William Byron

William Duncan "Bill" Byron, 76, of Asheville, died Tuesday, May 5, 2009, at the John F. Keever, Jr. Hospice Solace Center after a long and courageous battle with multiple myeloma. Mr. Byron, know as Shun to his family, was born in McGrann, Pennsylvania and was the fifth of six sons born to the late John and Anne Graham Byron. He was also preceded in death by four of his brothers, Tom, Tug, Dick, and Jack Byron. After serving in the Army and graduating from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Bill taught school brieflybefore moving to Chicago where he began his 29 year career with IBM. In 1968 he married his beloved wife of 41 years, Cheryl Ann Maxwell. Their cherished daughter, Anne Christine Sullivan, was born in 1974. Bill and Cheryl enjoyed their ministry with inner city children, often taking them to their farm in Wisconsin where they experienced God's love and presence as they milked cows and held squirmy new baby pigs. His IBM career took him to Vienna, VA, in 1982. He retired in 1992 and moved to Asheville. While in Asheville, Bill has been active in both the community and his church. He volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and with Loving Food Resources, and as a tutor with Asheville City Schools. As a member of First Baptist Church, Bill was a deacon and served on several committees. He was an avid golfer and a member of the "Geritol Duffers Golf Club" at Black Mountain Golf Course. And he loved the Steelers. Bill will be remembered as a loving husband, a compassionate father and a proud grandpa. He is survived by his wife, Cheryl, of Asheville; his daughter, Anne Sullivan and her husband Sean, of Aldie, VA; his two granddaughters, Kaylee and Avery Sullivan also of Aldie, VA; his brother, Jim Byron and wife Ila, of Sherman, IL; an aunt, several sisters-in-law, cousins and many nieces and nephews. A service celebrating his life is scheduled for Friday at 10:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church, Asheville, with the Rev. Dr. Guy Sayles officiating. Interment with military honors will be at Quantico National Cemetery, Quantico, VA. His family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday at Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Loving Food Resources, 123 Kenilworth Rd., Asheville, NC 28803, or to Chin Hills Ministries (Fulfilling the Great Commission in Burma) P.O. Box 295, Fairview, NC 28730.