ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 17, 1993                   TAG: 9311170275
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

OBIT STERRETT, WILLIAM MADISON

STERRETT, William Madison, 70, of Blacksburg, died Monday, November 15, 1993, at his home. He was retired Assistant Vice President for Administration and Director of Physical Plant at VPI & SU. Mr. Sterrett was born in Rockridge Baths, on March 25, 1923, to the late William Robert and Louise Gibson Sterrett. He received a two year pre-engineering degree from Washington and Lee University in 1942, and a B.S. in civil engineering from VPI & SU in 1947. Mr. Sterrett served three years in World War II as a navigator bombardier in the European Theatre of Operation. He flew 14 combat missions in a B-17 and was shot down on the 14th mission on December 31, 1944, spending the last four months of World War II as a POW in Germany. He retired in 1970 as a Lt. Colonel from the Air Force Reserve. In 1947-1949 he joined the Highway Department Graduate Training Program, which was designed to train graduate engineers to be highway resident engineers. Mr. Sterrett was the Assistant Vice President for Administration and Director of Physical Plant at VPI & SU from 1965 until his retirement in 1981. In addition to his duties at the university, he served as Director of Public Utilities for Henrico County from 1955 to 1965. From 1952 to 1955, he was Blacksburg's first Town Manager. He also was City Engineer for Buena Vista from 1951 to 1952. He was registered professional engineer, a Virginia member Emeritus with the Association of Physical Plant Administrations of Universities and Colleges, director and chairman of the Board of The National Bank of Blacksburg, and the Blacksburg-Christiansburg VPI Water Authority, director of Blacksburg-VPI Sanitation Authority, Warm Hearth Inc., and the University Club. He was a life member of the Reserve Officers Association and the Retired Officers Association. A member of Christiansburg-Blacksburg Night Rotary Club, and the American EX POW. He was also a member of the Greater Blacksburg Chamber of Commerce and was named the Citizen of the Year in 1995. He was a member and elder of Blacksburg Presbyterian Church and also former treasurer. Surviving are his wife, Frances W. Sterrett; two sons and daughters-in-law, William M. Jr. and Cynthia A. Sterrett, Robert G. and Julie J. Sterrett; four grandchildren, Scott A. Sterrett (10 years), Robert M. Sterrett (3 years), Stephanie S. Sterrett (7 years), Meredith W. Sterrett (6 years), all of Blacksburg; one brother, John Reid Sterrett, and wife, Ann, Buena Vista. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, November 17, at Blacksburg Presbyterian Church with the Rev. D. Cameron Murchinson Jr. officiating. Interment will follow in Westview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Blacksburg Presbyterian Church, corner of Church and Eakin St. Blacksburg, Va. 24060. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at McCoy Funeral Home. 


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