William Lee “Bill” Eure, 88, of Williamsburg, peacefully departed this life Monday, Jan. 28, 2019.
A native of Portsmouth, Bill was preceded in death by his parents, William Lee Eure Sr. and Lola H. Eure; sister, Frances E. Barrett; brother-in-law, Billy P. Barrett; and his loving wife of 52 years, Sue Stublen Eure.
Bill is survived by his four children, W. Bradford Eure, and his wife, Christine S., C. Wesley Eure, and his wife, Laura B., Pamela Sue Eure and Melinda E. Pilcher; nine grandchildren, Cole (Liz), Tyler, Clay, and Maddy Eure, Ryan and Logan Eure, Carly and Anna Heinz and Raleigh Pilcher; three great-grandchildren, Coleson and Kate Eure and Chance Lee Davis; brother-in-law, Robert Stublen; sisters-in-law, Sandra Shelton and Dorothy Stublen; as well as his devoted friend, Gay Reich and many nieces and nephews. Bill was a devoted son, husband, father, brother and friend to all he leaves behind.
As a young man, Bill served in the U.S. Navy. He also worked for the Federal Bureau of Investigation before graduating George Washington University.
In 1958, Bill began his broadcasting career in the sales department of WAVY AM/TV, Norfolk. He became general manager of WRAP-AM, Norfolk, in 1960 and sales manager of WMAL-TV, Washington, D.C., in 1965. In 1970, he became owner, president and general manager of WSSV-AM/WPLZ-FM, Petersburg/Richmond.
While living in Petersburg, Bill was an active member of the Tri-Cities Area. He served on the board of Virginia First Bank, which later became BB&T. He also served as president of both the YMCA and United Way.
In 1986, after selling WSSV-AM/WPLZ-FM, he became chairman of the board of Eure Communications, which owned WKEZ-FM, Yorktown, and WINA-AM/WWWV-FM/WQMZ-FM, Charlottesville.
In addition to serving as the Virginia Association of Broadcasters’ president in 1975, Bill was also the past president of the Virginia Associated Press Broadcasters, a member of the NAB Medium Market Committee, and a member of the NAB’s board of directors. He was recognized by the Virginia Association of Broadcasters as the CT Lucy Award winner, their highest honor.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 2, at Bruton Parish Episcopal Church, Williamsburg.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the William & Mary Tribe Club, P.O. Box 399, Williamsburg, VA 23187.
Share online condolences with the family at Nelsen Funeral Home.
