Reverend William “Bill” Ray Withers, age 85, of Winchester, Virginia, passed away on Saturday, February 20, 2016 in Winchester Medical Center.
Rev. Withers was born in 1930 in Rock Cave, West Virginia, the son of the late H. Scott and Ersie J. Withers. He was a veteran who served in the National Guard. He received his Associates degree from Potomac State College, his Bachelor’s degree from Shepherd College, his Masters in Divinity from Eastern Mennonite Seminary, and worked towards his Doctorate of Theology from Boston University. He retired from fulltime ministry in June of 1996 and continued to serve churches until June of 2013. Bill ministered in both the West Virginia and Virginia United Methodist Conferences. He was active in various civic, historic and religious organizations. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend to many. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Bill will forever be remembered for his love of family and a lifetime of faithful service to our Lord.
Bill married Mary Marie Corathers on September 26, 1953 in Oakland, Maryland.
In addition to his wife of sixty-two years, he is survived by his daughters, Susan Marie Fisher and her husband, Terry, of Jonestown, PA, Mary Elizabeth “Beth” Stone and her husband, Paul, of Stephens City, VA, and Patricia Scott Withers Shiflett of Winchester, VA; his son, William Ray “Bill” Withers, II of Gainesville, VA; grandchildren, Tara Fisher, Kaitlin Fisher, Michelle Adkins and her husband, Seth, BM2 Jacob Bashioum, AE3 Travis Bashioum, Brittany Stone, PFC Joshua Stone and his wife, Jordan, John Stone, Alexander Shiflett, Brandon Withers, Tyler Withers, and Connor Withers, one great grandchild, Rahab Rosanna Adkins.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM and Thursday, 10:00-11:00 AM prior to the service at Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel.
The funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 AM on Thursday, February 25, 2016 at Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel with Reverend Paul Stone & Reverend John Taylor officiating. Interment will be in Brucetown UMC Cemetery where military honors will be afforded by V.F.W. Post # 2123.
Memorial contributions may be made in Reverend Withers memory to Brucetown United Methodist Church, 2161 Brucetown Road, Clear Brook, VA 22624 or Gainesboro United Methodist Church, 351 Gainesboro Road, Winchester, VA 22603 or Charity of Donor’s Choice.