William Napier

William Wilson “Bill” Napier, 94, of Front Royal, Virginia, passed away on Saturday, October 11, 2014, at Commonwealth Assisted Living in Front Royal.

A funeral service will be held Friday, October 17, at 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church Front Royal conducted by The Rev. Dr. R. Mark Jordon. There will be a reception in the Church Fellowship Hall following the funeral. Interment will be private in Reliance Cemetery with military honors.

Mr. Napier was born September 18, 1920, in Madison Heights, Virginia, son of the late Emmett Samuel and Helen Lewis McCauley Napier. He served with the Civilian Conservation Corp. (CCC) as a laborer for one day when his talents as a teacher were immediately recognized. He then became a reading, writingand arithmetic teacher to others less educated in the CCC. Soon thereafter he entered the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Boston to train for the merchant marines.  He worked on an oil tanker until encouraged to find other work when Germans began to torpedo American ships just prior to WWII. He moved to Washington D.C. becoming a courier for the Navy Department. Here he met his wife to be. He volunteered for the Army Air Force and was sent to Guam, rising to the rank of Staff Sergeant. After returning to the United States he married Leo Elizabeth “Lee” Moore and remained dedicated in marriageto her for 65 years.

Following the war, he became Assistant Post Master in Springfield, Virginia. In 1956 he moved to Front Royal to purchase the Dairy Queen following his lifelong bent for entrepenueralship. He then worked for the U. S. Postal Service for 30 years, completing his postal service as a rural mail carrier. Afterretirement, he became a real estate agent and worked for the Donald Vaughn and Brown and RutherfordRealties.

Mr. Napier loved his church, being a member of First Baptist Church and serving as Deacon, Chairman of the Board of Deacons, and in many other capacities. He was an avid gardener and orchardist and loved to hunt. He was honored by the Front Royal Rotary Club by being awarded as a Paul Harris Fellow.

Surviving are two sons Douglas William Napier (Kathy) and Ronald Lewis Napier (Kathy) both of Front Royal; two daughters Brenda Napier Raflo (Norman) of Fairfax Station and Elizabeth Carolyn Napier “Beth” Kane (Robert) of Winchester; a brother Richard B. Napier (Jean) of Covesville and Lucille Gentry of Warrenton; eleven grandchildren Kimberley A. Ramirez, Meredith L. Weaver, Brian D. Napier, Adam S. Napier, Brooke E. Gilbert, Andrew L. Napier, William H. Napier, Mary Katherine Napier, Lauren E. Kane, Megan R. Kane, and John E. Kane; and five great-grandchildren Noah Ramirez, Josh Ramirez, Madison Ramirez, Maximus Napier, and Logan Napier.

With his parents and wife he was preceded in death by seven brothers and sisters, Emmett Napier, James B. Napier, Josephine Lowry, Hugh Blaine Napier, Robert Napier, Frances Foster, and Lorrine McFarren.

The family gives heartfelt thanks to the staff of Commonwealth Assisted Living and very special friend Sharon Layne for their loving care given in Mr. Napier’s last months.

The family will receive friends on Thursday from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Maddox Funeral Home in Front Royal.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church, 14 W. First St., Front Royal, VA 22630.