William Arthur Zenner's Obituary
With deep sorrow, the family of William Arthur Zenner announces his death on August 3, 2025, at the age of 78. Bill was in the care of a talented and compassionate medical team at a hospital in Leesburg, Virginia, near his home in Lovettsville in Loudoun County. His wife, siblings, and sister-in-law were at his side during his final hours.
In the last decade of his life, Bill fought back two bouts of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. He was preparing to begin treatment for a third when COVID-19 overwhelmed his weakened immune system.
Bill was born in Albany, New York, on November 5, 1946, to John J. Zenner Jr. and Margaret Budina Zenner. Bill’s early years were spent in Albany, New York, where the family lived with his grandparents, John Sr. and Anna, alongside his older brother John III.
The family then moved to Richmond, Virginia, where Margaret had grown up and close to her family and Fort Lee, where they had met before the end of World War II. There they settled and added another brother, Paul, and finally added some sparkle, a sister, Barbara Anne. The family was among the first to join the St. Bridget Catholic Church parish before construction had even been completed, and Bill was in the first class to start kindergarten in the Church school and complete eighth grade there. All four siblings then went to Catholic high schools, the boys to Benedictine and Barbara to St. Gertrude's. Bill played baseball and was part of Benedictine’s only undefeated football team, a standout squad from 1962.
From Benedictine, he enrolled at Virginia Tech and graduated with a degree in Business Administration. He remained a devoted Hokie fan for the rest of his life. However, he found his true calling when he joined a National Guard medical unit, was trained as an electronic medical equipment specialist, and worked in that field for his entire career.
In January 1974, he married Barbara Jean Bolling in Richmond. They were married for over 50 years. When they decided to settle in Loudoun County, they found a beautiful piece of land, designed a post and beam home, and had it built.
Those who got to know Bill may remember him primarily as a kind and helpful man, especially his neighbors, members of the Lions Club, and other volunteers with the Remote Area Medical teams that provide free medical assistance to people in need.
However, there was another side of his character that was also remarkable. Even as his health was failing, you could take his hand in yours and tell that he was a builder and a craftsman. He learned woodworking from his architect grandfather. That same grandfather financed the purchase of a duplex in Richmond for Bill and his older brother Jay, which they renovated with their own hands. But Bill’s masterpiece was the post and beam home he and BJ created. Though a contractor handled the major construction, Bill built the soaring floor-to-ceiling window in the main room himself. Bill also had an interest in crafts like stained glass. Each of the siblings has at least one beautiful piece that Bill created. Bill also had a mutual interest with his brother Paul in horticulture and landscaping. Both his sister Barb and brother Jay have large Japanese Maple trees in their yards that were gifts taken home as small plants, but they are dwarfed by the huge trees in front of Bill and BJ’s house.
Bill and BJ were animal lovers. There was a long procession of dogs in the home. One of their first dogs was Tinker, a spirited three-legged rescue saved from euthanasia by BJ’s sister Tena. The lone survivor is a blind Jack Russell Terrier named Zack. And then there were the alpacas that drew several family members to Loudoun County for an annual shearing at a nearby alpaca farm, where Bill adopted three of these beasts.
Though his mobility declined, joy returned to the household when Tena’s son Philip moved into the adjacent cabin built originally for Tena with his wife Jenny to grow their family. This provided not only extra hands to help but the joy of more dogs and two active and healthy young boys to entertain their Uncle Bill.
Bill is survived by his wife of 50 years Barbara Jean or BJ, her sister Tena Brass, Tena’s son Philip and his wife Jenny and their sons Lucas, Ulysses, and Augustus. Tena’s son Nicholas and his wife Taylor and their daughters, Gentry and Elouise. Brother-in-Law, Jack Whichard. Jack’s son Zane and his daughter Elysia. Jack’s son Brian and his wife Paula, and their sons Cody and Logan.
On Bill’s side of the family, he is survived by his sister Barbara Anne and her son Maury Gatewood, his brother Jay, and his daughter Stephanie Taylor and her daughter Madison Taylor, and Bill’s brother Paul.
Memorial Service to be held Saturday, August 16, at St. James UCC in Lovettsville, VA, at 1pm.
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