William Lucas, Iii

William Henry Lucas III, 74, passed away on August 18th. Bill, as he is known, was born in Columbus, Ohio. He was a cherished husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend. He was a grandson of the first African American Pure Oil franchisee in Ohio. In time, Bill’s parents took over Lucas Pure Oil/Lucas Union 76 on the corners of Atcheson and 20th Streets. Bill worked by their side and learned, firsthand, the importance of civic responsibility. He carried the lesson with him as he struck out on his own and ultimately joined the U. S. Army. Upon his return, Bill’s career path included working with Columbus Public Schools before flexing his entrepreneurial spirit and founding his own industrial cleaning company.

Family has always been the center of his being. As a child, extended Lucas clan traditions included Sunday Dinners with all family members present and Midnight Masses on Christmas Eve at St. Dominic’s Church, followed by early morning breakfasts at his grandparent’s home. Bill was at ease in almost every situation. He spent summers hanging with his city cousins in Dayton and helping his country cousins care for farm animals in Mt. Vernon, Ohio.

After marrying the love of his life, the two carried forward the community legacy established by her parents, A grieving neighbor from the old recently said that “You couldn’t live in the neighborhood and not have stepped foot in the Brown’s house!” As the Lucas’ fashioned a home their own, Bill “held court” on his front porch many a day for young men needing encouragement, guidance, and correction. His advice was real; some of it lived; all of it given with a sincere desire to see future generations make wiser decisions. In the ’70s and ’80s, Bill was proud to be the “neighborhood Dad.”

As his family grew, a special twinkle in his eyes appeared any time a family gathering occurred. Last spring, in preparation for his vow renewal, his sons, Will, Shawn, James, and son-like nephew Max, took him to be fitted for a tuxedo and out to lunch. This simple outing was one of the brightest spots in his final months. Bill enjoyed having everyone together whether the family caravan made its way to Niagara Falls, New York, or Deer Creek Lodge in Mt. Sterling, Ohio. On trips, he had a captive audient to involve others in his two favorite pastimes: music and fishing.  Bill also used that time making family laugh with sly remarks, cracking jokes, and discussing history, current events, politics, and God. He always found time and a quiet spot to sit and marvel at nature’s beauty on these trips.

While aspects of his spiritual life continued to be rooted in his Catholic heritage, he and his wife of fifty years delighted in attending services at Acts of Faith Community Crusade Church, where they were members in good standing. His granddaughter Nia and daughters Tiffany and Twila were ordained as Youth Director, Evangelist, and Lead Pastor, respectively.

Never one to meet a stranger, Bill had a gift for building relationships. Staff members and fellow patients at the OSU Clayton Taylor Dialysis Center were like his second family. Together, this team helped Billy, a proud man and a giver at heart, see the beauty in receiving support. He, in turn, helped create community with others at the facility. Over the years, his pride in being a Viet Nam veteran deepened. Those close to Bill knew he didn’t leave his home without a veteran’s baseball cap on his head. Bill will be laid to rest with full military honors at Dayton National Cemetery.

You need not look hard to see Bill’s values. His legacy will be the smooth way he communicated with people from all walks of life. He reminded us that those who were down on their luck were as deserved of respect as those held in high esteem. His legacy challenges us to give from the heart, without expecting recognition.  Bill reminded us that God could do anything so don’t give up on life. William Henry Lucas III taught us to love, and to him, we say rest in peace, knowing your legacy will continue.

 Bill is survived by his wife of fifty years, Roberta (Brown) Lucas, sons William (Linda) Lucas IV, Shawn Lucas, James Lucas, Daughters Tiffany (Gregory) Gates, Twila Lucas. Grandchildren Nia, Ashley, Darius, Bria, Jena, Jada, Madison, Kyree, Brooklyn, Kam’ron, and Kayla; great-grandson Levi; sister, Mary Teresa Lucas; special friend, James Jones, and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, William Henry Lucas, Jr. and Mildred Elizabeth (Sims) Lucas

Visitation 11:00am and Funeral 12:00pm Thursday, August 26, 2021 at Springhill Baptist Church, 2000 E. 17^th Ave.

Interment Friday at Dayton National Cemetery.