Roper Funeral Home and Crematory 206 Holly St Jasper, GA 30143 (706) 253-7500 (706) 253-0040 www.roperfuneralhome.com William Pless, 88, a former resident of the Outback Community in north Pickens County, passed away on January 8, 2023. He lived there with his wife, Yvonne Pless, since 2004. Before that, they purchased a new home in Marietta in 1967 where they raised their son and lived for 37 years. William was one of eleven children born to the Reverend and Mrs. David Pless of Alabama, a pastor in the North Alabama Methodist Conference. William is survived by his son, William Pless II; grandson, Michael Pless of Cumming, Georgia; one brother, James Pless of Goodrich, MI; seventeen nieces and nephews and their families and descendants. He was preceded in death by his wife; his father and mother; five sisters; four brothers; two sisters-in-law; five brothers-in-law; one niece; and one nephew. William was born in Phil Campbell, Alabama and raised in numerous towns and communities throughout north Alabama. He graduated from Handley High School in Roanoke, Alabama in 1952, served in the US Marine Corps for four years, seeing duty in Korea. He then attended the University of Alabama for four academic years, receiving a BS Degree in Physics in 1960. He and Yvonne were married by his pastor father in September 1960. They moved to Huntsville, AL where William already had a job with the US Army Missile Command. Their son, William II, was born in 1962. In September 1963, he enrolled in the University of Alabama Graduate School where he pursued advanced courses in physics and math for 16 months. They subsequently lived in Orlando, FL (two years) and Marietta, GA (37 years) where William had professional jobs with aerospace companies and Yvonne worked in positions of executive secretary and financial analyst. They moved to the Outback Subdivision in north Pickens County in 2004. William began his professional career developing communications for use in battlefield tactical guidance systems and deep space probes; inspection technology for ballistic and anti-missile missiles; technology for metal fatigue and corrosion detection in structure of military transport aircraft; structural inspection studies for the Space Shuttle program; and computer fire propagation review for on-board use on the US Space Station. In 1982, William assisted in the establishment of the Lockheed Space Operations Company and helped it obtain the Shuttle Processing Contract with NASA at Kennedy Space Center to refurbish, process, and assemble the Space Shuttle for launch. Since June 2007, William has been an active member of the Marine Corps League North Georgia Mountains Detachment 1280. He was on the Board of Directors for planning and construction of the Pickens County Veterans Memorial Park in Jasper. William was a devoted husband, father, and employee. His priorities were always his family, home and work. His primary talents were writing and painting, and he loved the outdoors and gardening. After retiring from his profession in the mid-1990s, he turned to writing. He has written and published two books, "The Spiritual Foundations of the Universe" and "After the Resurrection" (Amazon) and numerous articles and letters. William was of high moral character, truthful and faithful, and was deeply spiritual and readily prayed for himself and anyone needing God's help and guidance. He always enjoyed the loving support of his wife. In their later years he and Yvonne had several health issues that hindered their activities. He fulfilled the purpose that his Creator had given him. Now may he rest with Him forever. A Memorial Service will be held 2:00 p.m., Saturday, February 11, 2023 in the Chapel of Roper Funeral Home. The family will receive friends the same day starting at 12:00 noon until the funeral hour. Arrangements are entrusted to the Staff of Roper Funeral Home and Crematory.