On Tuesday, March 5, 2024 William "Bill" Francis Marple passed away in his sleep to be with his Heavenly Father after a long fight with cardiac disease and cancer. He was 86 years old. His family, friends, and community will surely miss him .

Bill was born in Mitchellville, Maryland May 9, 1937 to John Wesley and Lona (Breneman) Marple.  He grew up in northern Virginia with an older brother, John (deceased) and a younger sister, Lydia Stowers.  Bill attended and graduated from Falls Church High School in 1957. Bill was a hard worker and did work for our older neighbors to earn money when he was a teenager. During his senior year in high school he was a volunteer fireman before there was a fire house.  There was one paid firefighter who trained all the volunteers. He and the rest of the volunteers slept on grease racks at a gas station next to where they were building the Jefferson firehouse.  Jefferson Village had a siren which they blasted whenever there was a fire and all the volunteers went running.  Once the fire station and training were completed he joined the Alexandria County Fire Department.  Bill met his wife, Patsy while marching in a parade. He hunted her down afterwards and they started dating. They got married in September 1961.  Then in 1962 he joined the Army.  He was then stationed in Germany to serve with his wife in attendance. They both returned to the states in late 1963 when their first child was born.  He was honorably discharged in 1968.  Bill returned to firefighting with Alexandria County until health issues forced him to retire firefighting in early in 1979.  Soon after Bill, Patsy and their 4 daughters moved to Independence in late 1979.

Bill then worked multiple jobs at Wingate's Store as a hardware and furniture clerk, mowing industrial parks, working for Reins Sturdivant and E and R Oil before completely retiring. He loved sightseeing and camping with his family. He and Patsy loved working in the yard together.  He could make grass and weeds look like carpet. Above all Bill cherished time with his family and family gatherings. Bill never met a stranger, always had a big smile on his face that would light up a room, and cherished a friendly conversation.

Bill was a man of great faith and was unwavering in his dedication to God. He and his wife attended Bible Baptist Christian Church in Galax, Virginia.

Bill is survived by his wife, Patsy of 62 years and their four daughters, Susan (Craig) Murray, Sandra Crowe, Sharon (Randy) Hare, Sheila (George) Caldwell, grandchildren Justin and Dakota Crowe, Matthew Stout, Logan Murray, Devin and Chloe Caldwell, Charles Ian Hare, and great granddaughter Hyland Murray.

Through humble beginnings, adversity, pain and difficult times, Bill always lead by example showing all the importance of honesty, compassion, commitment, and supreme kindness. Bill's legacy will forever live on through the countless lives he touched along the way. Bill strived and succeeded in being the best husband, father and grandfather to his family and a friend to all he met. Bill is and will continue to be sorely missed by his family, although we rejoice in knowing Bill is with The Lord.

A Celebration of Life is scheduled Saturday, May 25th 2024 at 11:00 am at Reins Sturdivant Funeral Home in Independence, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Independence Fire Department.

Reins~Sturdivant Funeral Home is serving the Marple family.