William Christian Stewart left this earthly world to live eternally with his Heavenly Father on Wednesday, May 15, 2019. Bill was an only child born in New York City, NY to William Colean Stewart and Ruth Sophia Steinbrenner. He lived his life always seeking divine purpose and helping those in need. While at Lafayette College and studying towards a BS in Geology, he met the love of his life, Jeanne Whipple Stewart. Early in this significant life relationship, both Bill and Jeanne dedicated their lives and marriage to God. They enjoyed almost 62 years of a model marriage that has inspired so many of us to always put our partners first.
From 1958 to 1968, Bill led a distinguished military career as a Major in the US Army Aviation. He served two tours of duty during the Vietnam War as a helicopter pilot flying rescue missions in combat. Honors include the Distinguished Flying Cross for Valor; the Bronze Star; the Air Medal with clusters for combat flying; the Presidential Unit Citation; the Distinguished Unit Citation; the Vietnam War Medal; the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with palm; the National Defense Medal; the Senior Army Aviator; the Expert Medal in Rifle and Pistol and the Marksman Medal in Carbine.
In 1968 after receiving an Honorable Discharge, Bill entered seminary at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas and received his Bachelors degree in Music and a double Masters in Music and Education in 1973. Once involved in the ministry, Bill served as Minister of music at Bethel Baptist Church, Fort Worth, Texas from 1970 to 1973. He became an ordained deacon and minister and in 1973 was called to Talbot Park Baptist Church in Norfolk, VA, where he served the majority of his career as Minister of music and youth ministries while also supporting the church in many other capacities until 1998.
Upon retirement from the ministry, Bill joined the Piano Technicians Guild, started his own business and began tuning pianos in the Tidewater area of Virginia. In 2005, Bill and Jeanne moved to Matthews, NC, where they quickly found a church home at Mount Harmony Baptist Church. Bill involved himself in the Mt. Harmony congregation early on where he enjoyed teaching the new members class, singing in the choir, his short stint as director of music ministries and especially his membership in Ernie’s Sunday school class.
Bill kept himself busy and was always learning something new. Through the years, family and friends knew he would easily embark upon many new hobbies and ventures such as re-upholstering furniture; tuning up and repairing cars; creating wonderfully crafted benches, trinket boxes, sconces, and cabinetry in his wood-shop; tuning pianos; building and flying model airplanes; studying violin and guitar; developing an elaborate HO train set to entertain young and old alike; training his favorite dogs to do tricks for daily amusement; and recently training one of his most loyal and intelligent dogs, “Alfie”, for pet therapy volunteer service at CMC Mercy and Matthews Novant Presbyterian Hospitals.
To Bill’s grandchildren, he was a storyteller and mischievous jokester. Fantastic tales of “Freddy Frog and Tommy Turtle” or “The Green Slime” would fill their bedrooms whenever they stayed with him and Jeanne. While his marvelous creativity never seemed to cease, neither did his jokes. Whether it was ordering ridiculous concoctions at restaurants, photo bombing almost every picture with a goofy facial expression, or chasing the kids around with “the claw”, Bill could always make everyone laugh.
Bill is survived by his wife of almost 62 years, Jeanne W. Stewart; and their four children, Virginia Hull and her husband, James Hull, of Matthews, NC, and their children, Jessie, Jordan, Carter and Turner, Russ Stewart and his wife, Karen, of Virginia Beach, VA, and their children, Nicki, Kim and great-granddaughter, Riley Steele, Chris Stewart and his wife, Cindy, and their children, Jennifer, Christian, Mikayla, and Preston, and Karen Bennett and her husband, Hans Neckebroeck, of Bloomington, IN, and their children, Abbie, Gabe and Nathalie.
Jeanne and family wish to express their deepest gratitude for the care provided to Bill during his diagnosis of Myelodysplastic Syndrome, which eventually developed into Acute Myeloid Leukemia. The care provided for him by Dr. Danyu Sun at the Levine Cancer Institute, Dr. Michael Kendall, Kindred at Home nurses and Hospice were exceptional and the loving care of fellow disciples at Mt. Harmony and Talbot Park has meant so much to Bill and the family.
A memorial service officiated by Pastor Buddy Pigg will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, May 25, 2019, at Mount Harmony Baptist Church, with graveside interment of ashes immediately following the service.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Bill’s honor can be made to Homes for our Troops - www.hfotusa.org, Therapy Dogs International - www.tdi-dog.org, or Mt. Harmony Baptist Church / Music Ministry, 2817 Mt. Harmony Church Road, Matthews, NC 28105.
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