October 9, 1945 – February 3, 2025
Billy ‘Bill’ R. Bingham, 79, of North Vernon, passed away on Monday, February 3, 2025, at Our Hospice in Columbus, IN.
Born on October 9, 1945, in Cincinnati, OH, he was the son of Callaway and Bernice (Estridge) Bingham. Bill was a 1963 graduate of Seymour High School. He married the love of his life, Janos Jean Montgomery, on August 6, 1972, in Seymour, IN. They were happily married for fifty-two years.
After graduating high school, Bill entered the Army Reserves and served as head cook for six years. We are not sure he ever cooked another full meal upon discharge! Thankfully, Janos was willing to take over the kitchen. On his marriage certificate, his occupation was listed as “horse trader.”
Bill would always say he was a self-employed business owner because he was unemployable by anyone else! He continued his love of making deals, buying, selling, and trading when he opened the doors to Bingham Farm Machinery in 1981. The business has grown to over 10 acres of used farm and construction equipment. He loved attending equipment auctions and winning the bid without anyone noticing he was even bidding. One friend would call him ‘Shaky’ because Bill would shake his hand repeatedly to place a bid.
He was happy to welcome his granddaughter, Ruthie, to the business this summer and start teaching her the tricks of the trade. She is so thankful she shared this past year with her Papaw.
Bill also loved farmland and put passion into buying tillable land. His son B.J. vividly remembers spending one summer home from college walking hundreds of acres, hand-picking roots to prep the land for planting. Bill enjoyed moving dirt, excavating, and timbering. Hard work was the only way he knew how to live. On Sundays, Janos could usually talk him into taking her out for lunch, then grabbing Susie, their dog, and going for a car ride. We all know he gave in to these requests to drive around and study farms, land, and timber. In the evenings and at night, he was known to take off in his truck or Polaris, enjoying the outdoors, wildlife, and sunsets. He kept his emotions private all his life, but we all felt he was closest to God when he was outside on God’s land.
Bill also had a love and passion for horses, cattle, dogs, and any pet the grandchildren brought home. Bill showed cutting horses and was a member of the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) and the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA). He put all three grandkids on horses as infants, hoping one would share the same love for cutting. Although Bridget sat in the saddle the best, Zach fell in love with the sport, like Papaw. They have spent years working horses, running cattle, and traveling to cutting horse shows. Bill was proud to pass his cutting horse skills on to the next generation.
Bill is survived by his wife, Janos Bingham; his son, BJ (Annie) Bingham; three grandchildren, Zach, Ruthie, and Bridget Bingham; two brothers, Don (Donna) Bingham and Robert Bingham, all of North Vernon; one sister-in-law, Robin (Mike) Hall of Columbus; one brother-in-law, Jim (Carol) Montgomery of Reddington; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Callaway and Bernice Bingham; his sister and brother-in-law, Jackie (Virgil) Poer; his dog, Fred; and several other beloved horses, dogs, and pets.
Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, February 8, 2025, at the Burkholder Chapel of Thorne- George Family Funeral Homes, 419 North Chestnut Street, Seymour, IN, with Deacon Larry French officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at Vernon Cemetery, Vernon, IN. A rosary will be prayed at 3:45 p.m. with visitation to follow until 7:00 p.m., Friday, February 7, 2025, and from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service on Saturday, February 8, 2025, also at Burkholder Chapel.
In place of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Bill’s memory to the Hospice of South-Central Indiana, Jennings County Animal Control, or Domestic Violence in North Vernon.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Jon Pace and Scotty Wessel at the Burkholder Chapel of Thorne-George Family Funeral Home in Seymour, Indiana.
Memories and condolences may be shared, and flowers may be ordered at www.BurkholderFuneralChapel.com.
