Capt. William Thomas “Bill” Gingell Jr., 86, husband of the late Judith Ann “Judy” Gingell and a resident of Melfa, passed away peacefully Saturday, May 22, 2021, at his home. Born July 24, 1934, in Washington, D.C., he was the son of the late William Thomas Gingell Sr. and the late Helen Laciny Gingell.
Following high school, Bill attended and completed pipe fitting trade school with Steamfitters UA Local 602, where he remained a loyal member of the union for 68 years. In 1954 he joined the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve and continued to serve his country over the next six years. For decades, Bill subcontracted as a certified pipe fitter for many mechanical contractors, to include Bechtel Corp. He later began working for Baltimore Gas & Electric (now Exelon Corp.) as a mechanical inspector at Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant.
Retirement led Bill to the Eastern Shore of Virginia, where he fit right in as a regular in the Shore’s fishing and hunting scene. Bill loved casting a rod, whether bayside or seaside, offshore or inland, and although he may have changed boats over the years, she was always named after his beloved, “Judy Gee.” He never turned down a duck hunting trip and was known for his flower and veggie gardens, often sharing the fruits of his labor with friends and family. Bill was a proud black cherry ice cream junkie, and he could often be heard before seen as his whistle always gave way to his entrance.
Bill is survived by his namesake and best friend, William T. “Bill” Gingell III, of Wachapreague; grandchildren, Steve Gingell and his wife, LeAnne, of Huntington, Md., Heather Grierson and her fiancé, Steve Conner, of Chesapeake Beach, Md., Michael Gingell and his fiancée, Megan Muegge, of Cape Charles, and Ray Grierson and his wife, Alex, of Chesapeake Beach; great-grandchildren, Marli, Nolan, Maddy, McKenna, Lillian, Charlotte, Maddison, and Zoey; and cousins, Deb Gingell, Dorothy L. Wilkins, and Victor W. Laciny, and their families. In addition to his beloved wife of 60 years and parents, he was predeceased by his daughter-in-law, Deborah Ann “Debbie” Gingell.
Per his request, Bill’s family will gather privately to celebrate his life. For those who wish to honor his life and love for nature, please do so by spending the day throwing a line or shooting a few ducks (in season, of course) in the bay or sea, planting a garden, or by simply enjoying a day in the good old outdoors.
Memory tributes and condolences may be shared with the family at www.williamsfuneralhomes.com
