William Whitledge

William Rayburn “Bill” Whitledge passed away peacefully after a long illness on
October 28, 2024. Bill was born in Madisonville, Ky. on September 30, 1940, to the late
Emma Corum and Rayburn Whitledge, their only son.

Bill graduated from Madisonville High School, the University of Kentucky, and the University of Kentucky College of Law. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity.

He was also a proud veteran of the United States Army. After completing law school, Bill came back to his hometown of Madisonville to practice Law for 42 years. Beginning his law career at Logan and Morton, it became Logan, Morton & Whitledge. He served as the Domestic Relations Commissioner from the mid-1970s for Circuit Judge Thomas B Spain until the early 1980s. Active in the Hopkins County and the Kentucky State Bar Associations, and the community, he served as Administrative Law Judge with the Mine Safety Review Commission for five years. While maintaining his own private practice, he shared space with Richard Hibbs and Frederick Nichols. In 2009, Bill was appointed by the former Governor, Steve Beshear to become District Judge for Hopkins County. He was then elected to serve for three consecutive terms, and completed his final term in January 2023 with his retirement. During his judgeship, he presided over thousands of civil, criminal and juvenile cases. Bill was a dedicated, caring judge, with fairness to all in his Court.

A father of three children, he enjoyed delighting them with his many facts about recent studies out of the University of Wisconsin. These studies and facts were questionable, but often related to something one of the children had done recently. As debating was a favorite family pastime, he managed to teach all of his kids how to use words to get their point across, something he often regretted as they grew older. All three of his children kept him entertained throughout his life, as he enjoyed hearing about their lives and undertakings. Always one to help them remember the funny things that had happened during their lives, he was still trying to get one over on them up until the end. Always available via phone to give advice about legal matters or discuss the recent Kentucky Basketball game, he was proud of

each of them and told them often in their adult years. His four grandsons enjoyed spending time with Grandpa Bill and hearing stories about their mom, aunt and uncle in their younger years. He was always proud of the men his grandsons had become, and the lives they were living. Never one to miss a beat, he continued to give them facts and studies from University of Wisconsin to help them through life.

An active democrat throughout his life, he was treasurer of the Hopkins County Democratic Party for years and a Democrat Hall of Fame Inductee in 2023 for his service. He believed every election was important and encouraged all around him to vote in every election, even the dog catcher, because it is the foundation of America.

Bill was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church, having served in a number of leadership positions. He was always strong in his faith.

Judge Whitledge enjoyed golf, fishing, and woodworking, among other hobbies. However,
his God and family always came first.

Bill was preceded in death by his Mother and Father, cousin Sharon Ashby Melton and his Brother-in-Law, Don Moore, Jr.

Bill is survived by his loving wife, Gail Burrows Pritchett Whitledge, his children, Jane Whitledge Gilliam (Tony) of North Carolina, Will Whitledge (DeeDee) of Florida, and Sarah Whitledge Jernigan of Virginia, four Grandsons, Andrew, Joseph, Nathaniel, and Benjamin Gilliam. Sisters, Carol Whitledge Moore, and Nancy Whitledge Malone (Phil) of Owensboro, many special nieces and nephews, and closest cousin and lifelong friend, William Corum. Mother-in-Law, Barbara Burrows, Sisters-in-Law, Carrie Bearden (Jim), Amy Beckham (Scott) all of Louisville, Ky.

Visitation for Judge Whitledge is Friday, November 1st from 5pm to 7pm at Barnett- Strother Funeral Home, and Saturday, November 2nd from 10am to 11am at First United Methodist Church. Funeral services will be held immediately after church visitation at 11am. A private burial service will be held for the family.

The family is honored that the Hopkins County School System has set up the Judge Bill Whitledge Fund for children who have been served by the court system or court-designated workers (CDW). In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to the fund via Hopkins County Schools 320 S. Seminary Street Madisonville, KY 42431 Attention: April Devine.