William Fletcher Quillian, III.

William Fletcher Quillian III died December 7, 2024 at home with his family after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

Bill was born to William Fletcher Quillian, Jr. and Margaret Weigle Quillian on February 26, 1942 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where Dr. Quillian was a professor of philosophy at Gettysburg College. Four years later, Bill and his family moved to Delaware, Ohio, where Bill’s dad became head of the Philosophy Department at Ohio Wesleyan University. In 1952 when Bill was ten, there was the propitious move to Lynchburg where Bill’s dad became president of then Randolph Macon Women’s College. At the time, ten-year-old Bill said the rest of the family could move to Lynchburg, but he was staying in Delaware.

Bill spent three years at the grand and now historic Garland Rodes Elementary School after which he attended E.C. Glass High School graduating as salutatorian of his class of three hundred and sixty Hilltoppers in 1960. While at E.C. Glass, he was president of the Student Council his senior year.

After graduation, he continued his educational career at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Bill was fortunate enough to be a part of a huge and never before seen pledge class of sixty-six young men pledging the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity his freshman year. He experienced the pleasure of establishing many life long and true friendships among his fraternity brothers. Bill was the twenty-seventh Quillian to be an ATO at Emory.

Because of his respect and admiration for his father, Bill went to Emory with the intention of following him into the academic realm by majoring in philosophy. However, during his first quarter at college, while sitting on the platform of the Emory railroad station at 10:00 at night trying to write a paper on “What is Good?”, he decided philosophy was not his calling. His freshman year at Emory, Bill was elected president of his class and president of the student government his junior year.

After graduating, Bill signed up for a six-year stint in the Army Reserves. He served active duty at Fort Jackson, South Carolina and Fort Ord, California. Subsequently, Bill was assigned to Army Reserve units in Lynchburg, Charlottesville and Washington D.C. While being thrown in with this diverse group of volunteers, draftees and reservists, Bill’s belief in the value of each person was reinforced and encouraged in him a respect for all people, a conviction he maintained throughout his life and career.

The University of Virginia School of Law was Bill’s last stop on his educational path. While there, he was elected president of his freshman class and president of the legal fraternity Phi Alpha Delta.

After graduating in 1968, Bill began his legal career with a small firm in Washington, D.C. where he tried cases in the District of Columbia federal courts and the state courts of northern Virgina for two years.

Finding the D.C. court system a nightmare and always wanting to return to Lynchburg, he moved back home in the early 1970’s and was hired by the Edmunds Williams Law Firm. After one year there, an opportunity presented itself for a move “up the hill” to 801 Court Street where Bill maintained a general practice for over fifty years, specializing in criminal law and real estate. During that span, he was fortunate enough to share office space with, among others, Preston Sawyer, Richard Payne, Jim Farmer and Jay Reeves. He also served as a substitute judge for ten years in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. Bill wished to send a heartfelt thanks to Jonnie Coffer – his friend and paralegal of many years.

Upon his retirement in January of 2024, the Lynchburg Bar Association established the William F. Quillian III Excellence in Law Award, both to honor Bill’s exemplary career and to encourage excellence in the greater law community in Lynchburg.

While it is true that Bill may have been a leader in the legal profession, he would be the first to tell you that the people in the legal community gave generously of their friendship and ultimate cooperation which helped make his years in the profession as rewarding as they were.

During his earlier years, Bill found great pleasure in playing golf and tennis at Oakwood Country Club. He loved playing the old and majestic 18-hole golf course – one which many good golfers shied away from playing because of its unique make-up, and where an otherwise good shot would end up in a nearly unplayable location. (Shout out to Jess Crumbly.) He treasured his Saturday morning foursome with Robert Baker, John Waterworth and Mike Taylor where very little money changed hands, but plenty of camaraderie proliferated, followed by a trip to the 19th hole.

Bill also couldn’t wait for his weekly matches with the “Tennis Group.” For some arcane (and no doubt stupid) reason, the prevailing couple at the end of the season was awarded a rubber chicken, which may have indicated the caliber of play even though its yearly recipients viewed winning it with pride and honor.

In his later years, Bill enjoyed his regular gin games with the group in the card room at Oakwood. He also was an expert bridge player and enjoyed his monthly poker games. But his passion for the UVA Cavaliers was without measure and covered a love for every sport. His partner in crime for many games was Don Tosi, but he and Tina attended football games for nearly forty-five years and enjoyed tailgating with many friends. He also had season basketball tickets and reveled in the glory days of Tony Bennett. Bill took great pride in showing off his name on the wall at John Paul Jones Arena.

Bill was a member of Peakland United Methodist Church where he served in many capacities. He was a liturgist, usher, Sunday school teacher and a member of many committees over the years, always being wise enough to avoid becoming chairman of the Administrative Board.

Bill was involved in several civic activities – two of which he viewed with special pride – the American Cancer Society and the Hill City Exchange Club of which he was president for two years.

In retrospect, it can be said that Bill made many wise decisions, the best of which was to marry Tina with whom he spent forty-five wonderful and unforgettable years. Bill was also very proud of his children, their many accomplishments and the good people they are. He supported them in all their endeavors and spent many an hour at soccer and baseball games, swim meets and piano recitals, to name a few.

His survivors include his wife, Christina Nelson Quillian (Tina); his daughter Laura Quillian Lassen plus her husband Andrew and sons Bradley and Matthew; his son William F. Quillian IV (Quint) plus his fiancée Lahdan Scarbrough; and his son Christopher Allen Hudson plus his wife Robyn and sons Jack (Juliet) and Graham. He is also survived by his sister Anne Acree Quillian and a special cousin, Jane Searcy Sheffield. He was predeceased by his brother Robert Mason Quillian (Sue) and a sister Katherine Weigle Quillian (Terry). 

Scotch, the ever-barking, but loving canine rescue, is sadly left to wonder what happened to his paternal companion.

Bill will be greatly missed and remembered for his integrity, intellect, wit, poetry writing and wicked dance moves.

Anyone desiring to make a memorial contribution should consider the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Virgina Legal Aid Society – Lynchburg Office, or the Lynchburg Humane Society.

There will be a celebration of Bill’s life at Peakland United Methodist Church, 4434 Boonsboro Road on Saturday, December 28, 2024 at 2pm and afterwards at Oakwood Country Club, 3409 Rivermont Avenue, Lynchburg, VA.

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family.