March 30, 1932 - May 31, 2005
Former Village of South Point Mayor
Jan. 1, 1962 to Dec. 31, 1975
Former South Point Mayor dies at 73
By Michael Caldwell The Ironton Tribune
SOUTH POINT - William Lee Fitzpatrick served the Village of South Point as mayor for more
than 13 years - but those who knew him emphasize that the man served the community for
his entire life.
Fitzpatrick, 73, died Tuesday after an extended battle with lung cancer. The local contractor
who owned and operated Fitzpatrick Custom Homes for more than 30 years before retiring in
2000, lived his entire life in South Point, an area he loved immensely.
“He loved the people of South Point and truly enjoyed being mayor,” said his son, Charles
David Fitzpatrick. “He was just a helper to anyone in need in the community.”
The elder Fitzpatrick, a retiree from Allied Chemical, served as the village’s mayor from 1962
to 1975, overseeing a variety of projects including adding the swimming pool and the sewer
system expansion project. Fitzpatrick was honored in the 1974 edition of Who’s Who in Ohio.
But to Joy Lester, his girlfriend for the past 15 years, the man was more than just a dedicated
public servant - he was a friend, a partner and a family man.
“He was the love of my life. He was so good to my children,” Lester said. “He was just always
there. Apparently, he was just always there for a lot of people.”
SOUTH POINT - William L. Fitzpatrick Sr., 73, of South Point passed away Tuesday, May 31,
2005, at Hospice Care Center in Ashland, Ky. The South Point native was born March 30,
1932, the son of the late Marcus and Nellie Pierce Fitzpatrick. He was retired from Allied
Chemical Corporation as an operator after 19 years of service. He also was a self-employed
businessman and a former mayor of South Point. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving
during the Korean Conflict.
Survivors include his partner, Joy Bays Lester of South Point; two sons and a daughter-in-
law, William L. Fitzpatrick Jr. of South Point, Charles David and Robin Fitzpatrick of South
Point; two stepdaughters and a stepson-in-law, Stephanie and Adam Chandler of Ashland,
Ky., and Annie Lester of South Point; one stepson and stepdaughter-in-law, Chris and Cindy
Lester; one granddaughter, Brandy Fitzpatrick; five step grandchildren, Shawn Haney and
Tonya Cordial, Bryan and Jason Lester and Alex Chandler; one great-grandchild, Alexis
Paige Haney; one step great-grandchild, Caleb James Cordial; three brothers and sisters-in-
law, Charles and Bonnie Fitzpatrick, Don and Brenda Fitzpatrick and David and Clara
Fitzpatrick, all of South Point; and two sisters and one brother-in-law, Helen Stephenson of
South Point and Jessie and Jack Johnson of Dayton.
Funeral will be 2 p.m. Sunday at Tracy Brammer Funeral Home, with the Revs.
Paul Bartrum and Charles Jayne officiating. Burial will be in Highland Memorial
Gardens, with military graveside rites by VFW Post 6878 of Proctorville. Visitation
will be 6-8 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.