Dr. James William (Bill) Lassiter, 92, of Covington, passed away Aug. 12, at Dogwood Forest Assisted Living, in Gainesville.
The son of Elwood Gray and Georgia (Salter) Lassiter, he was born in 1920 in Covington. Dr. Lassiter graduated from Covington High School and received his bachelor's degree in animal husbandry from the University of Georgia in 1941. He received a reserve commission as a 2nd Lt. in the 9th Calvary, one of two regiments of the Buffalo Soldiers in the U.S. Army. In 1943, he was ordered to the Pacific and served on Guam until World War II ended. He retired from the reserves as a major in 1953. October 5, 1947, Bill married Mary Kitchens, and in 1951 they returned to Athens and the University of Georgia where he received his master's degree in animal nutrition in 1952, followed by his Ph.D. in animal science in 1954 from the University of Illinois.
Dr. Lassiter joined the University of Georgia, where he received numerous national and international awards, authored and presented many scientific publications, nationally and internationally. Dr. Lassiter was the second recipient of the prestigious Gamma Sigma Delta Outstanding Teacher Award at the University of Georgia and also received the American Society of Animal Science Distinguished Teacher Award. He is listed in American Men of Science, Who's Who in the South and Southwest, and Leaders in American Science. Dr. Lassiter co-authored a college textbook "Animal Nutrition." After retiring, he enjoyed gardening and researching family history, writing genealogy books on the Lassiter and Kitchens families. Dr. Lassiter maintained his trademark sense of humor, which will be remembered by all who knew him. Dr. Lassiter was preceded in death by his sister Gladys Vaughn and brothers E.G. Lassiter Jr. and Luke R. Lassiter.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years Mary Kitchens Lassiter; daughter Lynda L. Haynie (Ken); son James William (Jim) Lassiter Jr. (Joie); sisters Dorothy Steele (Hugh) and Velma Prescott; grandchildren, Kimberly Hughes, Jason, Brian and Katie Lassiter; five great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Friends and family attended the memorial graveside service yesterday, Aug. 14, at Lawnwood Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association, 1353 Jennings Mill Road, Suite A, Bogart, GA 30622 or the Alzheimer's Association, Georgia Chapter, 41 Perimeter Center East, Suite 550, Atlanta, GA 30346 or another charity of your choice.
The family would like to thank the wonderful employees at The Oaks at Peach Orchard Assisted Living, in Baldwin, Dogwood Forest Assisted Living Inspirations Unit, in Gainesville, and in his last few weeks the wonderful hospice care provided by Odyssey.
