Dr. William (Bill) Schell, Jr.
William (Bill) Schell, Jr. (age 74) died in the early hours of Friday, March 7th 2025 at Baptist Health, Paducah.
Bill was born on the Army Base In Yokohama, Japan on March 22, 1950 to parents Captain William Schell and Martha Ellis Schell. Throughout his early childhood he traveled with his mother, brother, and father to many deployments including Germany before his father retired from the Army and the family resided in Alexandria, VA.
Bill graduated from Fort Hunt High School where he played tuba and string bass in the band. He graduated in 1968 and enrolled at East Carolina University in Greenville, NC where he majored in music and then later in History. It was there where he met his future wife, Janet Wingfield, and they married December 9, 1972 at the Garysburg United Methodist Church in Garysburg, NC. They then resided in the over a century-old farmhouse on the Ellis family farm.
Bill was always a good worker, having a variety of jobs; everything from a factory job at the paper mill to co-owning a record store with his brother, Wiley, with many other jobs in between.
After three years, Bill joined the all-volunteer army and was stationed at Glenhousen, Germany and then at Fort Carson Army Base in Colorado Springs, CO with his wife, Janet joining him at each base. Bill was a passionate fly-fisherman and enjoyed fishing in Germany, England, Scotland, and Colorado when he was stationed there.
Bill and Janet’s first daughter, Ellis, was born at Fort Carson three months before he was discharged. The family then moved back to North Carolina so Bill could continue his education at UNC in Chapel Hill, NC. While there, he also served in the Army National Guard and earned a Masters and Phd. in Latin American History. Also while at UNC, he enjoyed the sport of fencing and was a member of the fencing club. While at UNC, Bill worked many jobs to support his family including tennis club grounds keeper, house painter, and short order cook. During this time, his second daughter, Megan was born.
In 1991, he was hired by Murray State University to teach in the History Department. He taught for twenty-five years. Bill loved teaching and his students. He especially loved getting to return to Germany and teach in Regensburg through the study abroad program and was disappointed when had to retire early due to health issues.
He and his family loved living in Murray. He especially loved playing guitar and singing with friends and family. He was also known for his love of building elaborate sandcastles at Atlantic Beach, NC where he and his family vacationed for thirteen years.
Both of his daughters were in the Murray High Band and he loved grilling burgers for the band boosters in the concessions stand for nine years.
Bill had strong opinions and loved to debate on any topic. On rare occasions, he might concede a point, but usually he believed his opinion was the only correct one.
Bill had a lot of ill health in the last twenty-five years, but he just kept going. He would say “good training” or “I’m the healthiest sick man walking.”
Bill is preceded in death by his father Lt. Col. William Schell Sr., his mother Martha Ellis Schell, and his nephew Taylor Wingfield. He is survived by his wife, Janet Wingfield Schell; daughters Ellis Shelby (Jason), Megan Burcham (Justin); grandchildren Virginia and Wesley Shelby, and Amelia and Finn Burcham (all of Murray); his brother Wiley (Teri), former sister-in-law Maureen Schell (Durham, NC), brothers-in-law Glenn Wingfield (Kathy), and David Wingfield (Theresa) of Virginia; 4 nieces and nephews, and many loving and good friends that he loved as well.
Visitation will be Sunday, March 16th, 2025 from 1-3 PM at the Heritage Chapel of Imes Funeral Home, 1804 Highway 121 Bypass North in Murray with a service to follow at 3 PM. There will be a celebration of life for Bill at a time that will be determined later. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the following:
Garysburg United Methodist Church:
The United Methodist Foundation
700 Waterfield Ridge PI
Garner NC 27529
Memo line: GCCA/Bill Schell
Murray Tiger Band:
Murray Tiger Band Boosters
PO BOX 323
Murray, KY 42071
Sierra Club:
Sierra Club Foundation
2101 Webster St. Suite 1250
Oakland, CA 94612
Please join family and friends in honoring life of Dr. Schell by visiting www.imesfh.com to post your tributes and memories.