Bill David Shortt was born January 1, 1936 to the late Morgan and Lucy Meade Shortt, and passed away at the Norton Community Hospital on February 23, 2009. Bill's mother died when he was thirteen months old, his two uncles, Marsh and Alfred Meade raised him until their passing. Mr. Shortt was ,also, preceded in death by his longtime guardian and father, Ray Dixon. In the summer of 1954 Bill came to live with Ray and Mabel Dixon. Bill graduated from Clintwood High School in 1957, then he enrolled in LMU, only to stay for a short while. Bill was drafted in the US Army and served one year in Germany. He worked for the railroad in Manassas for awhile before getting hurt on the job. Bill lived his life to the fullest, his way! Fishing anytime he wanted to, with Johnny Ray by his side; hunting in Bath County for months at a time and playing poker whenever possible. Bill lived his life one day at a time, writing down events of the day good or bad; one might say he was kind of reckless with the truth. Bill was a member of the Lions Club for 52 years, a huge fan of the Clintwood Greenwave and Washington Redskins. He was also a member of the Dickenson County VFW and DAV. Mr. Shortt is survived by Mabel Dixon, guardian and mother, Clintwood; two daughters, Betsy Edwards and Connie Willis, both of Clintwood; one brother, Johnny Dixon, Charleston, South Carolina; also surviving Mr. Shortt are three sisters, Judy Mullins, Kay Buchanan and Dotty Bostic, all of Clintwood; others survivors are special friends, Donnie Hamilton and Carter Davis plus several nieces and nephews. Bill had nicknames for all of us children, to make us special, because to him we were very special. Bill treated Johnny, Judy, Dotty, Kaye, and Connie as though we were his siblings; because we were. Funeral services for Bill David Shortt will be conducted at 1:00 PM Thursday, February 26, 2009 at the Clintwood Funeral Home Chapel with minister Joe Glenn Sluss officiating. Burial will follow in the Meade Family Cemetery, Snow Ball Hollow. Family will receive friends after 6:00 PM Wednesday, at the funeral home with a song service to follow at 7:00 PM with Ken Childress ministering in song. Military graveside services will be conducted by VFW Post 8979, DAV Chapter 35, and American Legion Post 227, Clintwood. Active pallbearers are David Buchanan, Greg Willis, Stuart Bostic, Shane Mullins, Jason Mullins, Steve Mullins, Bradley Bostic, Aaron Williams, Matthew Hall, Martin Hawkins, Nathan Issac, Kemper Edwards, Jonathan Edwards, and Jeremy Edwards. Honorary pallbearers are Dr. N.C. Ratliffe, Dr. Lurton Lyle, Donnie Hamilton, Patton Mullins, Paul Mullins, Eugene Hughes, Richmond Short, Dale Smith, Josh Evans, R.C. Browning, Denny Vanover, Rodney Fleming, and Sam Elkins. We would like so much to thank Betsy Edwards, Patton Mullins, Carter Davis, and Donnie Hamilton for the wonderful care that they bestowed on Bill. In lieu of flowers, the family request memorial contributions be made to the Clintwood Lions Club, or the Dickenson County Food Bank.