Billy Dale Higginbotham (Bill to everyone who knew him, and he knew just about everyone) lived the way he ran: steady, committed, and like quitting was never an option.

Bill was born to Beverly and Chester Higginbotham on August 20, 1954, at Ramey Air Force Base in Puerto Rico. He graduated from Paris High School and Lakeland College and spent more than fifty years farming with his father, brothers, sons, and nephews. He served on the Edgar County Farm Bureau Board and was a faithful member of Bell Ridge Christian Church, where he served as an elder and Sunday school teacher.

If you really knew Bill, though, you probably think of him running.

He ran every single day. He ran on the same country roads where he farmed, in races across the region, on vacations, and anywhere else he happened to be. By the end of his life, he had logged enough miles to circle the earth five times. He ran 5Ks and 10Ks, completed his 40th Honeybee race this past fall, and ran his final race at Christmas with his son Caleb.

He was not the kind of runner who kept to himself. If you ended up next to Bill during a race, there was a good chance you were also about to have a conversation. He never met a stranger, and running was no reason not to talk.

Very little slowed him down. In the winter, he pulled on a bright orange ski mask and went anyway, sometimes coming back inside with icicles hanging off his nose. If it was too cold, he ran on the treadmill. And when an injury once took running off the table, he switched to swimming (in a life jacket), which, if you knew Bill, was truly a last resort.

He loved basketball every bit as much. It was always part of his life. He played church league and intramural ball for years, coached City League and YMCA basketball, and helped with cross country too. Kids loved him because he paid attention to them. He talked to them, remembered them, and made them feel like they mattered. On the last day of his life, he watched the Illinois game—very Bill.

He also loved Christmas and birthdays, too. He was always the first one to tell you “happy birthday.” He loved shopping for toys for his kids and grandkids, and he loved filming the entire process of opening them. He would have the video camera out the whole time, recording everything, including long stretches where nothing much was happening at all. Presents were opened one at a time, and none of it was to be rushed.

And when the Home Alone movies came on, he had this ‘very Bill’ laugh that was loud and funny, which made everyone else smile too.

He endured more than many people realized. A gunshot wound when he was young left one arm with limited function. For the rest of his life, though, he carried that quietly enough that plenty of people never knew. He also fought cancer more than once, and for a long time, he kept coming out the other side.

He was the oldest of five children and a big brother to the end. He was also a grandfather who showed up. He went to the games, gave tractor rides, and joined the family on vacations. He was not a beach person, but every summer you’d find him out there on the sand in jeans and tennis shoes, just happy to be part of it.

He told people he loved them. He gave hugs. He talked about his children’s and grandchildren’s accomplishments to anyone who would listen. He cared deeply about his family, and he showed it in ways that were constant, visible, and unmistakable.

Bill is survived by his wife, Jill Higginbotham; his children, Hilary Walker (Scott Dosch, Chris Walker), Jacob (Betsy) Higginbotham, Caleb (Heather) Higginbotham, and Emily (Blair) Agan; his siblings, Terry (Bonnie) Higginbotham, Patty (Randy) Higginbotham Shafer, Mike (Lee Ann) Higginbotham, and Scott (Lori) Higginbotham; his grandchildren, Paven Walker, Nova Walker, Colton (Mackenzie) Dosch, Katie (Tyler) Blue, Kelsie Dosch, Leo Higginbotham, Logan “Gus” Higginbotham, Hadley Higginbotham, Luke Higginbotham, and Samuel Agan; and his great-grandchildren, Sophie Dosch and Blake Blue, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a life that was full, faithful, and well run.

Visitation will be from 4:00PM to 8:00PM on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at Stewart and Carroll Funeral Home. Funeral service will be at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at Bell Ridge Christian Church with Bro. Kurt Speece Officiating. Burial will follow in Edgar Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made Bell Ridge Christian Church OR Horizon Health Foundation in memory of Bill Higginbotham.

For more information and online condolences please visit www.stewartandcarrollfuneralhome.com