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SOUTHERN HERITAGE FUNERAL HOME obituary
475 CAHABA VALLEY ROAD, PELHAM, AL 35124 | 205-988-3511

Claiborne Sample Hightower
January 10, 1933 - February 1, 2018

Visitation
Monday, February 05, 2018 | 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Southern Heritage Funeral Home
475 Cahaba Valley Road, Pelham, Alabama 35124 | (205) 988-3511
Driving Directions

Celebration of Bill'sLife
Monday, February 05, 2018 | 2:00 pm
Southern Heritage Funeral Home
475 Cahaba Valley Road, Pelham, Alabama 35124 | (205) 988-3511
Driving Directions

Claiborne Sample "Bill" Hightower, 85, of Birmingham, Alabama, returned to his heavenly home on the 1st day of February, 2018. His devotion to his family and his firm belief in God supported him in his life and ultimately gave him peace.

He is survived by his current wife, Lynn Singleton Hightower and ex-wife Esther Lynn Hightower, both of Birmingham; his five children, Dan Singleton, 58, of Atlanta, Georgia, and his wife Allison, Bob Singleton, 56, of Hoover, Lynn Elouise Hightower-Moore, 53, of Birmingham and her husband Kevin Moore, Lynda Jane Hightower, 53 of Birmingham, and Clay Thomas Hightower, 52, of Houston, Texas; his six grandchildren, Amanda Leigh Singleton, 32, of Atlanta, Jennifer Danielle Singleton, 30, of Atlanta, Brandon Thomas Rosso, 26, of Calera and his wife Lindsey, Amanda Jane Rosso, 23, of Clanton, Kaitlin Lynn Moore, 22, of Birmingham, and Katherine Ann Moore, 18, of Birmingham; his three great-grandchildren, Joshua Andrew Loudermilk, 12, of Atlanta, Benjamin Michael David McDaniel, 7, of Calera and Meredith-Kate Ruth Rosso, 3 months, of Calera; his sister/niece Heather Anne Smith Leflar and her husband Robert "Bobby" C. Leflar; great-nieces Kimberly Hightower Garnett and husband, John W. Garnett, IV, and Leah Hightower Robison and husband, Jason K. Robison; and great-great-nieces and nephews, Robert Cole Leflar, Shannon Leflar Akromis and husband, Preston Akromis, John William Garnett, Claire Emilie Garnett, Evelyn Marie Robison, and Jacob William Robison. He is preceded in death by his parents, Erskine William Hightower and Josephine Sample Hightower, his beloved sister and brother-in-law, Josephine Hightower Smith and Cecil Thomas Smith, brother and sister-in-law, Erskine W. Hightower, Jr. and Doris Hightower and their children Erskine W. Hightower, III and Glenn Michael Hightower.

Bill was born at home on January 10, 1933 in the city of Houston, Harris County, Texas. He went to high school in New Orleans, Louisiana while living with his sister and her husband but ultimately ended up back in Texas as an Air Force cadet at Texas A&M University. He graduated in 1955 with a degree in geological engineering, but owing his country his service, flew as a pilot during the Korean War. Luckily for us, his service was done state-side, and he was discharged as a Captain with full honors in 1969. He continued with the Reserve Corps and started his work career at Tex-Tube under mentor Ray Kearney, who then brought him over to ACIPCO (American Cast Iron Pipe Company). Bill was a 31 year employee of ACIPCO, 21 years of which he was the Sales Manager for the Steel Pipe Division.

Bill loved to play golf. As a salesman, he was lucky to be able to play the game he enjoyed so much, and he had a scratch handicap most of his life. He was a former member of both Hoover and Shoal Creek Country Clubs. Bill also had a deep faith in Christ and was an active member of Rocky Ridge Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Ultimately, the most important thing to Bill was his family, as he was both a devoted father and husband. Bill was an extremely generous man, always willing to sacrifice himself to provide for his family. His love and patience helped all of us in realizing our potential. His laugh was infectious and brought joy to all who heard it.

His pallbearers will be Clay Hightower, Dan Singleton, Bob Singleton, Brandon Rosso, Kevin Moore and Bobby Leflar. Van L. Richey and Robert "Bob" Wise will speak and the eulogy will be given by Lynn Hightower-Moore and Clay Hightower.

Friends are invited to visitation from 12pm to 2pm with a service following at Southern Heritage Funeral Home & Cemetery in Pelham, Alabama on Monday, February 5, 2018. Tom Winter will be officiating. Interment will follow at Southern Heritage. In lieu of flowers please send donations to Children's Hospital of Alabama. Condolences can be sent to www.southernheritagefunerals.com.