William Lusk

William Thomas (B.T.) Lusk Sr. was born on the family farm in Halstead, Miss., in Sunflower County on April 20, 1925, to Claud and Nora Lusk and lived his life in service to others until October 8, 2011. B.T. graduated from Cleveland High School in Mississippi in 1942 and attended Mississippi State University until 1943 when he began serving his country in the armed forces. He was honored to be a part of the 541st Paratroop Infantry Regiment. He was honorably discharged at the conclusion of WWII with the rank of Sergeant. He was humbled by the opportunity to serve this great country and proud of the men and women who continue to do so. B.T. returned to Miss. State and completed his Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering in 1949. While at Miss. State he was inducted into the Honorary Fraternities of Omicron Delta Kappa, Blue Key, and Alpha Zeta. He was also a member of the Colonel's club, Interfraternity Council, Y Council, President of the Ag Engineering Club , and President of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. After completing his college degree, he operated the family farm in the Mississippi Delta until 1957. He served until 1961 as a Special Agent for Prudential Life Insurance Company where he received the Prudential Certificate of Merit and the National Quality Award. It was his association with Gotcher Engineering as a Sales Engineer that brought B.T. and his family west to Plainview Texas. He later served in the Plainview area as General Manager and Vice President for Gene Bumpus, Inc., Manager of Sales, Advertising and Finance for W.F. Larson Inc., President for Hale County Savings Association, and partner in KMMS manufacturing. B.T. also worked at Garrison Oil Co. and in the Business Office at Wayland Baptist University.
Throughout his life, no matter where he lived, B.T. modeled service to others through his community and local church. While in Plainview he was a member of the Optimist Club where he served as President. B.T. also served as a member of the board of directors for the Plainview Chamber of Commerce, Plainview Industrial Foundation, and Plainview Area United Way. He participated in city volunteerism through the Plainview Board of Adjustment. His selfless commitment to his Savior Jesus Christ through the local church was an inspiration to those around him. He was Sunday School Teacher at the High School, College, and Adult levels for almost 40 years at First Baptist Church. He served on many church committees as well as serving as a member of the Deacons where he was Chairman in 1971-72. His service alongside his beloved wife Barbara on youth mission trips to the Rio Grande Valley were an especially rewarding area of ministry for him.
B.T. exemplified Christian character to all around him. He modeled patience, love, respect, and integrity in his workplace, in his community, and in his home to his wife and four children. His words of wisdom, his gentle encouragement, and his engaging stories will be missed but will live on through family and friends. He married the love of his life, LaVeta Barbara Grittman, in Cleveland Ms. on January 11, 1953.
He was preceeded in death by his parents, wife, daughter Kathy Knox, and twin sister Earnestine Lusk. Those left to cherish his memories are Tommy Lusk of Doddsville Ms., Dan Knox and children Lee Isaac and Julia of Evanston Wy., Lillian and Mehdi Arzaghi and children Safa and Behnam of Lubbock Tx., Claude and Paula Lusk and children Claudia, Crosslyn, and Caleb of Plainview Tx., and sister Claudine Gary of Doddsville Ms.
A celebration of B.T.'s life is planned for Friday, October 21st, 2011 in the Chapel at First Baptist Church in Plainview Tx. at 2:00pm. Memorials are suggested to the B.T. and Barbara Lusk Memorial Scholarship fund at Wayland Baptist University.
Interment at New Cleveland Cemetery will follow at a later date.

Service Information

2:00 pm Friday, October 21, 2011
First Baptist Church in Plainview, TX FBC Plainview, Texas, United States

Interment Information

New Cleveland Cemetery North Bolivar Road Cleveland, Mississippi, United States