William Benjamin Harrell III, “Wild Bill,” 75, passed away on April 14, 2017. Born in Suffolk on Dec. 14, 1941, he was the son of the late William B. Harrell Jr. and Kathryn Baines Harrell. He was preceded in death by his infant son, William B. Harrell IV, and older sister, Miriam E. Beale.

He graduated from Suffolk High School, class of 1960. He was active in Boy Scouts and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. He was noted for his athleticism and was a member of the school’s football team. He loved to play tennis.

He joined the U.S. Marine Corps and was honorably discharged in March 1965. He was owner of Harrell Electric Co. for more than 50 years. He was a Master Electrician with a Class A, building, electric and gas contractor license.

He belonged to Suffolk Jaycees, where he was responsible for initiating the first Miss Suffolk pageant. He was also a member of the Suffolk Kiwanis and Merrimac Kiwanis Clubs. He served as president in each of those organizations. Bill was a past lieutenant governor in Kiwanis. He was also a member of Main Street United Methodist Church in Suffolk.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 13 years, Mary Ann Thrasher-Harrell; three children, Debbie H. Kennedy and husband, John, Connie H. Schau and husband, Ray, and William E. Harrell and wife, Lorna; and seven grandchildren, Samuel Kennedy, Jacob Kennedy, Kathryn Schau, Logan Harrell, Ryland Harrell and Jillian Harrell; sister, Linda Harrell Oates and husband, Ron; mother of his children, Elizabeth Dare Harrell; and nieces and nephews, Kathy Parzygnat and husband, Mark, Nancy Oates, Howard Patrick Beale Jr., Kaye Beale Hewitt and Michael Beale.

A memorial service will be conducted at Main Street United Methodist Church on Wednesday, April 19, 2017, at 1 p.m. by the Rev. Myrtle F. Hatcher. Burial will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends in the R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home and Crematory, 509 W. Washington St., Suffolk, on Tuesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Caring Voice Coalition, 8249 Meadowbridge Road, Mechanicsville, VA 23116. Condolences may be registered at RWBakerFH.com.