William Arthur "Billy" Bickerstaff

BICKERSTAFF, William Arthur "Billy", passed away October 21, 2008. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Mary Louise Dollard Bickerstaff, his brother, James Bickerstaff Jr. and his sister, Martha Bickerstaff Fulgham. He is survived by five children, William Arthur Bickerstaff Jr., of Richmond, Va., Louise McCallon and her husband, Eddie and their son, James of Fleming Island, Fla., Beverley Pack and her husband, Gary and their children, Dylan and Kori, Susan Rogers and her husband, Bryan and their children, Rebecca and Mason and Margaret Walker and her husband, Scott and their children, Nicholas and Thomas, all of Richmond, Va.; two sisters, Agnes Bickerstaff Whitlock of Richmond, Va. and Ann Bickerstaff Beauchamp of Maitland, Fla.; his dear friend and companion, Gaye Moran of Adelaide, South Australia; and numerous nieces and nephews. After graduating from VMI in 1952, Billy served in Korea from 1953 to 1954 as a first Lieutenant with the 578 Engineer Combat Betallion, 40th Infantry Division. He was awarded the Commendation Ribbon with Medal Pendant. Billy was a former purchasing manager at VDOT and a longtime manager with his family business Bickerstaff Auto Parts. He lived his motto of "Service to Others." His free time was given to volunteering at St. Mary's Catholic Church and St. Mary's Hospital, where he spent over 26 years serving in Hospice and the Emergency Room. He also served on the board of directors for Our Lady of Hope and St. Mary's Woods and was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus. The family will receive friends on Friday, October 24 at 5:30 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 9505 Gayton Rd. A Christian Wake Service will begin at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Saturday, October 25, with a private interment to follow. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to Bon Secours Hospice, 8580 Magellan Pkwy., Richmond, Va. 23227 or The VMI Foundation Class of 1952, P.O. Box 932, Lexington, Va. 24450. Arrangements by Bliley's-Central.
This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.