James William Gaddy, age 81, of Arcadia, FL, passed away Sunday morning, November 18, 2018 at home with his family.
He was the only son of James Hovey and Olive McKenzie Gaddy of Dillon, SC.
He is survived by his wife, Patricia “Pat” Gaddy, Arcadia, FL, son, Robert Gaddy, of Arcadia, FL, son, Henry (Richard Ryan) Gaddy, Saint Petersburg, FL, granddaughter, Brandy (Garrett) Johnson, Parish, FL and a grandson, Schuyler Gaddy of Port Charlotte, FL; along with two great grandchildren Grady and Colton.
William was born on October 30, 1937 in Dillon, SC and worked together as a home builder of Gaddy & Son, in the Carolinas with his father. Once married, he moved with his wife Pat to Lumberton, NC where they began White Wing Farms, farming chickens, producing feed, along with a processing facility allowing shipment of eggs all over the eastern United States.
After retiring from the chicken farming in NC, he moved his family to Arcadia, FL to live on 75 acres of wilderness along the Peace River in 1982. Shortly thereafter, William, his wife Pat, and son Robert, planned and later built ”Little Willie’s RV Park” in Arcadia to accommodate winter residents from the north during the winter months.
Once retired from that venture, William went back to farming, raising fresh produce and cattle for a short period of time, thus allowing him and his wife to travel the United States.
Shortly thereafter, William and his wife relocated to a property on Kings Highway, where he lived out his final years with his wife of nearly 57 years. William was one of a kind.
A visitation will be conducted on Friday, November 23, 2018 from 7:00 until 8:00 p.m., at the chapel of Ponger-Kays-Grady Funeral Home, 50 No. Hillsborough Avenue, Arcadia, FL. Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, November 24, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at the chapel of Ponger-Kays-Grady Funeral Homes, 50 N. Hillsbrough Ave., Arcadia, FL, with Rev. George Pettigrew officiating. Burial will follow at Joshua Creek Cemetery.
Online condolences may be made at pongerkaysgrady.com
Ponger-Kays-Grady Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Arcadia, FL is in charge of arrangements.
