William “Bill” Lee Vassar, 87, passed away peacefully on June 25, 2025. Born in Morgantown, West Virginia, to Kathlyn and Jules Vassar, Bill lived a life marked by quiet strength, steady love, and dedicated service.
In 1957, he met the love of his life, Kay, at a dance. She often joked that if he hadn’t known how to dance, she might never have noticed him. That dance led to 67 years of marriage and a lifetime of shared memories.
Bill served proudly in the United States Navy for 23 years, retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He was a graduate of East Deer Frazer High School in Tarentum, Pennsylvania, and later earned his master’s degree from Saint Leo University.
After retirement, he found joy in simple routines—mowing the lawn, lounging by the pool, watching old Westerns, and keeping up with politics, especially through MSNBC.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Janet Mago. He is survived by his wife, Kay Vassar; his children: Shane W. Vassar, Kathlyn A. Dugger (Mike), and Nathan E. Vassar; his grandchildren: Rachel, Niahha, and Riley; and his nieces: Theresa Mago, Stacie McGrath, and Stephanie Eagle.
A visitation will be held from 4:00pm-7:00PM on Wednesday, July 2, at Altmeyer Funeral Home – Southside Chapel, 5033 Rouse Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23462. A funeral service will follow at Altmeyer’s Southside Chapel on Thursday, July 3 at 11:00AM with military honors rendered at the service, followed by a burial at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens, 6329 E Virginia Beach Blvd, Norfolk, VA 23502.
Memorial contributions may be made in Bill’s honor to the Veterans of Foreign Wars or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
