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Dr. William C. Gwaltney Jr., Johnson City, passed away Sunday, December 8, 2024, at his residence.

Dr. Gwaltney was a native of Newport News, Va., and the son of the late William Cary Gwaltney Sr. and Florence Elizabeth Munford Gwaltney.

As a young man, Bill was educated in the Newport News public school system. He was a 1957 graduate of Cincinnati (Ohio) Bible Seminary, a 1958 graduate of Wilmington (Ohio) College, and received his PhD from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1964.

Dr. Gwaltney began his career at Milligan College in 1964, where he served in various capacities, including Assistant Professor (1964-68), Associate Professor (1968-77), and Professor (1977-98), as well as serving as Interim Academic Dean from 1998-99. He has served as Professor Emeritus of Bible at Milligan since 1998. Dr. Gwaltney served as Visiting Lecturer at Emmanuel School of Religion from 1980-87, as well as Senior Minister of various local churches, including First Christian Church in Erwin, and Central Christian Church in Greeneville.

Bill was a member of First Christian Church, Johnson City, where he served as an Elder and Sunday school teacher. He was well known for his weekly half-hour TV program, “In The Word,” where he co-hosted with other Bible scholars, including Dr. Henry Webb, Dr. David Roberts, and Dr. Lee Magness, discussing various religious topics.

Dr. Gwaltney was very involved with community service, including the West Carter County Volunteer Fire Department, where he was a Chartering Board Member, Chair of the Board of Directors, and Past-President. He enjoyed genealogy, woodworking and wood turning in his spare time.

In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by his first wife, Delores “Mitzi” Gwaltney, in 2013, and a granddaughter, Holley Johnson Kelly Stone.

He is survived by his wife, Dr. Carolyn Martin Woolard Gwaltney; three children, Virginia “Ginny” Guindon and husband Ed, Birmingham, Ala., Juliann Kelly and husband Jeff, Johnson City, and Hugh Gwaltney and wife Angie, Johnson City; six grandchildren, Jessica Guindon and husband Spencer Johnson, Huntsville, Ala., Rebecca McWhirter and husband Brad, Madison, Miss., Dr. Devin Johnson and wife Anna, Elizabethton, Will Kelly, Johnson City, Olivia Kelly, Nashville, and Cody Bryan, Bristol; six great-grandchildren, Scotty and Reese McWhirter, Madison, Miss., Bryn, Rowan, Cecily and Edith Johnson, Elizabethton.

The funeral service honoring the life of Dr. Gwaltney will be conducted Friday, December 13, at noon from the sanctuary of First Christian Church, 200 E. Mountcastle Drive, Johnson City, TN 37601. Dr. David Roberts, Dr. Lee Magness, and Dr. Ethan Magness, ministers, will officiate. For those who are not able to attend, the service will be livestreamed on the Appalachian Funeral Home Facebook page.

The graveside committal service will follow at 2 p.m. at Monte Vista Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Ed Guindon, Jeff Kelly, Dr. Devin Johnson, Will Kelly, Cody Bryan and Spencer Johnson. The family will receive friends Thursday, December 12, from 4 to 7 p.m. in the East Parlor of Appalachian Funeral Home. Those who prefer to make donations in-lieu-of flowers may do so to Milligan University, P.O. Box 750, Milligan, TN 37682. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.appfh.net.

Appalachian Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 800 E. Watauga Avenue, Johnson City, TN 37601, is honored to serve the Gwaltney family. (423) 928-6111