William Giles III

1938 - 2025

Captain William "Bill" Oscar Giles, III, passed away peacefully at home on November 11, 2025, at 87 years old. He was surrounded by his loving son, Sam; adoring daughter, Jennifer; son-in-law, Moses; and longtime caregivers Deidre and Bonnie for his final breaths here on earth. Bill was born on January 3, 1938, to Evelyn Goodwin Giles and William Oscar Giles, Jr. of Roanoke.

Bill was a 1960 graduate of the prestigious Virginia Military Institute. While at VMI, some of his most significant accomplishments included rising from Corporal to the position of Bravo Company Executive Officer and being nominated by his classmates to serve on the Honor Court. In his spare time at VMI, he served on the Bomb Staff and the Hop Committee.

An eternally proud VMI Civil Engineering graduate, Bill joined the US Army immediately after graduation. He moved through the ranks from Second Lieutenant to Captain, serving in the US Army Engineer Artillery and commanding self-propelled 156 millimeter howitzers. He was stationed in Germany from 1961 to 1965 during the Cold War. Bill served in the US Army Air Corps of the US Army Reserves in St. Louis, Missouri, before his final honorable discharge in January 1969.

Bill married Eileen Higgins, the eternal love of his life, on December 21, 1984. Together, they made a beautiful life for themselves, their combined four children, their eight grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren, with their eleventh coming within a few months. Their love of God, family, friends, church, and Smith Mountain Lake filled their lives with joy.

Bill is survived by his devoted son, William "Sam" Giles, IV (Carol); daughter, Linda Wojcieszak (Bob); faithful daughter, Jennifer Camacho (Moses); his grandchildren, William G. Giles (Abby), Katherine Bradtke (Kevin), Brady Mangus (Allison), Ryann Mangus, Kelsey Hague (Austin), Mareena Bowen (Brandon), Matthew Knowles (Brandi), and Sarah Mackenzie Lambert (Hunter); his great grandchildren, Lizzie, Luke, Jack, Grey, Kace, Sunny, Archer, Atlas, Elijah, and Joelle. He was preceded in death by both of his parents; his brother, Robert Giles; his adoring wife of 30 years, Eileen Higgins Giles; and his son, Brian P. Knowles.

In the three years since Eileen's passing, Bill's life has been filled with more love than he ever could have imagined. His around-the-clock caregivers doted on him constantly. Brandy, Deidre, Bonnie, Jordyn, Travis, Kaleb, Kaley, Kristi, Shanae, Sarah, Hillary, Vi, Alicia, and Augustina - you all meant the world to Pops and his daughter, Jennifer.

A celebration of Bill's life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at Bon Air United Methodist Church in Richmond, VA. The family would love to see everyone in VMI colors in honor of Bill's unyielding VMI spirit. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the VMI Foundation, Bon Air United Methodist Church, or the Richmond Animal League, and that they be noted in memory of Bill Giles, III.

Rest in peace, Pops. "Glad you got to see me!"