William (Bill) Alvin Scates, age 91, of Severna Park, Maryland, went to meet his Lord at home on December 1, 2018. He was born June 22, 1927 in Washington, D.C. to Jesse and Alvin Scates. Before he married, Bill served in the army and was a proud WWII veteran. He married the love of his life, Stella Dennis on July 17, 1948. He worked for a time at D.C Transit until he moved to the job he would hold until retirement at Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company. He maintained his position through reorganizations and retired from Verizon Telephone in 1986.

Bill was known by family and friends as a talented fixer of everything. His knowledge of everything from welding to wiring to building, was impressive. He wired lighting for the church, helped his children with house maintenance and repairs and designed and built his own garage with the help of his children. He also volunteered as a docent at Belle Grove in Virginia, demonstrating blacksmithing to school children. He was also a talented woodworker who cut trees and then created a beautifully crafted desk and many other smaller projects. Along with Woodworking, his hobbies were family tree research, photography and computers, serving a year as president of the Shenandoah Computer Club. "Family First" was his motto and he always loved spending time with his family.

Bill and Stella raised their children in Temple Hills, MD, and upon retirement moved to Strasburg, VA where they lived for 20 years. In 2008 they moved in with their daughter Nancy and son-in-law Lou, in Severna Park, to be closer to family.

He was preceded in death by his wife on February 3, 2018 to whom he was married for 69 years. He is survived by his children Donald Scates, Nancy Scates Prugh, Carol Scates Westfall and Karen Scates, 9 grandchildren, and 21 great-grandchildren.

Friends may visit on Thursday December 6, 2018 from 6:00pm – 8:00pm in the Barranco & Sons, P.A. Severna Park Funeral Home 495 Ritchie Hwy. Severna Park, MD 21146. Services will be held on Friday December 7, 2018 at 1:00pm in the funeral home chapel. Interment in the MD Veterans Cemetery Crownsville, MD.

Online condolences may be made at www.barrancofuneralhome.com