Billy Reece Bolton

1939 - 2021

Billy Reece Bolton

Wilmington - On Saturday, May 1, 2021, Bill Bolton passed away peacefully at home at the age of 81. Bill was born August 26, 1939 in Walkers Creek, AR, son of the late Lena Mae Bolton. He grew up in Memphis, TN, where he developed a lifelong love of scouting and baseball. He graduated from Christian Brothers College with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. While in college Bill married his high school sweetheart and wife of 62 years Shirley V. Bolton.

Bill accepted a job with DuPont and worked over forty years living in 3 states and traveling the world as an engineer. He loved scouting and as a boy in Memphis, TN belonged to Troop 97. He later became a scoutmaster with troop 64 in Martinsville, VA and Troup 29 in Wilmington, DE. He loved camping and the outdoors and truly loved helping young men as they learned all the different aspects of scouting. He also loved sports and was an avid fan of both the Philadelphia Phillies and Duke basketball.

Later in life Bill developed a love of video games. It was a joy to watch granddaddy play with or against his grandchildren in any number of Nintendo 2D platformers. It was a common occurrence for any one of the grandchildren to get an "emergency" phone call from granddaddy when he was stuck on a level or couldn't figure out how to beat the next boss in the game he was playing.

Bill and Shirley opened their home to everyone. Their love of family and children was most evident in the number of foster children that stayed with them through the years in both Virginia and Delaware. They enjoyed seeing others succeed and were always willing to help in any way possible. Bill will be best remembered for his kind heart, eager spirit, quick wit, and his quietly confident demeanor.

Bill is preceded in death by his mother Lena Mae Bolton, his daughter Lisa B. Simon and his grandson Ayden M. Bolton. He is survived by his wife Shirley, his sister JoAnn Geeslin of Eads, TN, his daughter Cindy (Jim) Ratner of Cape Elizabeth, ME, his son Vaughn (Mary) Bolton of Wilmington, DE, his son Robert Bolton of Wilmington, DE, his grandchildren Delaney Ratner, Eli Ratner, Natalie Simon, Derek (Katie) Waring and Reece Bolton along with the many cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

A small private service will be held for the family at the Doherty Funeral Home in Pike Creek. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributions in Bill's memory to the Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Avenue, Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601 (www.alz.org).

To offer condolences, visit www.dohertyfh.com 302.999.8277