William "Bill" Amos Dugger

August 9, 1927 - November 13, 2014

Mr. William "Bill" Amos Dugger, age 87, husband of Betty Jane Boshers Dugger, and a resident of Columbia, passed away Thursday evening, November 13, 2014 at Signature Health Care. Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, November 18, 2014, at 2:00 PM at Heritage Funeral Home with Pastor Ezell Rose officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery. The family will visit with friends on Monday, November 17, 2014, at Heritage Funeral Home from 3:00 PM to 7:00PM, and also one hour prior to the service on Tuesday. Heritage Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Born on August 9, 1927, in Giles County, Tennessee, Bill was the son of the late Amos and Nina Mae Wiley Dugger. He was a graduate of Columbia Central High School and served his country in the National Guard and his community as a firefighter. On December 21, 1952, he married his wife, Betty Jane Boshers, who has been by his side for almost 62 years. He was a member of Stiversville Church of Christ. His family and friends will remember him as a "jack of all trades" because of his diverse job experience. After working for 17 years at Tennessee Knitting Mills, he went to work for the Columbia Fire Department as a firefighter, where he worked for 30 years. He was also a retired farmer in the McCains Community, which was something he loved doing. He was able to keep both his farm and house running smoothly and efficiently. He enjoyed fishing and hunting, in addition to farming. Bill knew and followed the Golden Rule, treating others as he would want to be treated. Because of this, few people have anything bad to say about him. Instead, he will be remembered by those who knew him well, as one of the best people they know. His greatest legacy is in the love he shared with his wife, children, and grandchildren. In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Susie Dugger Sundby of Columbia; two grandchildren: Joanna Martin (Micah) Loyed of Murfreesboro and Joshua Lee (Mallory) Martin of Knoxville; one great-grandchild, Grayson Kent Loyed; two brothers-in-law: Van Boshers of Columbia and James Ray Boshers of Mt. Pleasant, and a sister-in-law: Sara Ellen Phillips of Bowling Green, Kentucky. He was preceded in death by his parents, as well as, a son: William Richard Dugger, sister: Mary Frances (James Henry) Dunn; and first cousin: Emmalyn Sands. Pallbearers will be Van Boshers, Michael Boshers, James Ray Boshers, Donnie Boshers, Jason Boshers, and Glen Brewer. Honorary pallbearers will be City of Columbia Firefighters.