William B. Becker
September 17, 1914 — September 8, 2010
William Bain Becker died peacefully at his home in Gainesville, Virginia, on September 8, 2010, after a brief battle with cancer. He was born to Frances Charles and Charlotte Bain Becker on September 17, 1914, in St. Charles, Missouri.
He attended Washington University in St. Louis where he earned his Bachelor and Law degrees. Following graduation he moved to Washington, DC and worked for the Civil Aeronautics Administration. During that time he learned to fly at College Park, MD and earned a Masters in Law at George Washington University. He served for five years as a Navy pilot during WWII. He married Jean MacFarlane in 1944. After WWII the Beckers returned to the DC area, where he worked for 34 years at the Air Transport Association, retiring as Vice President of Operations. They lived, for 40 years, and raised their 4 children in Vienna, Virginia. They moved to Oxford, Maryland in 1981 and 19 years later moved to their current home in Gainesville, Virginia. Mr. Becker loved gardening, swimming, and watching birds. He loved a good debate and a good laugh. He loved watching the Redskins and Virginia Tech. football and his beloved St. Louis Cardinals baseball team. However, his greatest loves were his wife, his family and his home.
He will be greatly missed by his wife of 66 years, Jean MacFarlane Becker; his children Bain White and husband Curt White, Alan Becker and wife Beverly Becker, Donna Storey, Nancy Czarny and husband Julian Czarny; his eleven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, September 11, 2010, at St. Paul's Church, 225 Morris Street, Oxford, Maryland, followed by a private burial at Oxford Cemetery. Memorial donations can be made to Oxford Kids Camp, P.O. Box 294, Oxford MD, 21654 or Capital Hospice Philanthropy Office, 2900 Telestar Ct, Falls Church, VA 22042, please indicate the gift is to the Manassas Office in memory of Bill Becker. Arrangements are being handled by the Thomas Funeral Home, P.A. in Cambridge.