Obituary of Willie Barnwell "Bill" Vinson

Willie Barnwell (Bill) Vinson, 90, died December 8, 2021 after a long life well lived.   Bill was born in Chesterfield County, SC on January 8, 1931 to Effie Ethel Bradley and Luther Vinson.

Bill married the love of his life, Carol Jo Ann Young of Camden, SC on May 28, 1952.  Children; Mike (Brenda) Vinson, Cindy Davis (Scott) and Greg Vinson (Diana), all of Camden, SC. Steve Vinson (Karen) of Columbia, SC.   Grandchildren; Jo Marie Brown (Eric), Matt Moser (Anna), Keri and Dylan Vinson of Camden, SC.  Amy Kelley (Ryan) of Columbia, SC, Geoffrey Moser (Sarah) of Summerville, SC, Zack Davis of Denver, Colorado.  Great grandchildren; Ian South, Hannah Katherine Brown, Kayla Kelley, Emma Young Moser and Kennedy Anne Moser.  

Surviving brothers and sisters and their families: Nell Davis, Jean Rush (Buster); Luther Vinson, Jr. (Frances), John William “JW” Vinson (Kathryn), Stanley Olin Vinson, Ralph Milton Vinson (Vivian) and Kenneth Carroll Vinson (Sandy). He was preceded in death by brothers Lewis Robert Vinson (Mamie Lou) and Charlie Floyd Vinson (Doris), Irene Ogburn (Herb) and Eveleen Elizabeth Vinson.

Bill loved the Lord and raised his children and grandchildren with the same values. Family was everything with frequent Sunday lunches spent discussing current issues and laughing around the table.

Bill served in the US Army over a 3-year period, joining the SC Army National Guard in Camden in February 1953.  He was inducted into active duty in May 1953 as an Anti-Aircraft Artillery crewman.  His active duty service included a tour in Germany assigned to A Battery, 7th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons (AAA-AW) Battalion earning the rank of Technical Sergeant there.  Bill concluded his service obligation in 1956 with L Company, 118th Infantry in Bishopville, SC as a Light Weapons Infantry Squad Leader.  His military awards include the National Defense Service Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal (Germany), the Good Conduct Medal and Expert Marksmanship Badge (M1 Garand rifle).

Bill served our Lord in the Gideon ministry for over 50 years, joining the Camden Camp as a charter member in 1970.  He spoke at many church services and was Camp Church Ministry Coordinator for a time.  He was a member of Mt. Olivet Baptist Church.

A graveside service will be held on December 14, 2021 at 12:00 pm at Fort Jackson National Cemetery.