William Howard Walston Jr.

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Wicomico High School University of Delaware University of Maryland

William Walston Obituary

Walston

William Howard Walston Jr.

William Howard Walston, Jr. of Ellicott City, MD, died on August 12, 2023. Bill was born on April 13, 1937 in Salisbury, MD to Howard and Nellie Walston.

After graduating from Wicomico High School in 1955 as valedictorian, track star and All-American football player, he attended the University of Delaware where he received his B.S., M.S. and PhD in Mechanical Engineering.

Bill was married to Martha Cardell on August 18, 1962. He taught Mechanical Engineering at University of Maryland from 1964-1999, serving in various roles including undergraduate advisor, associate chairman, ASME chair and left as Professor Emeritus.

Above all, Bill will be remembered for his love and appreciation of family and friends. He had a great sense of humor and enjoyed playing practical jokes and starting trouble. His children and grandchildren can recite his stories of high school, college and softball team adventures verbatim. Spending time with his immediate family or cousins was the highlight of his retirement. Martha and Bill also enjoyed travelling the world and gaining new experiences and stories.

Bill is survived by his wife Martha; his children and their spouses, Scott (Christine) and Susan (Kris); grandchildren Matthew (Steph), Taylor (Frank), Zoe, Mars and Will; and 8-month old great-grandchild Wesley!

A Celebration of Life will be held this Saturday, August 19 near Ellicott City, MD. Details to follow. In lieu of flower, please consider a donation to Gilchrist Hospice, Howard County.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Washington Post on Aug. 15, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for William Walston

9 Entries

Don & Louise Fooks

August 18, 2023

Don & Bill were first cousins.
All the cousins & their families lived on the same road in Salisbury. The grandparents lived there too.
Don was a year behind Bill in high school. They played football and ran track together. Bill & Martha were fun loving and generous people. For 25 years the cousins & their families celebrated a Christmas dinner together.
Bill will be missed but not forgotten.

Betty and Wayne Bethards

August 16, 2023

Wayne and Bill are first cousins, and they really felt more like brothers. They were born in the hospital in Salisbury two weeks apart, their mothers were sisters, and they had a close-knit childhood shared with many cousins. We love Bill and Martha and love to remember our good times together.

Regina Abbott

Planted Trees

Linda Patton

Planted Trees

Tony Sarbanes

August 15, 2023

I was very saddened to read about the loss of Bill Walston. Not only was he a SUPER athlete at Wicomico Senior High School but he was a SUPERIOR student and just a very first class individual. I was a year ahead of him in high school and always had the very highest regard of him in all that he ever did. I am sure that anyone who knew him also thought a GREAT deal of him. May God bless Bill !! Tony Sarbanes

Mark Higgins (UMCP Class of '89 and '91)

August 15, 2023

I was fortunate enough to have attended the University of Maryland when Dr. Walston was the undergraduate advisor. The first time I met him, to be honest, he scared the living hell out of me. I can't remember why...but I was 18 and a freshman so most professors intimidated me. However, he quickly became not only my advisor but a mentor. He always, always took time to discuss engineering and engineering careers with those students who took the time to engage with him. He was also the advisor for the student ASME group and I still have pictures from the picnics that he and Mrs. Walston hosted in their backyard. They were always fun times! To say that Dr. Walston (and his wife who was my advisor in high school at High Point HS) had an impact on literally thousands of young men and women in engineering is an understatement. I never got the chance to have him as a professor/lecturer but people who had him in Dynamics spoke highly of him - even though he was demanding and a tough grader. However, the advice he gave me, the stories he told me, and the mentor that he became for me in both my gaduate and undergraduate studies have resonated with me to this day 35+ years later. I will be forever grateful to Dr. Walston for being my advisor and mentor during my college years. My condolences to the Walston family for your loss.

Marilynn

August 14, 2023

I was fortunate enough to live next door to Bill and Martha for 17 years! I have many memories of Bill, but his kindness to neighborhood children especially stand out. The Walston´s had the best sledding hill in their backyard! One year, a child tan into a tree and thankfully did not get severely hurt, but could have been. Many might have banned sledding after that, but instead, Bill cut down the tree, eliminating the danger, letting kids sled every snowstorm! My girls have vivid memories of Bill delivering an enormous pumpkin to our door every Halloween from his family farm in Salisbury, something they looked forward to each year! Bill is known for being a prankster, which will undoubtedly be remembered, but he also had a kind and generous spirit! My sympathy to Martha, Scott and Susan and the entire family!

Sue Kysela

August 14, 2023

Dear Martha, Susan, Scott and family,
Sending my deepest condolences on the passing of Bill. I loved him and have so many wonderful memories of him from growing up. He was always joking around and I never knew when he was serious. In fact, I still laugh thinking of the time I went to the beach with your family and he told Susan and me that we were grounded and had to stay in because we had been going out too much. I thought he was joking, so I laughed. But Susan knew he was completely serious! As he put it "grounded, grounded, grounded!" I will miss him dearly! Love, Sue

Mark Wychulis

August 13, 2023

I am a longtime (elementary school) friend of Bill´s son Scott. Bill was a wonderful man who was always very welcoming and warm hearted. Back when I was a teenager, he hosted epic poker parties that were famous throughout the neighborhood. After Scott moved away after college, Bill made a point of continuing to invite me to the parties. He was that kind of guy and often referred to me as an honorary Walston. I will miss him.

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