Obituary of William "Bill" James Massart

Bill Massart, 82, of Smith Mountain Lake in Goodview, Virginia went to be with the Lord on Sunday, March 26, 2023.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Bertha, his sister, Desiree, and his son, Mark.

Bill graduated from Butler High School in Butler, PA, earned an Electrical Technology degree from Penn State – Newcastle and worked for the FAA as a Radar Technician for 35 years on Apple Orchard Mountain and Woodrum Field.  Bill spent much of his free time volunteering for many organizations, especially after he retired.  He was a key organizer of youth recreational sports in the Stewartsville area including baseball, softball and basketball.  He led Cub Scouts and Pinewood Derbies, built many houses for Bedford Habitat for Humanity, founded and ran a backpack food program for Stewartsville Elementary School for the last 13 years, was a lifelong member of the Lions Club and was instrumental in the day-to-day operations of his church, Mays Memorial United Methodist.

Bill was the kind of man you wanted in your corner, always willing to lend a hand and never expected anything in return.  He lived out his faith every day and was always generous with his time, talents, and humor.  Bill loved all of his Labradors over the years and his current lab, Daisy, is lost without him.  He was the best husband, father, grandpa and friend you could ever ask for and he will be missed every single day.

Bill is survived by his devoted wife of 61 years, Carole, his faithful daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren, Mindy, Tim, Matthew, Courtney and Katie Conway of Centreville, VA, his younger brother, Tom of Vancouver, Washington, his older sister, Mary Frost of McMurray, Pennsylvania, and his younger sister and her husband, Debby and Stan Cypher of Butler, Pennsylvania.  He is also survived by his brother-in-law, Ray Waddell of Harrisonburg, VA and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, March 30th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Simpson Funeral Home, 5160 Peters Creek Road, Roanoke.  A Celebration of Life will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, March 31st at Mays Memorial United Methodist Church, 1121 Odd Fellows Road, Stewartsville with Pastor Melanie Franklin officiating.  A luncheon will follow at the Vinton War Memorial, 814 East Washington Avenue, Vinton, VA.

In lieu of flowers, donations are appreciated for the Stewartsville Elementary School Backpack Program C/O Mays Memorial UMC, 1121 Odd Fellows Road Vinton, VA  24179.