William Henry Deaver, III

William Henry Deaver III (Bill), of Flintstone and Warner Robins, GA, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on January 6, 2026, in Chattanooga, TN. He was 83 years old.

Bill was born in Columbia, SC to William Henry Deaver, Jr. and Evelyn Thompson Deaver. His parents loved the Lord, actively participating in their local church, and he grew up loving and serving Jesus too. Bill earned a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of South Carolina, the first person in his family to graduate from college. He enjoyed playing the trumpet in both high school and college bands, participating in high school and college ROTC, and serving as president of the USC Student Union. Upon graduation, he moved to Lubbock, TX for United States Air Force officer training and met the love of his life, Clare Smith, on a blind date. He charmed her with his bridge-playing skills and yellow Mustang convertible, and they married in 1969. They were married for 49 years, and together, they raised their three children, Will, Tom, and Meg.

Bill served in active duty for 21 years, retiring with the rank of Major in 1987. During his time in the Air Force, he was a decorated officer and responsible for engineering projects all over the world, including New York, Greenland, Spain, Florida, Egypt, England, and Georgia. Upon retirement from active duty, Bill joined the civil service and continued as a civil engineer at Robins Air Force Base for another 25 years. After his wife’s passing, Bill moved to Flintstone, GA to be with his daughter and her family and lived there for six years.

Bill’s passions included fishing, gardening, dogs and grand-dogs, and his favorite sports teams (Go Braves!). He was an active member of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Warner Robins, GA, for many years and dearly loved his church family there. Most of all, Bill loved his wife, three children, their spouses, his seven grandchildren, and the rest of his family.

In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Clare Smith Deaver, and his brother, Robert Eugene Deaver.

He is survived by his children, William “Will” Henry Deaver IV (Melanie) of Louisville, CO, Thompson “Tom” Blackburn Deaver (Sarah) of Peachtree City, GA, and Margaret “Meg” Deaver Sparks (Tim) of Flintstone, GA; his grandchildren, William “Liam” Henry Deaver V, Jack Byrd Deaver, Samuel Fisher Sparks, Daisy Clare Sparks, Ella Anderson Deaver, Shepherd Charleston Sparks, and Edward “Edson” Thompson Deaver; and sister, Janet Deaver Molyneaux.

A small graveside service will be held for family and friends at one o’clock in the afternoon on Saturday, January 10, at Magnolia Park Cemetery in Warner Robins, GA.

In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to Child Evangelism Fellowship, an organization close to his and Clare’s hearts.

Go to www.mcculloughfh.com to sign the Online Registry for the family. McCullough Funeral Home and Crematory has the privilege of being entrusted with these arrangements.