Reverend William (Bill) Lawrence Sullivan, of Tavares, Florida, died at home, Sunday April 24, 2016, in the loving care of his wife, family, and Compassionate Care Hospice of Tavares, Florida. Reverend Sullivan was born in Birmingham, Alabama to Phillip Joseph Sullivan and Martha Louise Gilbert, May 19, 1930. He had one sister and three brothers.
He was preceded in death by Charlotte Sapp (Sister), Phillip Sullivan (Brother), and Dr. Gilbert Sullivan (Brother).
Bill graduated from Ensley High School, Birmingham, Alabama in 1947. Bill served as a weatherman in the Alabama Air National Guard and played Semi-pro Baseball for several years after High School. He was recruited by the New York Yankees, but he chose marriage to his sweetheart, Frances Maureen Wyatt in 1949. His record for strikeouts of opposing team batters as a pitcher was never broken in Birmingham according to reliable sources.
In his working career, Bill first ran Blueprints at O’Neal Steel, Birmingham, AL. Learning his trade for the next 15 years, as a Structural Steel Draftsman, with Ben McGimsey, of McGimsey & Assoc., Birmingham, AL. Retired from Baseball, Bill (Silky) would eventually Bowl Semi-Pro for several years and was an avid low handicapped Golfer, until a break in his right femur would retire his clubs.
Bill moved his family to Winter Park, Florida from Birmingham, AL in 1965. He accepted a job with a Drafting Firm in Longwood, Florida, whom had secured a contract to draw steel for the construction of Disney World. Some of the contract Bill drew was the spirals of Cinderella’s Castle and Robinson Crusoe’s Tree House.
In 1969, at the age of 38, Bill would lose the site in his right eye. As a boy at age 6, Bill injured his left eye in a BB Gun Accident. At age 10 he lost the vision in his left eye. In 1970 Bill was declared legally blind. It was at this time Bill and Maureen would hear the call of God on their lives for ministry.
In 1974 Bill was ordained and began Abundant Life Ministries, in Lake Ola, Florida. From 1970, thru present, Reverend Bill and Maureen have prayed, taught, preached, led, and encouraged, the lost, the homeless, the sick, the wounded and the imprisoned with the Forgiving, Healing and Transforming Love of Jesus with the message of, “The Cross”. For the last 10 years of Reverend Bill’s ministry he was the, Chaplain of the 33rd Street Jail, Orlando, Florida until 2008.
Reverend Sullivan and Maureen, fellowshipped, worshipped and supported, as Media Members, The Family Worship Center, of Jimmy Swaggart Ministries, Baton Rouge, LA. SBN Network (Sonlight Broadcasting Network) for the last 13 years. Bill enjoyed listening to SBN day and night.
Reverend Bill Sullivan is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Maureen Sullivan, Tavares, FL, Robert Sullivan (Brother), Birmingham, AL., Children Donna (Kenny) Hatley, Clermont, FL, Don (Kim) Sullivan, Mt Dora, FL, Diane (Bobby)Van Horn, Bedford, VA, Denise (Carl) Munn, Leesburg, FL. Grandchildren, Scott Stiglich, Siesta Key, FL, Cheri (Ray) Lopez, St Thomas, Virgin Islands, John (Megan) Thiltgen -Hatley, Denver, CO, Keli (Cory) Clarke, Longwood, FL., Kristi (Jon) Dickison, Clermont, FL, Donny Sullivan, Mt Dora, FL., Wendi (Chip) Keaton, Morristown, TN, Bobby (Katie) Van Horn, Bend, OR, Clint Munn, Leesburg, FL, Chris (Darlene) Munn, Santa Teresa, Costa Rica, Cailey (Tyler) Boylston, Jacksonville, FL. Great Grandchildren; Brandon, Ashlee (Josh), Luke, Matthew, Marli, Reese, Anniston, Bryce, Nathan, Madison, Olivia, Allison, Anna, Carter, Taylar, Gavin, Lilyann, Liam and Lennon.
Services will be held Saturday May 14, 10:00 AM at Loomis Family Funeral Home, 420 W Main St., Apopka, FL. A gathering to follow, at the home of, Donna and Kenny Hatley, Clermont, FL.