Willie Ray Trull passed to his eternal rest on June 19, 2021 at his home in Arley, Alabama. He was born on September 17, 1947 in Waverly, Tennessee and was raised in Linden, Tennessee before moving to Alabama for the remainder of his life.
He is survived by his wife: Debbie Wilkes Trull, two children: Carol Trull (Eric) Pittman of Birmingham and Patrick Aaron (Jessica) Trull of Corner, Alabama and his stepson: Brian (Sheila) Wilkes of Helena, Alabama. He had ten grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren and will be lovingly remembered by extended family.
He retired from the City of Birmingham after 25 years in building maintenance and inspections. He then owned and operated Smith Lake Painting. His love for family was only rivaled by his love for country, as demonstrated in his service as Petty Officer in the United States Naval Construction Battalion (Navy Seabees) and then as a Green Beret communications Sergeant in the Army’s 507th Regiment of the 20th Special Forces Command. Ray was an avid outdoorsman, reader, gardener and loved cooking for friends and family. In recent years, his passion for life centered on serving the Lord, his church and his community as a member of Arley First Baptist Church.
A memorial service will be held Wednesday, June 23, 2021 at 1 p.m. at Nichols Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. Dr. Roger White and Carol Trull Pittman will officiate. In lieu of flowers, friends can honor Ray by gifts to the Arley First Baptist Church “Ice Cream Truck” Ministry (1610 Hickory Lane, Arley, AL 35541) or Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate).
