William Howard “Bill” Mountjoy Jr., 65, of Elizabethton, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday morning, April 3, 2014, at Four Oaks Health Care Center in Jonesborough, after a brief, yet courageous, battle with liver cancer.
Mr. Mountjoy was born on Nov. 28, 1948, in Miami, Fla., one of four children born to the late Mr. and Mrs. William Howard Mountjoy Sr. At an early age, Bill’s family moved to Prince William County, Va., and settled in the community of Triangle, Va., where Bill’s parents operated a combination taxicab business and interstate bus stop next door to the Quantico Marine Base in the Washington, D.C., suburbs. During his youth, Bill would help his family in its taxicab business, and often told stories about the diplomats, politicians, and other dignitaries he would carry in his parents’ taxi. As a result of his taxicab driving, Bill became known among his friends as being able to navigate on any street in Washington.
Bill graduated from Gar-Field High School in Prince William County, Va., in June 1967. One of his classmates, who was in several high school clubs in which he also participated, was the great country music star/singer, Emmylou Harris.
After high school, Bill matriculated in and graduated from the Career Academy School of Famous Broadcasters, obtaining his FCC broadcast license shortly thereafter. He began his broadcast career working for radio stations in the Washington, D.C. suburbs. Later, he moved to Northeast Tennessee, where he worked for several radio stations in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia as a disc jockey, news reporter, engineer and executive. Following this career, Bill became self-employed in the broadcast and electronic business: he helped found T and M Communications of Elizabethton, and did voice-over work and independently contracted engineering work for several area radio stations and advertisers.
At the time of his death, Bill owned Custom Audio and Video Services of Elizabethton. He was a good neighbor, and a great, devoted friend.
Visitation for Bill will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, in the Chapel of Peace at Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton. A celebration of Bill’s life will follow the visitation. Honorary pallbearers will be his friends, Mark Hatcher, Richard McClellan, Al Morris, Francis X. Santore Jr., Ricky Schultz and Samuel A. Stout. As per his wishes, Mr. Mountjoy’s body will be cremated. In lieu of flowers, it is asked that Bill be remembered by making a cash donation to the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, P.O. Box 1927, Bristol, VA 24203. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.tetrickfuneralhome.com and signing the guest book.
Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, is serving the Mountjoy family. Office: (423) 542-2232. Obituary Line: (423) 543-4917.