William Henry Gehling, Jr.

William Henry Gehling, Jr., fondly known as Bud, Buddy, or Bill, embraced life with a unique blend of humor and heart until his peaceful passing on December 20, 2024, in Woodbridge, Virginia. Born on May 28, 1934, in Newton, Massachusetts, William was a captivating storyteller who illuminated every gathering with his sharp wit and magnetic charm.

Throughout his diverse career, William traversed various landscapes of labor, leaving his mark in places like Schlitz Brewery, the boiler room of the Beverly Hills Hotel, and a hospital boiler room. Each experience enriched his life, offering narratives that he would delight in recounting to family and friends, often punctuated with a playful glint in his eye and a mischievous grin.

William studied Engineering in college, a subject that perhaps whetted his appetite for precision and creativity. Yet, it was his role as a father that stood as the pinnacle of his proudest accomplishments. He loved his children deeply and could always be heard advising them with a humorous twist on parental wisdom: “do as I say and not as I do!” This playful mantra served as a reminder of his enduring affection and his belief in their potential.

Rooted in his love for the earth, William took great joy in gardening. He reveled in the creation of his thriving vegetable garden and tended to a lush green lawn, despite the occasional eye-rolling from neighbors and family over his choice of manure sourced from local farmers to nurture his plants. Gardening was both his passion and a testament to producing bountiful harvests that would surely have fed both body and spirit.

William is survived by his beloved children, Heidi Adams, Timothy (Lisa), Shawn (Becky), William III (Tina), Michelle Hanley (Jason), Melissa Premo (Gary), and Matthew (Erica). His legacy continues through his 14 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Margaret Winton, who also treasures the memories of him.

He joins in eternal rest with his parents, William and Margaret, and his sister, Florence Gehling. Though they may have departed from this world, their collective memories live on in the laughter and stories that continue to echo through the hearts of those who knew and loved him.

Thus, we celebrate William Henry Gehling, Jr., a man whose life was marked by humor, love, and indelible memories. As the garden blooms and stories are shared around dinner tables, his spirit endures, entwining with the fabric of family and friendship, forever cherished in the laughter that springs from the lives he touched.