Billy Robert Moberly

Billy Robert Moberly was born the 29th of May 1928 in Newton, Kansas. He grew up in a time when conditions were hard due to the depression. Having ten older brothers and sisters to contend with, along with a father who was 54 years old when Billy was born made him learn to take care of himself early in life. When he was very young, the family often traveled to Missouri to stay close to other relatives while his father, Socrates pursued work.

As a young child, the home was full of children from several marriages. Billy grew up with brothers David and Richard but remembers that other family members were living at the home in Newton at one time or the other. As in all families with several brothers growing up together, there were lots of stories about things the boys got into. Billy broke a 1 and 1/2-inch thick serving platter over Richard's head one time for some reason. Christmas was a time when Mom Moberly would make homemade candy. She would let it cool on the upstairs beds. Other presents were far and few between due to the tight money situation. Mom Moberly would cook pot roast in a cast iron pot with lots of carrots and potatoes and this is still a favorite dish of Billy's to this day. His mother told a story that as a small boy, Billy liked to plant seeds in any available piece of ground to garden. Billy remembers traveling around the country on free rail passes from his father's job. He traveled with his mother and brother to Oregon to pick apples, and Missouri to see family. In the summers he would work with his brother, Woodrow on his farm. Woodrow was a hard worker and all of the brothers worked on his farm for some time in the summers. Billy worked for the county on road repair crews as well as for the railroad as a "gandy dancer" repairing rail track. He worked for a spell at the airport and tells of speaking into the "pilot relief" tube thinking it was an intercom speaker. He attended school in Newton, Kansas and graduated from Newton High School in 1947.

It was at Newton High School that his involvement with sports began. He played on the baseball and football teams and managed the basketball team. From comments in his yearbook, and reports from high school friends, he was one of the best football players anyone had known. He was very aggressive on the football field and played linebacker. His aggressiveness carried over into baseball where he played catcher. He was active in various summer leagues and traveled throughout the state playing other sports teams. One of his more memorable road trips was to play the state penitentiary team. The Pen team marched into the stadium and marched out after the game where they then received their Sunday meal, a bologna sandwich slapped in the right hand, and a piece of ginger bread slapped into the left hand. Frequent calls of "kill the umpire" were yelled from the convict bleachers, and there was no doubt as to the sincerity of the calls. Billy was active in Kansas Boys State and several other school activities. He was active in the school government and was a very popular member of the student body. His brother, Richard, was known as a town tough that could beat up anybody in town and this reputation was passed down to Billy. It is not clear as to what extent it was maintained. It has been reported that Billy was a Jekyll and Hyde personality who only let the Hyde side out on the athletic fields.

Billy's athletic abilities allowed him to receive a scholarship to attend Sterling College in Sterling, Kansas. He attended school, worked at the school in several jobs, and participated in sports playing both football and baseball. It was through his campus job as a maintenance worker that he ran into his wife to be Jacquelyn Grace Wilson - literally. He was removing mattresses from the woman’s dorms when he knocked down Jacquelyn as he left the dorm. Billy was very popular on campus and participated in all aspects of college life. There are several stories of pranks pulled on people such as wedging an auto between pillars of a campus building, and drinking motor oil and sawdust to raise money to buy his Jackie’s engagement ring.

After being drafted during the Korean conflict, Billy went with half of his training group to Germany to serve in the occupational force there. He trained at Fort Sill, Oklahoma in Armored Infantry. He and Jacquelyn were married at Sterling College in Cooper Hall on March 24, 1951, a few weeks before he was shipped out for 18 months. Jacquelyn went back to school, graduated and then returned to Washington, D.C. to wait for his return. With the Russians poised to cross the Rheine River and with the Berlin Airlift underway, the Cold War anything but cold, he participated in several armed maneuvers, trained, and rode in armored half-tracks to provide a show-of-force to keep the Russians at bay. His vehicle hit a mine 6 years after the Second World War had been over. After his discharge from the Army, he returned to Washington, D.C. where he began working for Remington Rand as a typewriter repairman.

During his career with Remington Rand, the company changed names several times from Remington to Univac to Sperry Univac to Unisys. He became involved with computers from their infancy. He was involved with developing the first medically applied computer and became one of the early computer repairmen. Later on he moved into parts and supply, eventually becoming the head of Federal Systems Logistics and Supply.

During his career, he became well respected for his ability to get the job done and for his ability to work. Throughout his career, no matter what the pressures, his career never interfered with his family life. As hard working and dedicated to his job as he was, his family always came first.

He and Jacquelyn Grace Wilson had four children. Teresa Lynn Moberly, Sandra Kay Moberly, William Evans Moberly and John Richard Moberly. All of his children remember him as a father who could do anything and always was there to listen. The family lived in Alexandria at Burgess Avenue until 1964 and then moved to 5712 27th Road, North Arlington, Virginia. Jacquelyn's mother Annabel Douglass Wilson moved in with the family and lived with them for eleven years until her death in 1974.

This author has memories of a warm and loving family. Billy was active in all aspects of his children’s' lives and had a special interest in sports. He coached, supported and raised money for Arlington County sports for many years. He was involved with the Arlington Cubs Youth Club that introduced soccer to the county. He coached baseball and football for 10 years. Later in life he volunteered with the County’s Senior Center and became the County’s Volunteer of the Year in 2001. He had many hobbies including making stained glass art, model airplanes, and gardening. He loved his cats Milo and Scotty. He has passed on to his children many interests and hobbies and he has been an inspiration to his children and grandchildren beyond expression. His even disposition, his sense of humor, and his sense of honor have made lasting impressions on all of us and others who have known and loved him. He is the best father anyone could have and he set an example we all aspire to with our own children.

Billy and Jacquelyn’s children:

1. Teresa Lynn Moberly (Public Health Nurse) born 16 Jul 1954 Washington, D.C. Married 3 Aug 1974 Falls Church, Virginia (divorced January 2000 Lakeland Florida) Wayne Ellis Brinegar born 29 Aug 1951 Bluefield, West Va. (mail carrier) son of Dillard & Eula Brinegar

1) Matthew Robert Brinegar born 29 Apr 1978 Lakeland, Fl.

2) Steven Ellis Brinegar born 4 Sep 1980 " "

2. Sandra Kay Moberly (Homemaker) born 9 May 1956 Washington, D.C. married 2 Sep 1978 Arlington, Va. Robert Laurence Wann born 3 Jun 1956 Washington, D.C.

(Lab Tech. Supervisor) son of John & Miriam Wann

1) Timothy John Wann born 25 Nov 1979 Lakeland Fl

2) Corey Elizabeth Wann born 28 Oct 1982 " "

3) Sarah Moberly Wann born 25 Feb 1986 " "

4) Elizabeth Kay Wann born 20 March 1989 “ “

5) Andrew Robert Wann born 8 November 1991 “ “

6) Kathleen Grace Wann born 10 July 2001 “ “

3. William Evans Moberly born 17 Oct 1958 Washington, D.C. (CIA) Married 24 Jul 1982 Arlington, Va. Catherine Dianne Fleming born 28 Oct 1957 Winchester, Va. (Certified Public Accountant) daughter of James H. & Jacqueline (Jones) Fleming

1) Laura Elizabeth Jones born 16 Nov 1975 Winchester Va.

2) Ryan McMillan Moberly born 1 Apr 1984 Fairfax, Va.

3) Evan McCarroll Moberly born 15 Apr 1986 Fairfax Va.

4) Kristin McConnell Moberly born 26 June 1991 Fairfax Va.

4. John Richard Moberly born 13 Apr 1960 died 3 Sep 1962 buried Fairfax, Va.