William Alexander Stephens “Billy Furlow was born at Bristol, Tennessee. Lt. Furlow graduated from Bristol, Tenn., High School, class of 1937, after distinguishing himself in football, basketball and other athletics. He was a member of the 1936-1967 basketball team. Entering service before war was declared, young Furlow received training at Camp Lee, Va., and Langley Field, Va., and was sent to the Pacific war theatre early in August, 1943.
2nd Lt Furlow was killed in action on a bombing mission in the South Pacific.
The Knoxville Journal, June 12, 1942
Bombardier – William A.S. Furlow Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. William A.S. Furlow, Bristol, yesterday received a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Forces at graduating exercises at the world’s largest bombardier college at Midland Army Flying School, Texas. Furlow was a student from 1938 to 1942 at Austin Peay Normal, Clarksville.
The Bristol Herald Courier, 14 March 1948
Funeral services for Second Lieutenant William A.S. Furlow Jr., of the U.S. Army Air Force, who was killed August 31, 1943, in the crash of his bomber on Guadalcanal, will be conducted today at State Street Methodist Church. Services at the grave in Shelby Hills Cemetery will be in charge of Chaplain Charles Hawkinsn of Hackler-Wood Post, who also will read Lt. Furlow’s war record at the church services. Lt. Furlow, one of Bristol’s most popular young men, is survived by his widow, the former Helen Harshbarger; one daughter, Billie Carol, three years old; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.A.S. Furlow, Sr., and one brother, Herbert M. (Mack) Furlow, all of Bristol.
- Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Date of birth: 9 January 1917
- Date of death: 31 August 1943
- County: Sullivan
- Hometown: Bristol
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 394th Bomber Squadron
- Theater: Pacific
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: Shelby Hills Cemetery, Bristol, TN
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XVIII, Middle Panel
- Contact us to sponsor William A. Furlow
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