William Ellwood Weller

Bill was the son of the late William F. and Dorothy Weller. The family moved to a waterfront home on the Little Creek Inlet shortly after the Chesapeake-Potomac Hurricane of 1933.

It wasn’t long before he fell in love with Shirley Yarus, the proverbial girl next door. “The only thing between Shirley’s house and ours was a log cabin,” he told a reporter in 2012.

In the intervening 83 years, Bill only left that shoreline for his service in World War II. After basic training, he volunteered for the 82nd Airborne. “I thought that might impress Shirley,” he often said with a smile.

Before the first landing craft hit the Normandy beach on D-Day, Bill had already parachuted behind the enemy lines into France. He and 82nd Airborne battled to secure roads and bridges for 33 straight days.

Bill’s outfit earned a Presidential Citation and the French Croix de Guerre for their work at Ste. Mere Eglise. During the Battle of the Bulge, they blunted the German northwestern advance.

Later, in Operation Market Garden, he parachuted into Holland. He came home to Shirley with the Silver Star, a Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge and Dutch Bronze Lion pinned to his chest. They were married October 12, 1946.

After the war, Bill worked for Stokley’s Services and later established the W. E. Weller Heating and Air Conditioning Co. He was a longtime member of Calvin Presbyterian Church and sang in the choir.

He and Shirley raised three sons. In the backyard, Bill taught his boys the art of sports and sportsmanship. Traffic cones marked the end zone in football, bare spots in the grass served as the bases in baseball, and an old hoop affixed to a willow tree silhouetted the basketball court.

For years, he coached the Midget (ages 10-11) Azalea Packers Community League team. He inspired his players and they never forgot the man who coached with “a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye.”

Bill is survived by his wife of 69-years Shirley; brothers Bobby and Earl; sons William Jr., Kevin (Elizabeth) and Matthew; grandchildren Jennifer Weller Williams (Mark), Josie Weller, Jessica Weller, Zachary Weller (Kelly), Nathaniel Weller, and Erin Walker (Earl); and 7 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be Friday, June 17th at 1pm at Calvin Presbyterian Church. The family welcomes friends and family at the home of Matt Weller, 8136 Turner Road after the service for a celebration of life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Combat Wounded Coalition, 1220 Executive Blvd, Chesapeake, VA 23320.