ROSEWOOD – Billy Dennis, 80, of Rosewood, KY went Home to be with his Savior, Jesus Christ, on Sunday, February 15, 2026 at 3:15pm surrounded by family after a very hard-fought illness at the Western Kentucky Veterans Center in Hanson, KY. Billy was born October 9, 1945 at Muhlenberg Community Hospital in Greenville to parents, John Marion Dennis and Lucy Averil Brown Dennis. Billy grew up in Paradise and graduated from Drakesboro High School in 1963. He was an Army Veteran who served during the Vietnam War. When Peabody Coal bought out Paradise, Billy moved to Rosewood. Billy worked at Lincoln Products for many years and later, until retirement, he worked for Emerson Electric in Russellville.
Billy was a member of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Rosewood. He loved NASCAR, going out to eat, and traveling. Most of all, Billy loved his family. To know him was to hear stories about his two children and his grandsons who called him Pappaw Bill. Billy is preceded in death by his parents, Marion and Averil Dennis; his brothers, James Dennis, and David Dennis; and sister-in-law, Patricia Dennis.
Survivors include son, William Paul Dennis (Elaine); daughter, Juanita Jeannette Gaines (Louis) of Rosewood, KY; four grandsons, Brian James Dennis (Alyssa Wegner) of Oak Hill, WV, John Paul Dennis (Haley Thorne) of Boonville, IN, Alexander “A.J.” Gaines (Lindsey Riley) of Horse Cave, KY, and Hunter Douglas Gaines (Emily) of Rosewood, KY; great-grandchildren, Loyalty and Legend of Adairville, KY, and Jameson and Owen, of Boonville, IN; brother, Kenny Dennis (Lana) of Greenville; and sister-in-law, Edna Dennis of Greenville. Billy was especially looking forward to his great-granddaughter (Miss Violet Sue Gaines) to be born. Thankfully, he did get to hear Violet Sue’s little heartbeat and see her via sonogram photos. His words when he saw Violet’s sonogram was, “I told you I would get to see her!”
Special thanks to the Western Kentucky Veterans Center in Hanson, KY for taking such care of our father & grandfather. The care he received there was amazing and we thank you for allowing us more time with him. Thanks will never be enough. The Grant Unit has become a family for us as well.
Funeral services will be Thursday, February 19, 2026 at 11am at Tucker Funeral Home in Central City with Bro. Nick Duvall officiating, assisted by Rev. Steve Latham. Burial in Rose Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5-8pm and Thursday after 8am. Online condolences may be made at www.tuckerfuneralhomes.com.
