William J. “Bill” Debnam Jr., 79, of Hampton, passed away Saturday, March 7, 2020, at Mennowood Retirement Community after struggling with Lewy body dementia. Bill was born Oct. 6, 1940, in Baltimore, Maryland, but had been a Hampton resident for over 70 years.
He graduated from Hampton High in 1958 and entered the U.S. National Guard in 1961. After his honorable discharge, he began working at NASA in 1965, where he retired from in 1998. During his NASA career, he received several awards, medals and patents he was very proud of. Bill worked at Trigg Industries for several years after his retirement and was a member of Merrimac Investment Club. He was also a member of First Presbyterian Church in Hampton, where he served as an elder and teacher. He loved reminiscing about his NASA career, yearly vacations and his grandchildren. He was the one everyone depended on, and he enjoyed helping people.
Bill was preceded in death by his father, William J. Debnam; mother, Lucy A. Debnam; brother, Thomas H. Debnam; and son, John F. Debnam.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Anne Decker Debnam; two daughters, Lynn D. Lineberry, and her husband, Byron, of Hampton, and Kelly G. Debnam, and her husband, Paul, of Minnesota; two grandchildren, Zoe and Isaiah; siblings, Sarah Weiss, Barbara Stewart and Judy Woodard; and many nieces & nephews.
A sincere thank you to Dr. Cynthia R. Higgins, Mennowood and all of Bill’s caregivers.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 10, at R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, March 11, at First Presbyterian Church, Hampton, officiated by Dr. Cynthia R. Higgins.
In memory of Bill, memorial contributions may be made to the Dementia Society of America.
Share online condolences with the family at R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home.
