Charles William "Bill" Higgins Jr.

Charles William "Bill" Higgins, Jr., 89, of Newport News, passed away April 15, 2022.  Bill was born in Ft. Monroe, VA and he loved his early life as an "Army brat".  He was a man of faith and a "servant leader" throughout his life.

Bill pursued his education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill "54", was a varsity letterman of both the track and cross-country teams, leading his team as captain in cross-country.  He was a dedicated member of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity. He served his country in both active duty and in the Army Reserves, (COL Retired) and chose a civilian career in service to others as a Trust Officer (VP) with Crestar/Sun Trust Bank and Old Point National Bank.  He was a devoted parish member and Eucharistic Minister at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Newport News, and was a member and chairperson of church finance committees at both Mount Carmel and St. Andrews Catholic Church in Roanoke. He was a stalwart advocate for mental health awareness as a member of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Riverside Behavioral Health Center, as well as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Roanoke Valley Psychiatric Center.  

His life of service included volunteer leadership roles in the Virginia War Museum, Hampton Roads Jaycees, Kiwanis Club (Mercury 64), Catholic Charities of South West Virginia, YMCA Metropolitan, United Way, Leukemia Society (Virginia Chapter), and the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce among many other organizations to which he committed himself.  

A diehard UNC Tar Heel Basketball fan, he relished pilgrimages to ACC tourneys and was an enthusiastic golfer throughout most of his life.

His quiet joy was his family with whom he shared mutual devotion that deepened through the years. 

He is preceded in death by his father Col. (Ret) C. W. "Bill" Higgins, Sr.; his mother Eva Moore Higgins; and his sister and brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Borger.  He is survived in this life by immediate family including his beloved wife Patty; his daughters, Kathryn, Jenny and Beth; sons-in-law Glenn and Pete; and grandchildren, Lindsay, Charlie, Abbie and Christian.  He also leaves much loved extended family, brother and sister-in-law General and Mrs. Barry R. McCaffrey; nieces and nephew, Tara, Amy and Sean McCaffrey; and cousins and their spouses, Gazelle Phillips, Mary Ceil Ogburn (spouse Sam), Ellen Odell, Carolyn Wilson, Jane Wornom Petty, Nelson Moore (spouse Scottie), Elizabeth Murray (spouse Jack), Harold Moore and Beverly Barnhardt (spouse Jamie).

A private family service and interment will be held with a Celebration of Life to follow at a later date.

Expressions of condolence can best be provided through contributions to organizations that Bill deeply supported, Catholic Charities of Eastern Virginia, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church,Virginia War Museum Foundation.

Arrangements by W. J. Smith & Son Funeral Home.