Bill Alphin was
a member of the
Salem Ruritan Club
Obituary from the Clore-English Funeral Home website:
With the biggest smile you’ve ever seen, and an always joyful hello with the kind of bear hug embrace that left no doubt of the love he felt for all around him, you could depend on “Bill” Alphin to light up a room. For 86 years he loved the land and tended the animals and gave thanks in simple amazement as another colorful sunset lit the sky above the barns before it dropped behind the Blue Ridge Mountains, giving way to the sounds of the crickets and bullfrogs that lay him to rest one final time on February 1st, 2017.
Never a man to complain of the early mornings to feed the cows in the toughest winter storms, or the long days and late nights to bring in the hay after prayers brought the spring rains which returned the pastures to their lush green at his beloved Rillhurst Farms in the hills of Culpeper, Virginia. This is where for 60 years he loved one wonderful woman beyond belief and with her raised 4 children who raised 9 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
If you ever got to hear him pray, there was no doubt his heart was pure. His faith was as strong as any and his kindness and compassion for others ran deep. By example he taught us all that hard work wasn’t so hard if it was your passion and he showed us what it meant to live an exemplary life of service to God, family, and community. Referred to as a saint by many who received his kindness, he lived to love us and laugh with us and listen to us when we needed him most. He simply loved people and he loved life and Oh, God, how we loved him.
William M “Bill” Alphin was born in Whaleyville, Virginia on March 18, 1930, one of nine children. He was a born leader and became his high school class president in Windsor, VA. He attended the college of Hampton Sidney. He was one of 5 brothers that served in the US Army. Upon honorable discharge he met his wife Mary at Virginia Tech and they married in 1955 on the family farm.
Bill loved his church and served as a Deacon at Culpeper Baptist Church and New Salem Baptist Church. He served as a Ruritan member, was on the Board of the Culpeper Memorial Hospital, the Culpeper County School Board, and served on the Virginia Farm Bureau Board and ran the Farm Bureau office in Culpeper for 20 years. He had a passion to make sure every rural homeowner had electricity and was the first President of the Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, this year being the 40th year he had served on the Board of Directors.
He is predeceased by his wife Mary Tinsley Alphin and brothers Leon, John, Marvin, Thomas, and Bob Alphin; and sisters Edith Anderson and Aileen Cox. He is survived by his sister, Tony Willis of Windsor, VA. His children include Charleene and husband Dave Wine of Baltimore, MD; Robert Alphin of Centerville, VA; Wallace Alphin and wife Donna of Haymarket, VA; and Kenneth “Big Kenny” Alphin and wife Christiev of Nashville, TN. Grandchildren include Jason and wife Kati, Jake, Lanie and husband Beau, Ian, Sean, Lincoln, Dakota and great-grandchild Carolena.
Family and Friends Visitation will be held at Clore-English Funeral Home 11190 James Monroe Highway in Culpeper, VA Saturday evening from 6 to 8 pm on February 4th. A celebration of his life will be held at the New Salem Baptist Church, Culpeper VA at 3pm on Sunday February 5th. A private burial service will be held for the family.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent in memory of Bill Alphin to the VMDAEC Education Scholarship Foundation at 4201 Dominion Boulevard, Glen Allen, VA 23060.