Homer "Bill" Pierce Sulfridge
March 18, 1942 - December 3, 2020
Homer “Bill” Pierce Sulfridge was born March 18, 1942, to the late Hobert Sulfridge and the late Minnie Jane Sulfridge. Bill’s father died the day after Christmas, 1945, in the Four Mile Coal Mine explosion. Bill’s mother Minnie took him and his five siblings to Cincinnati to find work. At a young age, Bill dropped out of high school to support his mother and younger sister, Patricia “Trish” Kriege (Richard Kriege). He took care of them, along with his older sister, Pauline “Pod” Martin (L.G. Martin), and even helped with their children as they got older.
Later, he volunteered for the Air Force during the Vietnam War era and was stationed in Spokane, Wash. for four years. After leaving the service, Bill enrolled in night classes to finish high school and then went on to be the first in his family to go to college and earn a bachelor’s degree.
Bill met the love of his life on a blind date. He and Joyce Hilton Sulfridge were married for 49 years, 3 months and 19 days. In addition to his wife and sisters, he is survived by his daughter Corine, son Daniel (Christy) and grandchildren Matthew, Ziva, Xeres and Lincoln.
As a devout Christian, member and regular attendee of Berea Evangelist Center, Bill gave to those in need and was ready to help whenever he could. He was a hard worker and finished everything he started.
He was a computer analyst, who worked for the Commonwealth of Kentucky in Frankfort before coming to Eastern Kentucky University. He retired from EKU in January 2004. Bill started his career working on computers that used “punch cards.” When he retired, his desktop computer was more powerful than those slow machines that filled up an entire multi-floor building.
After his regular working hours, he helped his father-in-law, the late James G. Hilton, and his mother-in-law Evelyn Hilton Abbott, on the farm raising tobacco and cattle. He was determined to provide for his family and give his wife and children things he never had growing up.
He was preceded in death by his siblings: Hasten “Jack” Sulfridge (Roberta Jackson Sulfridge), Eugene Sulfridge (Bobbie Cooper Sulfridge) and Loraine Sulfridge Sizemore (Hoover).
Private funeral services were held at 1 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 8, at Berea Evangelistic Church with Rev. Jeff Osborne officiating. A tribute wall is available on the Davis & Powell Funeral Home website. Memorial contributions suggested to Berea Evangelistic Church, 180 Plaza Drive, Berea, KY 40403.