Vail - Billy Joe
Source: Crawfordsville Journal Review, June 18, 1974
LINDEN – Billy Joe Vail, 36, of Linden, former chief deputy of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department, died at 1:30 a.m. today in Methodist Hospital at Indianapolis where he had been a patient for about 10 days. He had been ill for six months, suffering with leukemia. Mr. Vail was co-owner of the Wilson-Vail Shell Service Station at Crawfordsville. He began his career in law enforcement in April of 1968 as a deputy sheriff and later advanced to chief deputy. He resigned in 1970. Prior to his appointment as a deputy, he was employed by Raybestos-Manhattan, Inc., and California Pellett Mill Co. He served two years in the U.S. Army in the early 1960s. Mr. Vail was a member of the Linden United Methodist Church, Linden Masonic Lodge 697, Linden Civil Defense, Indiana Sheriff’s Association, Independent Order of Foresters, and the Crawfordsville Eagles Lodge, Elks Lodge and FOP. He was a 1956 graduate of Linden High School. Born March 13, 1938 at Linden, he was a son of Harry A. and Ruth White Vail. He was married to Marilyn Gill at Kirkpatrick on Nov. 9, 1961. Survivors include the widow; a daughter, Cathy at home; a son, Mike of Crawfordsville; his father who resides at Linden; and a sister, Mrs. Charles (Joyce) Kellison of Havelock, N.C. He was preceded in death by his mother. Services will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Thursday in Helms Funeral Home here with Dr. Henry Oakes officiating. Burial will be in Linden Cemetery. Masonic rites will be conducted at 8 p.m. Wednesday. Friends may call at the funeral home from 2 to 9 p.m. Wednesday. – jlr