W. E. (Bill) Ring, III

Wiley Everett (Bill) Ring, III passed away peacefully Monday morning at his home with his wife of sixty-one (61) years, Sara Lou, by his side. Bill was born on January 27, 1935 in Kingsport to W. E. Ring, Jr. and Celia Baxter Ring. He was a member of the Boy Scouts of America Order of the Arrow, graduated from Dobyns Bennett High School in 1953 and received Bachelor of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Blacksburg, Virginia in 1957 and 1958. With the exception of his years studying at Virginia Tech, he lived in Kingsport, Tennessee.

Bill served for over forty years as the President and CEO of Kingsport Foundry & Manufacturing and he tirelessly served many civic and professional organizations. He was a former President of the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce, Kingsport Industrial Development Board, Kingsport Boys Club and served on the boards of the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce, German Club of Virginia Tech, Holston Valley Community Hospital, Kingsport United Way, Virginia Tech Hokie Club, Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering (Virginia Tech). He served 11 year on the Kingsport Board of Education. He was a member of the Kingsport Jaycees, Downtown Rotary Club and was recognized as Kingsport’s Outstanding Young Man in 1972. He also was a proud recipient of the Boys Club’s Man & Boy Award. He coached football at the Kingsport Boys Club with Doyle Burdine for 25 years. Their Boys Club team defeated both John Sevier and Ross Robinson’s Junior High School teams in 1968. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Kingsport Tennessee and served as both an Elder and Deacon.

He loved (in no particular order), family, friends, solving problems, completing projects, DB and VT football, hunting, camping, reading, tennis and dogs. “Papa” Bill is survived by his wife, Sara Lou Basinger Ring; two sons, Drew and Vic; daughters-in-law, Chris and Karen; five grandchildren, Kimberly, Easton and wife Nellie, Bart and wife Jennifer, Andy and Jason; and his sister, Kay Ring Stauffer and husband Dave of Naples, FL.

A family inurnment service will be held at noon on Tuesday, December 3, 2019 in the First Presbyterian Church Columbarium.  A memorial service will follow at 12:30 pm at First Presbyterian Church with Dr. William M. Shelton officiating.  The family will receive friends at the church following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: First Presbyterian Church, Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kingsport, or a charity of one’s choice.