William
William Lee Vineyard
d. January 30, 2012
Bill served his country for 30 years. First in Naval Reserves in 1950; next for three years (1950-1953) in the Army where he obtained the rank of Corporal. He learned Morse code in the Army Signal Corp, which later led to his working for the CIA for twenty-seven years in the Communications group. He retired in 1983, but continued to take TDY trips over the next fourteen years. He served in this capacity in over thirty countries. He, his wife Marilyn and three children spent ten and a half years overseas. Bill was a dedicated worker and served his county with pride. He received many commendations from the government and served as the Officer In Charge at his last Post in Pakistan.
Bill was an avid hunter, bowler, golfer and fisherman, and was a natural handyman who could fix almost anything.
He was preceded in death by his father, Edward D. Vineyard and mother Rosie Branham Vineyard; a younger brother John; a niece, Colleen; and brother-in-law Dale Deering.
Surviving him are his ex-wife Marilyn of forty-one years, his three children: Kimberly Sparks, son Michael Vineyard/Barbara and Michelle A. Schmitz, and seven grandchildren. (Meghan, Joshua, Sean, Timothy, Michael, Matthew and Thomas Jr.)
He also leaves two brothers, Howard/Virginia and Gerald/Iva of Florida; two sisters, Lorena Brown/Ray and Betty Deering of Michigan, and a sister-in-law, Irene and her three children and his caring companion of fourteen years, Rheta Driggers. He also leaves several nieces and nephews and many friends.
Services will be March 3, 2012 at 1:00PM at Messiah United Methodist Church 6215 Rolling Road Springfield, VA. 22152 with inurnment at Arlington National Cemetery.
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