SCHUTRUMPF, William Gordon, died of cancer on March 4, 2013 at age 58. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert John Schutrumpf and Dorothy Gordon Groover Schutrumpf. He is survived by his wife, Marian; his sister, Susanna Carle (Richard); and his brothers, Robert (Pam) and Andrew (Molly); also three generations of nieces and nephews. Willie was a lifelong Richmonder, born at MCV in 1954. He attended Maggie L. Walker High School and graduated from Open High in 1974 after a sabbatical as corporate officer and employee of the Whistle Stop Train Shop in Bon Air. He married Marian in 1975, and they soon acquired the first of three fixer-uppers that they renovated and occupied together. Willie honed his skills and evolved as a renovation contractor, devoting almost 10 years to the restoration and maintenance of the historic Branch House. He was also interested in Oriental textiles (member of the Washington Textile Group and the International Hajji Baba Society) and in gardening (Richmond Daylily Society). He was an unexpected movie actor, who can still be seen smoking a cigar in the courtroom scenes in "The Murder of Mary Phagan." (Sadly, he did not make the cut in "My Name Is Bill W.") Willie was also the family historian. He was very proud of his German ancestry and of re-establishing contact with and visiting his German cousins. He had many friends from all walks of life. A memorial service will be held at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, 1800 Lakeside Ave., on Saturday, March 23, at 3 p.m. As there will be abundant flowers in the garden, the family suggests donations in his memory to the LGBG, or to Bon Secours Hospice, 5875 Bremo Rd., Suite 305, Richmond Va. 23226. March forth!
Published in Richmond Times-Dispatch from March 9 to March 23, 2013
