William Bromley Magruder, 98, of Huntsville, Alabama, died peacefully on February 5,2023 at Redstone Village, Fairview Skilled Nursing. William (Bill) Magruder was born August 27, 1924 in Richmond, VA.
He was preceded in death by his parents Elbert T. Magruder, Chloe Bromley Magruder and a younger brother Rev. James Tyler Magruder. In addition to his parents and brother he was preceded in death by his first wife, Patricia Imhoff Magruder and most recently his second wife, Patricia Robbins Magruder.
Bill leaves behind a son William I. Magruder of Mt. Jackson, VA., a daughter and son-in-law Elizabeth M. Lawler and Charles W. Lawler of Huntsville, AL; sister Helen Byers Grosse of Catonsville, MD, Grandaughter, Kaitlyn Elizabeth and husband Zach Powers and Great-Grandaughter. Sloane Powers of Middletown, DE; Grandson Christopher D. Guinn and wife Tonya and Grandchildren Tanner and
Griffin Guinn of Snoqualmie, WA. Nephews Hunter and David Ballow and their sweet wives and daughters.
Bill retired from the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Co. in Washington, DC, where he was employed for 42 years. He served 33 years with the Bethesda Chevy Chase Lions Club and Shelbyville, TN Lions Club supporting the Leadership for the Blind program. He served as a deacon at the Bethesda Presbyterian Church where he attended as a youth, was married there and faithfully took his family. He was in the 101 st Airborne assigned to Division Headquarters Signal Co. He earned his Jump Wings while stationed in Redding, England as a Motorcyle Messenger (T/5). He jumped into Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944 and on September 17, 1944 he jumped into Zon, Holland. At the order for the Division to advance, he rode a motorcycle from Mourmelon, France to Bastogne on December 19, 1944. He received the Distinguished Unit Citation, the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, Croix De Guerre, and the European-African Middle Eastern Service Ribbon with Bronze Arrowhead.
The family would like to offer a special thanks to all the caregivers and staff at Redstone Village who managed his care.
A graveside service is planned at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia for Mr. Magruder and Patricia R. Magruder.
