AW (Bill) Frazier, 92, of Florence, AL died December 31, 2023. Visitation will be January 6, 2024 from 1-3 pm at the Williams Funeral Home in Florence, AL.  He will be laid to rest at Tri-Cities Memorial Gardens in Florence, AL.

He was born in Johnson City, TN in 1931 and graduated from The University of Tennessee in 1953.  He was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Gussie Irick Frazier; one son Gordon Frazier of Trussville, AL; one brother Leon Pierce (Johnson City TN); and one sister Betty Johnson (Melbourne FL).  He will be missed by surviving son Tony Frazier (Tuscumbia, AL), daughter Linda Frazier Guimond and her husband Mark (Johnson City, TN), and daughter-in-law Sue Frazier of Trussville AL.  He has five grandchildren; Rachel Frazier, Wesley Frazier, Troy Bethune, Amber Bethune, and Luke Guimond; two great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren.

After graduation, he was employed at TVA’s fertilizer research center in Muscle Shoals, AL where he worked as an analytical microscopist for 40 years.  He was granted seven U.S. Patents, produced 66 publications for several technical journals and served on the editorial board for two technical journals.  Over the years he engaged in many hobbies, including astronomy, photography, duplicate bridge, collecting antique clocks and many other interests.  He was an active member of the Florence Astronomy Club that manufactured and donated a 14” telescope to the University of North Alabama in 1967, which was the second largest telescope in the state at that time.

After retirement in 1993, he enjoyed exercising his chemical microscopy skills at Forsythe and Long Industries and Applied Chemical Technology, both located in Florence, AL.  He continued to apply his analytical skills playing duplicate bridge and collecting/repairing antique clocks and he could be found every Tuesday morning with other TVA retirees having breakfast at Jack’s restaurant.

After a stroke limited his mobility, he relocated to Johnson City, TN where he continued to be physically and mentally active for his last four years.  He played duplicate bridge and bingo, reconnected with friends from The Science Hill Class of 1948, exercised every day, and made new friends in his community at TownView Senior Living.  His indomitable spirit and happy demeanor made him a pleasure to be with until the very end.