William E. Fears

FEARS, William E., 87, husband of Belle D. Fears, died at his home in the Hermitage on the Eastern Shore, Onancock, Va., on Monday, August 25, 2008. He was born September 28, 1920, in Jonesboro, Arkansas, to Katherine and Arthur Earl Fears. He was educated at Friends Seminary, New York, received a degree in metallurgical engineering from Yale University and a law degree from the University of Cincinnati. He served as lieutenant in the Army Air Corps during World War II and was stationed in England and France. He married Belle DeCormis of Accomac in 1944. Prior to moving to Accomac to begin his law practice in 1950, he was a patent attorney for Aluminum Company of America in Pittsburgh and for International Nickel Company in New York. Mr. Fears practiced law in Accomac for 50 years, was active and involved as spokesman for his community, first as Commonwealth's Attorney then as State Senator for 24 years. He was never without an opinion or ever at a loss for words about the way things should be. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Dr. Belle DeCormis Fears; a daughter, Barbara Fears Haynes of Nassawadox; and son-in-law, Jim of Richmond; a son, Dr. Richard Bradford Fears of Horseheads, New York; and daughter-in-law, Rebecca; grandchildren, Matthew Haynes and wife, Leigh, Breton Fears, Sarah and Annabelle Fears, Elizabeth Swarthout and husband, John, and Carolyn Nugent. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, August 29, 2008, at the Hermitage in Onancock, with family visitation afterward. In lieu of flowers, please consider honoring his service to his community by contributing to a charity of your choice in his name. Memory tributes may be sent to the family at www.williamsfuneralhomes.com. Arrangements by the Williams-Onancock Funeral Home.
This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.