WILLIAM KARPPI Sr.

WILLIAM JACOB KARPPI, SR.  
Of Leisure World Maryland passed peacefully on April 15, 2017 five days shy of his 90th birthday. He and his loving wife, Joanne Waring Karppi, were married January 30, 1960 in Washington, DC. They have three devoted sons, William, Jr., Steven and Edward; two daughters-in-law, Patricia and Martha; and two grandchildren, Alexandra and Lawson. William "Bill" was born in Houghton, Michigan to Charles and Selma Karppi. At a young age the family moved to Berkeley, CA. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of California, Berkeley. He served in the U.S. Navy in Hawaii at the end of World War II. He then worked for the Santa Fe Railroad and in 1952 joined the U.S. Foreign Service as Information Officer and served in Helsinki and Bangladesh. In 1959 he enrolled at the U.S. Foreign Service Institute (State Department) in Washington, DC when he met his future wife, Joanne Waring. Their first foreign assignment was Madras, India (1960-62). Their second station was Katmandu, Nepal (1963-65) where he covered the U.S. Mt. Everest Expedition. In 1965 they returned to the Washington, DC area and moved into their new home in Chapel Square, Annandale, VA. Bill became Deputy Director, Worldwide English Language Service at the Voice of America in DC. While working he studied International Relations at The George Washington University, receiving his Masters in 1969. In 1982, he retired from the U.S. Information Agency and took a job at Navy Federal Credit Union after earning an associates degree in accounting. In 1993, Bill and Joanne moved to Leisure World Maryland. In addition to enjoying time with his children, grandchildren and their families, Bill enjoyed golf, tennis, musical events and the Inter-Faith Chapel. He and Joanne built a vacation cottage at Ocean Pines, MD. The family enjoyed many beach vacations and worldwide travels. Those who knew William were blessed with his kindness, wisdom and knowledge of history and current events. He was a lifelong learner. Memorial services will be held Saturday April 29 at 10 a.m. at the Leisure World Inter-Faith Chapel, 3680 S. Leisure World Blvd., Silver Spring, MD 20906. After the service, there will be a private family burial in Fairfax, VA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Inter-Faith Chapel of Leisure World, in Memory of William Karppi, Sr.