80s he could whip up a fruit tray for 60 people without breaking a sweat. He was a wonderful man and I was privileged to have known him.