William Joseph Fraley Jr.

William Joseph Fraley Jr., known to everyone as Bill, passed away peacefully at his home in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, on Saturday, July 25, 2026, one week after his 86th birthday. He was the loving husband of Wanda Fraley, his wife of 46 years.

Bill was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Berlin, New Jersey. At seventeen he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving as a rifleman — including fifteen months overseas. He was discharged honorably as a Lance Corporal in 1960, and carried that service with quiet pride for the rest of his life.

He eventually found his way to Virginia and loved it so completely that he stayed for the better part of his life. Bill worked as an accounting administrator at Areva (now Framatone) in Lynchburg, and later spent many years at Sam’s Club, where his steadiness and easy way with people made him a familiar face to customers and coworkers alike.

Retirement gave Bill time for what he loved most: working with his hands. He was happiest with a project in front of him and a basement full of tools behind him. He had a gardener’s patience, and the landscaping he built around their home in Madison Heights, Virginia, was a labor of love that grew more beautiful every year.

Above all else, Bill was funny. He was a natural joker, and nothing pleased him more than getting a laugh out of Wanda and the rest of the family. It is how they will remember him best.

Bill was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2017 and with dementia a few years later. He faced both the way he faced everything — bravely, calmly, and without complaint — fighting for far longer than anyone expected. In November 2024 he and Wanda moved to Florida to be closer to family, and he was cared for at their Palm Beach Gardens home by his devoted wife and family.

The family wishes to thank the many wonderful health care workers who supported us over the years, and especially the team at Trustbridge Hospice of Palm Beach County, whose kindness in Bill’s final weeks meant more than we can say.

Bill is survived by his wife, Wanda; his stepsons, Bryan and Jason; his daughters, Linda and Denise; six grandsons; and one great-granddaughter. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Bart and Jerry.

A viewing will be held on Monday, August 3, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Howard-Quattlebaum Funeral, Cremation and Event Center, 754 U.S. Highway 1, North Palm Beach, Florida. A service with full military honors will follow at South Florida National Cemetery, 6501 S. State Road 7, Wellington, Florida. Guests should arrive by 12:45 p.m.; the Military Honors Ceremony begins promptly at 1:00 p.m. Please park in Lane 3.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Bill’s name to the Trustbridge Hospice Foundation, 5300 East Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33407, or online at https://trustbridge.com/give/.