William Paul Burson

Born in Washington, DC, on April 19, 1955, Bill grew up in Arlington, Virginia, where he was active in Boy Scout Troop 681 and graduated from Yorktown High School. After serving briefly in the U.S. Army, Bill held numerous positions, including for 16 years as a courier for the law firm of Shapiro & Burson. Throughout his adult life, he avidly pursued an interest in learning about the Civil War, exploring countless battlefields, searching for relics with his metal detector, and reading dozens of books on major battles and key military leaders. He was a proud member of the Knights of Columbus and was an avid fan of (and often frustrated by) the Washington Nationals, Commanders, and Capitals. Throughout all, his Catholic faith was very important to him, often telling loved ones “I’ll pray for you.” And he meant it when he said that.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents, Marion M. and Helen Egan Burson, to whom he was a devoted son, and his brother Thomas Gerard Burson. He is survived by his sister, Mary Burson (John) Lawlor, and three brothers, John Stephen (Erica), Robert James (Sara), and Elbert Eugene (Renée Soulliard). He was the proud uncle of ten nieces and nephews: Nathan and Elizabeth Burson; Martha, Hannah, and Joe Burson; Andrew and Peter Lawlor; William Burson; and Sienna and Emilia Burson, in addition to two grandnephews and one grandniece.

The family expresses appreciation for the compassionate care provided in his home by Blue Ridge Hospice, Winchester, VA.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Theresa Catholic Church (21370 St. Theresa Ln, Ashburn VA) on March 13, 2026, at 10:30 am, preceded by a visitation there starting at 10:00 am. Interment will follow the Mass at Fairfax Memorial Park (9900 Braddock Rd. Fairfax, VA).