William E. “Bill” Ashley Jr., 93, passed into the arms of the Lord on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019. He is survived by his son, Glenn Barry Ashley and his wife, Cheryl, of Portsmouth; daughter, Donna Lynn Ashley, of Greenville, N.C.; grandson, Brian Ashley and his wife, Janet, of Suffolk; granddaughter, Jennifer Ashley Smith and her husband, Brian, of Suffolk; granddaughter, Heather Ashley Gainey and her husband, John, of Tallahassee, Fla.; and nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by Margaret Elizabeth Ashley and son, Robert Allan Ashley.

Bill was a World War II veteran, serving in the 82nd Airborne Division of the U.S. Army. He was an agent with The Life Insurance Company of Virginia for many years. He is a member of the company’s Hall of Fame. He was a member of West End Baptist Church, Suffolk, where he served in many capacities over the years. He was an avid fisherman.

Bill was very civic-minded during his lifetime. He served the community in the Toys for Tots campaign for more than 40 years. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America, Habitat for Humanity, Feeding the Hungry through the ministries of West End Baptist Church and the Salvation Army, and participated in numerous fund-raising drives. Bill was also a long-time member of the Izaak Walton League of America. He was very involved in the creation of the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, thereby receiving a national conservation award.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019, at R.W. Baker Funeral Home and Crematory, 509 W. Washington St., Suffolk. A funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019, in West End Baptist Church, Suffolk. Internment with military honors will be held at Holly Lawn Cemetery.

Online condolences may be offered at RWBakerFH.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to West End Baptist Church or to the Alzheimer’s Association.