William Grady Albritton, Sr., of Bowling Green, passed away on Friday, January 9, 2015 at the age of 84 at Sarasota Memorial Hospital due to complications of COPD, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on January 17, 1930 to Emanuel and Eva Gibbs Albritton in the Center Hill area of Bowling Green. Grady had been a lifelong resident of Hardee County and was of the Baptist faith.

He learned to be a hard worker early in his life. His family farmed many crops, but worked very long hours in the strawberry field. During this time, Bowling Green was a major producer of strawberries in Florida. Grady did, however, find time to enjoy many boyhood adventures. He loved to share these stories with his family, and they always enjoyed hearing about them. He truly did have a lot of knowledge in many different areas. He will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him.

Not long after graduating from Wauchula High School, he enlisted in the United States Air Force. He was a staff sergeant serving as a military policeman during the Korean Conflict. Much of his enlistment was spent in France and Germany. Grady received an honorable discharge.

Upon returning home, he soon began his employment with the Hardee County School Bus Garage. Grady began there as a mechanic, eventually becoming director of transportation, retiring after 36 years of service. He was also a cattle rancher, which gave him much enjoyment. Besides raising cattle, throughout his lifetime he enjoyed driving his tractor, tending his family's citrus grove, trapping wild hogs in traps he built himself, planting trees and shrubs and watching all different types of birds in his family's yard, and just being in his pasture. He also enjoyed watching baseball and football games on television.

Besides his parents, Grady was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Mava L. Albritton, and sisters, Marie Chancey Tomlinson, Beadie Keene, and Mary Lee Taylor.

Survivors include four sons, Claude M. Myers of Chipley, William Randall Albritton and wife Kay of Bowling Green, William Grady Albritton, Jr. "Billy" and wife Denise of Zolfo Springs, and Blake Albritton and wife Dee Dee of Starke; three daughters, Linda Gail Goad of Bowling Green, Marsha A. Redding and husband Tim of Bowling Green, and Eva A. Boehm and husband Gary of Wauchula; one sister, Ildean Williams and husband Hilton of Brantley, Alabama; 14 grandchildren, Anita Goad, Daphne Hays, Megan Redding, W. T. Redding, Brian Albritton, Ryan Albritton, Kyle Albritton, Amanda Carter, Chris Albritton, Joshua Albritton, Jacob Albritton, Daniel Boehm, Tyler Albritton, and Madison Albritton; and nine great-grandchildren, Dashawna Goad, Emma Hays, Jacob Hays, Tug Albritton, Cayson Albritton, Judson Albritton, Austin Carter, Kaleb Carter, and Bryan Knox Albritton.

Visitation will be held at Robarts Garden Chapel on Monday, January 12, 2015 from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM. Funeral services are at 10:00 AM Tuesday at the First Baptist Church of Bowling Green with Reverend Blake Albritton officiating. Interment is in Paynes Creek Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Lung Association.