William Blair Lucas

William Blair (Bill) Lucas, age 93, died peacefully on November 29, 2018. He was born on January 27, 1925, to the late William Leonard Lucas and Marie Hawkes Lucas. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his sister, Margaret Lucas Montgomery. He is survived by his wife of nearly 66 years, Ann, and their daughter Jane Smith, her husband, Steve, and their children Margaret, Walker, and Lucas. He is also survived by their son, Guy, and their son, Jay, his wife Annette, and their children Valerie and John.

Mr. Lucas was born in Richmond, Virginia and grew up in the Church Hill neighborhood; he was a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church. He graduated from John Marshall High School, where he served as captain of the Corps of Cadets. He attended the College of William & Mary prior to enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1942 at 17 years old. Bill completed the Navy V-12 officer training program and served as the Executive Officer on an LST in the Pacific Theater and in the occupation force of Japan. After his service, he completed his degree at William & Mary and went on to obtain a law degree from the University of Virginia. He worked as legal counsel for Fieldcrest Mills in Eden, North Carolina, and returned to Richmond as general counsel for Wheat First Securities, retiring in 1989. Bill’s volunteer activities in the community included service on the church vestry, hospital board, Jaycees; he was a life-long Rotarian.

He thoroughly enjoyed spending time with his friends and extended family; but most of all, he and Ann loved to entertain at their vacation home on Smith Mountain Lake (SML) in Virginia. For many years he brought his Kappa Alpha brothers to SML for a special weekend. He and Ann also celebrated many Homecoming Weekends with their William & Mary friends.

In retirement Bill and Ann enjoyed traveling as well as spending time at home in Richmond and SML. In 2011, they moved to Springmoor Retirement Community in Raleigh to spend more time with their children and grandchildren. They made many friends at Springmoor and attended the Church of the Nativity.

A memorial service will be Monday, December 17, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at Springmoor.

The family would like to thank the devoted caregivers at Springmoor’s Stewart Health Center and Springmoor’s Clinic. In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to the Springmoor Endowment Fund or the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia or to the charity of your choice.