William Christ Alexion

Bill was born on May 14th, 1924, in Roanoke Virginia. He was the first child of Christ Alexion and Alice Camberis. He was raised in Annapolis along with his three siblings, Irene, Constantine “Gus” and Georgia. In the early 40’s, the family moved to Baltimore and Bill completed his secondary education at Baltimore City College.

Upon graduating high school, he was drafted into the military and elected to serve in the United States Navy. He qualified for the Navy’s electronics training program which he successfully completed in Washington, D.C., at the Naval Research Laboratory. Given the option to serve on any type of warship, he selected the destroyer because he knew he would be responsible for all of the various types of electronic equipment on the smaller vessel. He was assigned to the Sumner class destroyer, USS Borie, DD-704, and was a member of the vessel’s first crew (plank owner). The Borie joined the Pacific Fleet in January 1945, and participated in the Iwo Jima and Okinawa campaigns. On August 9, 1945, the Borie and three other destroyers on picket duty off the coast of Japan were attacked by several kamikazes with one striking the Borie on its superstructure killing 48 sailors and wounding 66 more. Bill lost many friends that day, including his best friend who was also a Baltimore native. The USS Borie was the last ship to be hit by a kamikaze in World War II.

Bill was honorably discharged from the Navy in March of 1946. He attended the University of Maryland on the GI Bill and majored in electrical engineering. He was a member of the varsity track team and was Maryland’s top sprinter in the 100 and 220 yard events for several years. After graduating college, Bill worked for the Navy Department in the Marine Corps Electronics Division, Washington, D.C., where he served as a project engineer, program manager and eventually the branch chief of the Detection and Identification (radar) branch. His branch was responsible for the development of many radar systems that were used not only by the Marine Corps, but also by other branches of the US Armed Forces, and several NATO nations. His work involved travel across the country and internationally. In 1980, he retired after nearly 30 years of service.

Bill met Angelina Popomaronis of Baltimore at a church function in 1951. They married on June 21, 1953, and eventually moved to Seabrook, Maryland, where they built their home and raised four children: Chris, Thomas, Valerie and Perry. Bill was an active member of the Greek Orthodox Churches in Annapolis and Lanham. He served on the Parish Councils and held the offices of Treasurer and Parish President for a number of years. After living in Seabrook for 55 years, Bill and Angie sold their house and moved to Fulton.

Bill was not just a student and an athlete, he was also an artist. He enjoyed oil painting and took classes for many years. The walls of his homes in Seabrook and Fulton displayed his proficiency with the brush and canvas. Later in life, he developed an interest in sculpturing and won several first place awards in local art shows. He had a remarkable ability to transform a seemingly worthless object, like the root of a dead tree, into a magnificent work of art. Bill’s first love, however, was gardening. Throughout his life, he thoroughly enjoyed raising his tomato plants and caring for his grapevines, fig and lemon trees. Once when asked what he has done since retiring from his engineering career, he responded: “I have spent my time oil painting, sculpturing, gardening and chasing doctors for my aging health problems.”

Bill was preceded in death by his siblings. He is survived by his beloved wife and caregiver of nearly 70 years, Angelina, and his children Chris Alexion of Burke, VA, Thomas (Melanie) Alexion of North Potomac, Valerie (Michael) Damiano of Silver Spring, and Perry (Rachelle) Alexion of Fulton. He also leaves behind 5 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends at the Witzke Funeral Homes, Inc, 5555 Twin Knolls Road, Columbia, MD, 21045 on Friday, April 28th, 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. There will be a Trisagion prayer at 7:30 p.m.

William C. Alexion will lie in state at the Chapel of the Greek Orthodox Cemetery, 5917 Windsor Mill Rd, Baltimore, MD, on Monday, May 1st at 10:00 a.m., with the funeral service to follow at 11:00 a.m.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.witzkefuneralhomes.com for the Alexion family.