A man of boundless curiosity and buoyancy of spirit, Bill was born on January 16, 1940, in Sunbury, Pennsylvania. He was a graduate of Northumberland High School, class of ’57, and always stayed close and in contact with his fellow “Pineknotter” classmates.
Bill joined the Marine Corps after graduating from high school and on December 21, 1958, he married Mary F. Newman of New Columbia. He served his country honorably for twenty years, retiring from the Marine Corps in 1977 as a Master Sergeant. Bill taught for the Navy Contract Program, State Technical Institute, Central Texas College, retiring as an Associate Dean from San Diego City College Naval Contract Program. Bill and his family have resided in the Memphis, Tennessee area for nearly forty-nine years prior to his passing.
Bill is survived by his wife, Mary, with whom he shared a deep and abiding love that was forged in faith. He has two precious daughters: Valerie J. Hutchins (Kirby) and Suzanna A. O’Neill (Nathan). He has two beloved sons, Michael W. Cropf (Elaine) and David W. Cropf (Terri). His children inspired him and made him proud.
Pop Pop, as he is known, has six grandsons: Grant Young (Kelly), Cody Young (Jennifer), Jason Cropf (Sherry), Christopher Cropf, Joshua Cunningham (Nikol), and Zachary Cunningham. He has seven great granddaughters (Ayla, Alexis, Avery, Chloe, Kylie, McKinley, and Nova) and two great grandsons (Ace and Wyatt).
Bill was the oldest son of four children and was preceded in death by his parents, and his sisters, Charlotte Ann Fultz, of Richfield, Pennsylvania and Linda Stuck of Findlay, Ohio. He is survived by his brother Thomas Cropf, Jr., of Northumberland, Pennsylvania. He has four nephews: Greg Stuck, Donald Stuck, Charles Fultz, Robert Cropf, and a niece, Tamara Fultz.
Bill had a love for his family, his friends, and fishing. He had a love for Southern Gospel and 50’s music. He was especially proud to have entertained at several of his class reunions and also at the alumni banquet in Northumberland, Pennsylvania.
With his rich, gentle tenor voice, he blessed many throughout the Mid-south and has recorded many Gospel and 50’s CD’s. Bill, along with his wife, attended Agape Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee. During that time, he served as a deacon, music director, substitute Sunday school teacher, and soloist.
On Saturday, November 26, 2022, at Ellendale Baptist Church in Bartlett, Tennessee, visitation will begin at 10 am and funeral services will begin at 12 pm, followed by internment at the Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens on Germantown Road. Online condolences may be made at www.memphisfuneralhome.net.
