William Robert “Billy Bob” Drinkwater

August 20, 2015

William Robert Drinkwater, 82, of Bainbridge, passed away Thursday, August 20, 2015 at Memorial Hospital.

The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 22, 2015 at Ivey Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Paul Medley officiating. Interment will be at Oak City Cemetery with his cousins and nephews serving as active pallbearers.

The family will receive friends immediately following the service at Ivey Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to First Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 155, Bainbridge, GA 39818. Online visitors may sign the guest register at www.iveyfuneral.com.

Mr. Drinkwater was born August 25, 1932 in Bainbridge, Ga., the son of Roy Lee Drinkwater and Lydia Edith Stevens Drinkwater. He was a graduate of Bainbridge High School, studied for a time at Georgia Southwestern College and received his associate degree from Clayton State College. Mr. Drinkwater served his country in the United States Air Force during the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He worked for many years with the predecessors of Delta Airlines as a technical engineer and mechanic. Because of his career choice he was fascinated with the SR71 Blackbird and how this magnificent aircraft would write and change history. Mr. Drinkwater was an avid reader of current events and had a vast knowledge of history and economics. It was known that Bill would do extensive research before taking action on anything. Mr. Drinkwater was a member of First Baptist Church, Bainbridge, GA.

Survivors include his wife, Erva Myrl Hodges Drinkwater of Bainbridge; his sister Saralyn D. Swicord and her husband, J.B. Swicord of Bainbridge; as well as several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his son, Robert Allen Drinkwater.