William James ‘Bill’ Harvey
1946—2025
William James “Bill” Harvey, age 79, of Inez, Kentucky, passed away April 14, 2025, as the result of glioblastoma brain cancer. Until diagnosis nine months plus a few days ago, he lived life to the fullest.
Bill was born Jan. 30, 1946, to Roy and Harriett (Hall) Harvey of Montoursville, Pennsylvania. He worked as an engineer for Westinghouse, GTE/Sylvannia and Osram/Sylvannia companies for a total of 38 years. He was instrumental in developing several patents and proprietary equipment over his career. In 1989, the Osram/Sylvania company relocated from Pennsylvania to Versailles, Kentucky. Bill became the manager of the design engineering department in Versailles, where he supervised specialized engineers as a team to develop improvements and robots to make the assembly lines and production more efficient.
Bill was a member of the Masons Ivy Lodge 106 F & A.M. held at Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Bill had a remarkable talent for woodworking, carpentry, plumbing, construction, mechanical, and electrical work. He loved designing projects and working to complete them to his specifications. One of his fun things to do was to sew with canvas, whether it be repairing a tent, making a fishing boat top or making an enclosure for the front deck of his houseboat.
He acquired the love of flying from his mom and obtained a pilot’s license to fly small aircraft at an early age. He often shared the story that his highest learning curve was achieved when his flight instructor had him in the air for a lesson and then all of a sudden and unexpectedly turned off the engine and instruments and said, “What do you do now?”
Bill loved hunting deer, turkey and elk, with turkey hunting being his favorite season. He has several trophies of his best hunts on the walls of a designated room in his home. He also loved fishing and enjoyed houseboating on Lake Cumberland for 30+ years. He had a 46-inch striped bass mounted that he caught on his 65th birthday.
In addition to his parents, Bill is predeceased by one brother, David Harvey.
He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Karen Booth Harvey. He and Karen lived in Georgetown until moving to Inez in 2005.
Bill is also survived by his two children and three grandchildren: son James Harvey (Amanda) and grandson Nicholas Harvey of Unityville, Pennsylvania, and daughter Laura Harvey Berwanger (Joshua) and grandchildren Faith and Christian Berwanger of Montoursville, Pennsylvania.
Additional survivors include two brothers-in-law, Don Booth (Thelma) of Warfield and Jim Booth of Inez. He is also survived by a friend of many years who is like a brother to him, Dan Bricker of Russell Springs. Dan and another special friend, John Echroth, were consistent and loyal helpers with Bill’s care upon his brain cancer diagnosis until he passed.
Pallbearers are very special friends and family: Steve Bowman, Raymond (Rainbo) Jude, James Harvey, Joshua Berwanger, Faith Berwanger and Christian Berwanger. Honorary pallbearer is Nicholas Harvey.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., Thursday, April 17, 2025, at the Callaham Funeral Home in Inez, with Dr. Garrett Mills, pastor, officiating. Pastor Dwayne Mills will read the obituary. Burial will follow at the Riverview Memorial Gardens in Louisa. Friends may visit the funeral home Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Arrangements are under the direction of the Callaham Funeral Home, Inez