BEAVER DAM, Ky. — William L. “Bill” Danks, 89, of Beaver Dam, entered into his eternal home on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, at his residence. He was born Oct. 8, 1928, in the Beech Creek community of Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, to the late Walter Purvis and Ollie Lorena Rector Danks.
He attended Hughes Kirk High School in Beechmont, Kentucky, and graduated from Lewisburg High School.
William began working part-time for Price Funeral Home in Lewisburg, Kentucky, in 1948, after graduation from Lewisburg High School. He registered to serve his apprenticeship to become an embalmer and funeral director with Price’s in May 1949. He entered into the Kentucky School of Embalming in September 1949 and graduated in June 1950.
Bill entered the United States Air Force in February 1951 and after completion of basic training, he was transferred to Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, Illinois, for training to become a weather observer. Upon finishing such training, he was transferred to Dobbins Air Force Base in Marietta, Georgia.
He married Ima Sue Dorris in 1952, just before he was transferred to Keflavic, Iceland, for one year of service as a qualified Weather Observer.
He served the remainder of his four years of service at Camp Campbell Air Force Base which is a part of Fort Campbell Army Base.
Upon separation from the Air Force, Bill went back to work briefly with Price Funeral Home, until a position became available with Reid Funeral Home in Earlington, Kentucky. He left there in 1956 to go to work at Richardson Funeral Home in Russellville, Kentucky. In 1958, he worked briefly for Byrn Funeral Home in Mayfield, Kentucky, as well as Tucker Funeral Home in Central City, Kentucky. In 1959, William went to work at Casebier Funeral Home in Beaver Dam and continued to work there until 1966, at which time he and his wife, Ima, purchased the business and established William L. Danks Funeral Home.
Along with serving the families of Ohio County, Bill had been a very active member of the community over the years. He was a charter member of the Ohio County Chamber of Commerce and at one point served as President. Bill was also a charter member of the Ohio County Football Boosters, a charter member of the Ohio County Civitan Club, served on the Ohio County Industrial Foundation and is a 63 year member of the Beaver Dam Masonic Lodge #420 F&AM. Bill was a dedicated member of Beaver Dam Baptist Church where he served as chairman of the deacons for many years.
His work didn’t stop here in Ohio County, he also served on many boards at the state level through the years, including 26 years on the board of directors for the Funeral Directors Association of Kentucky, where he served as president from 1974-1975, as well as 13 years on the Kentucky State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors where he served as Vice Chairman and was Past President of the Southern District of the Funeral Directors Association of Kentucky.
Bill also served on the Board of Directors for the Kentucky Funeral Directors Burial Association. He treasured the friendships and memories that he made while serving with his fellow funeral directors from across the state of Kentucky.
Bill dedicated his life to serving others and their families during their most difficult time of need, up until his recent retirement. He has been a familiar face around the community for many years, and been an inspiration to those he has met along the way, with his classic phrase “I’m too blessed to be stressed.”
He adored his children and grandchildren and enjoyed watching them in their various sports and activities. He loved watching his sons play sports for Ohio County High School and followed that love by watching his son, John play basketball at the University of Texas.
He never missed a chance to watch his grandchildren in their sports careers; John William and Jordan playing baseball for the Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox, Emily playing volleyball at Ohio State University and Will playing football at Campbellsville University. Bill was also an avid University of Kentucky Basketball Fan.
Aside from his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Donald Danks, and his beloved Corgi, Max.
He leaves behind to cherish his memory, his wife of 66 years, Ima Sue Dorris Danks, of Beaver Dam; three children, Debra Fairman and husband, Gary, of Ely, Nevada, Jeffery Danks, of Beaver Dam, and John Danks and wife, Renee’, of Round Rock, Texas. Bill was blessed with eight grandchildren whom he cherished, Jonathan Fairman and wife, Missy, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, John William Danks and wife, Ashley Monroe, of Nashville, Tennessee, Jamie Fairman, of Louisville, Jordan Danks and wife, Ashley, of Austin, Texas, Lauren Danks Allen and husband, Colten, of Beaver Dam, Will Danks and fiancée, Breeanna, of Beaver Dam, Emily Kearney and husband, Mitchell, of Austin, and Jerrod Allen and wife, Casey, of Beaver Dam; and six great-grandchildren, Sean Anthony Danks, Cooper Isaiah Danks, MaKenna Blakelee Allen, Caleb Elijah Danks, Dalton William Danks, and Miles Arnold.
Funeral Services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19, at Beaver Dam Baptist Church in Beaver Dam with Dr. Glenn Armstrong officiating. Burial will follow in Sunnyside Cemetery in Beaver Dam with Military Honors provided by the Ohio County Honor Guard. Friends may visit with the family from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at William L. Danks Funeral Home in Beaver Dam and from 9 a.m. until the time of service Wednesday at Beaver Dam Baptist Church.
Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Hospice of Ohio County, 1211 Main Street, Hartford, Kentucky 42347 or The William L. “Bill” Danks Memorial Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 407, Beaver Dam, Kentucky 42320. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home and the church.
Online messages of condolence may be left for the family of William L. “Bill” Danks by visiting his memorial tribute at www.danksfuneralhome.com.