William Clark Chase Jr.'s Obituary
William Clark Chase, Jr., “Bill”, 85, of Stevensburg, passed away Thursday, July 14, 2022 at the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, Virginia. He was born February 15, 1937 in Clearfield, Pennsylvania to the late William Clark Chase and Julia Kerr Chase Boulton.
Bill grew up in the small coal mining town of Clearfield, Pennsylvania, located in the Allegheny Mountains. Athletics, summers working in the coal mines, adventures, and misadventures defined his youth. Bill was a standout athlete, playing football, basketball, and baseball from youth through high school. Being a Pennsylvanian, he also grew up wrestling in grade school. It was during high school that he met Judy Gilliland, his future wife of 53 years.
Following high school, Bill attended Sullivan's Preparatory School in Washington, D.C. for a year to prepare for the entrance exam to the United States Military Academy at West Point. Exceeding his own expectations, he gained admission to West Point and graduated with the class of 1960.
Soon after graduating, Bill married his wife Judy and began his family. He started his Army career in the Signal Corps, but soon transferred to his true calling, the Infantry Branch. As an Infantry officer, he served two tours in Vietnam, learning the lessons and gaining the perspectives that only combat can provide. He applied these lessons and perspectives the rest of his life. Bill took great pride and had great talent in training and mentoring junior soldiers. He had the opportunity to train young enlisted soldiers as a basic training company commander at Fort Knox, Kentucky and to train young future officers as an ROTC instructor at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Always searching for new athletic challenges, he took up tennis as an Army officer and played for decades, winning multiple local tournaments.
In 1976, Bill medically retired from the Army due to accumulated physical damage from combat wounds and training injuries. He settled in Stevensburg with his wife Judy and four children. He soon earned his master's degree in planning from the University of Virginia. He began a three-branched career of operating his family coal business in Pennsylvania as president of Potts Run Coal Company, operating his small farm in Stevensburg, and serving the Culpeper County government as a member of the Planning Commission from 1977 to 1984 and Board of Supervisors from 1982 to 2022 for a combined 45 years.
During his life, Bill accumulated numerous awards and commendations, including the Combat Infantryman Badge, Purple Heart, four Bronze Stars, Ranger Tab, Parachutist Badge, Joint Resolution of the Virginia House of Delegates and Virginia Senate number 886 honoring his lifetime service, Culpeper County Board of Supervisors resolution honoring his service, the Joseph and Bootsie Troilo Memorial Service Award from the Brandy Station Volunteer Fire Department, and a host of other awards and recognitions too numerous to list.
Bill’s entire life, from 19 years old until the year of his death, was dedicated to public service, either to the United States or to his local Culpeper community. During his time in Culpeper, Bill saw generations of his children and grandchildren grow into adulthood and gained legions of friends. His Christian faith strengthened and steadied him through the many challenges he faced in life. His frankness and honesty were legendary. He leaves giant shoes to fill.
Bill is survived by his children: William Clark Chase, IV “Bo” and wife Libba, Jane Chase Neal, Elizabeth Gilliland Chase, and Kerr Bigler Chase and wife Amy; grandchildren, Brittany Chase Deal (Max), Branson Gilliland Chase, Boulton Reynolds Chase, Alexandra Neal Saa (Andrew), Frederick “Blair” Neal, Skyler Thomas Comisky, Kerr “Bigler” Chase, Jr., Tessa Judith Chase, and Jude Denham-Paul Chase; two great-grandchildren, Portland Sullivan Deal and Grayson Hartshorn Saa; sister, Emily Chase Weaver; and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife, Judith Ann Gilliland Chase, grandson, William “Clark” Chase, V, and step-father, Harold James Boulton.
The family will receive friends Friday, July 22, 2022, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Found and Sons Funeral Chapel, 850 Sperryville Pike, Culpeper, VA 22701 and Saturday, July 23, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at Eastern View High School auditorium, 16332 Cyclone Way, Culpeper, VA 22701.
A funeral service will be held Saturday, July 23, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at Eastern View High School with Reverend Patrick Lane officiating. For those unable to attend in person, please join us livestream at https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/authorise.php?k=1658532411197651
Interment will be in Mitchell’s Presbyterian Church Cemetery, 12229 Mitchell Road, Mitchells, VA 22729. Military honors will be provided by VFW Post 2524 and Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office.
Pallbearers will be William Clark Chase, IV “Bo”, Kerr Bigler Chase, Boulton Reynolds Chase, Branson Gilliland Chase, Frederick “Blair” Neal, Lieutenant Commander (Retired) Benjamin Scovill Kelsey, VII, and Colonel Christopher Scott Denham.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Mitchell’s Presbyterian Church, Brandy Station Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 19, Brandy Station, VA 22714, Sex, Drugs and God, Inc., 471 James Madison Hwy, Suite 101B, Culpeper, VA 22701 and/or a charity of your choice.
An online guestbook and tribute wall are available at www.foundandsons.com.
Found and Sons Funeral Chapel of Culpeper is serving the family.
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