William “Bill” John Cannon, age 81, of Caryville, TN passed away Sunday, July, 30th, 2023, surrounded by his loving family.  William was born on February 18th, 1942 in Rochester, NY, the son of Gertrude Darrin and Billy John Cannon. 

Bill graduated from the University of Rochester in 1964 with a BS in electrical engineering and continued his education at The Ohio State University.  Following college Bill joined the US Air Force, serving in Korea before being honorably discharged in 1973 as a 1st Lieutenant.  Bill devoted the remainder of his career to the US Department of Defense, retiring in 1997 as Chief of the E-O Technology Division in the Avionics Directorate, Air Force Wright Laboratory in Dayton, Ohio.  He was inducted into the Association of Old Crows Electronic Technology Warfare Hall of Fame in 2003 and received many other awards and distinguishments throughout his career at Wright-Patterson AFB.

After he retired, Bill was an active volunteer for Habitat for Humanity.  In his free time, he enjoyed traveling the world with his wife, but he loved nothing more than being with family and friends at his home on Norris Lake, much of which he built with his sons-in-laws Brad and Chris, and any other family and friends willing to lend a hand.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Carol Crane Cannon.  William is survived by three daughters: Wendy (Brad) Dyke, Michele (Chris) Henry, and Teri (Scot) Hull; grandchildren Alex and Ethan Dyke, Ian and William Henry, Haleigh Hindman, Austen and Logan Hull; four great-grandchildren; brother Richard (Gail, deceased); sister-in-law Sharon (Gary) Phillips; brother-in-law Robert (Jean) Crane.  He is also survived by his devoted caregivers Linda Mercer, Sherry Housley, Mary Kennedy; extended family, and many friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name to The Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org or to Habitat for Humanity of Campbell County at 117 East Central Ave., La Follette, TN 37766.  Walters Funeral Home of LaFollette is honored to be serving the family of William “Bill” John Cannon.

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