William Dean Gamble
November 27, 1921 ~ July 21, 2011
William Dean "Bill" Gamble, 89, CWO-4, USA (Ret.), a long time resident of Fairfax, VA, passed away on July 21, 2011, at Carolina Care Center in Cherryville, North Carolina, after a long but valiant struggle with a terminal illness. He was surrounded by those he loved and who dearly loved him.
He was born November 27, 1921, in Oakdale, Pennsylvania, and was the beloved youngest child of Grace Allinder Gamble and Frank Jackson Gamble.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife, Geraldine Louise Louer Gamble, 2 brothers, John Dale Gamble and Frank Jackson
Gamble, Jr., and sister, Maxine Helen Allen.
He is survived by his daughter, Linda Jayne Kelly of Fairfax, VA, son, Mark Steven Gamble and wife, Barb, 2 grandchildren, Dean Tyler Gamble and Emily Marie
Gamble of Gastonia, NC, grandson John Dean Gentille and wife, Sarah, and 4 great-grandchildren, twins Tristan "John Dean" Gentille and Isabella Addison
Gentille, and twins, Noah Alexander Gentille and Savannah Madeleine Gentille, of Waxhaw, NC, and nephews, John, Ronald (Huck), Michael and William Gamble.
As a young boy growing up, sports became his passion. He played football, baseball and basketball and excelled in each sport. He often played on several
teams at one time and managed many teams, as well. He was known throughout Allegheny County, PA, as a hometown sports legend. He also bowled a perfect game
while in a league in Carlisle, PA. He was, indeed, an "all around athlete."He was called into military service during World War II and served in the
European Theater in the South of France in a U.S. Army Medical Support Unit. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and also played baseball on a team of
semi-professional military athletes to help entertain the troops during the war.
He was recalled by the Army during the Korean Conflict and remained in the military for 24 years. During his illustrious military career, Bill served as a Senior Instructor at the NCO Academy in Munich, Germany and was Commandant of the Army War College in Carlisle Barracks, PA. He was personally selected by the Commander in Chief of the U.S. Army in Europe for 2 consecutive tours of duty to serve on the General's Staff at Headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany. His next two assignments were at The Pentagon and found him working for one of his heroes, General Harold K. Johnson, Army Chief of Staff, who was a member of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff.
During his military career he earned the EAME Campaign Medal with Bronze Star, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with
First and Second Oak Leaf Cluster, the National Defense Service Medal and the Legion of Merit with First Oak Leaf Cluster.
Bill retired from the Army in 1968 and immediately followed in his Father's footsteps. He became a partner in a residential custom home building business in Northern Virginia. He also joined Better Homes Realty and was affiliated with them for 31 years. During this time he managed several of their Real Estate offices and was consistently a Top Producer and member of The Million Dollar Club. His wife, Gerry Lou, was always at his side during their 50 year marriage and was his loving partner in all that he did. He called her loss the saddest day of his life when she passed away in 1999 after a long illness. Bill loved his work and during the holidays, correspondence from grateful clients read like "love letters," as he always went that extra mile for each of them. His customers adored him for his sincere, heartfelt efforts to find them their "dream homes." A business colleague of his said recently that Bill Gamble was the most honest and ethical man with whom he had ever worked.
The last years of his life were spent finally relaxing and enjoying his family, attending church regularly and watching all his favorite Teams on television. He was the quintessential armchair Quarterback and spent many hours discussing sports with his son, Mark, grandsons, John and Dean, and daughter, Linda. His family knew never to call him after a Redskin loss. He needed a day to recover from his grief; but after a win, there was no bigger Redskin fan than Bill Gamble.
Bill also returned frequently in his last years to his beloved hometown, Oakdale, PA. He truly loved Oakdale and its' wonderful small town ambiance. Oakdale has been called "America's Hometown". He considered it a privilege and a blessing to call it "home." His was a life far from ordinary and was, indeed, well lived. Bill recently said to his family that he had no regrets about his life. Very few can make that statement.
A funeral service will be held 9 a.m. Aug. 15, 2011, at the Fort Myer Old Post Chapel followed by internment with Honors at Arlington National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to either The Alzheimer's Association, Charlotte Chapter at 3800 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte, NC 28215-3220 or The Alzheimer's Association, National Capital Area Chapter, 3701 Pender Drive, Suite 400, Fairfax, VA 22030.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
He was born November 27, 1921, in Oakdale, Pennsylvania, and was the beloved youngest child of Grace Allinder Gamble and Frank Jackson Gamble.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife, Geraldine Louise Louer Gamble, 2 brothers, John Dale Gamble and Frank Jackson
Gamble, Jr., and sister, Maxine Helen Allen.
He is survived by his daughter, Linda Jayne Kelly of Fairfax, VA, son, Mark Steven Gamble and wife, Barb, 2 grandchildren, Dean Tyler Gamble and Emily Marie
Gamble of Gastonia, NC, grandson John Dean Gentille and wife, Sarah, and 4 great-grandchildren, twins Tristan "John Dean" Gentille and Isabella Addison
Gentille, and twins, Noah Alexander Gentille and Savannah Madeleine Gentille, of Waxhaw, NC, and nephews, John, Ronald (Huck), Michael and William Gamble.
As a young boy growing up, sports became his passion. He played football, baseball and basketball and excelled in each sport. He often played on several
teams at one time and managed many teams, as well. He was known throughout Allegheny County, PA, as a hometown sports legend. He also bowled a perfect game
while in a league in Carlisle, PA. He was, indeed, an "all around athlete."He was called into military service during World War II and served in the
European Theater in the South of France in a U.S. Army Medical Support Unit. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and also played baseball on a team of
semi-professional military athletes to help entertain the troops during the war.
He was recalled by the Army during the Korean Conflict and remained in the military for 24 years. During his illustrious military career, Bill served as a Senior Instructor at the NCO Academy in Munich, Germany and was Commandant of the Army War College in Carlisle Barracks, PA. He was personally selected by the Commander in Chief of the U.S. Army in Europe for 2 consecutive tours of duty to serve on the General's Staff at Headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany. His next two assignments were at The Pentagon and found him working for one of his heroes, General Harold K. Johnson, Army Chief of Staff, who was a member of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff.
During his military career he earned the EAME Campaign Medal with Bronze Star, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with
First and Second Oak Leaf Cluster, the National Defense Service Medal and the Legion of Merit with First Oak Leaf Cluster.
Bill retired from the Army in 1968 and immediately followed in his Father's footsteps. He became a partner in a residential custom home building business in Northern Virginia. He also joined Better Homes Realty and was affiliated with them for 31 years. During this time he managed several of their Real Estate offices and was consistently a Top Producer and member of The Million Dollar Club. His wife, Gerry Lou, was always at his side during their 50 year marriage and was his loving partner in all that he did. He called her loss the saddest day of his life when she passed away in 1999 after a long illness. Bill loved his work and during the holidays, correspondence from grateful clients read like "love letters," as he always went that extra mile for each of them. His customers adored him for his sincere, heartfelt efforts to find them their "dream homes." A business colleague of his said recently that Bill Gamble was the most honest and ethical man with whom he had ever worked.
The last years of his life were spent finally relaxing and enjoying his family, attending church regularly and watching all his favorite Teams on television. He was the quintessential armchair Quarterback and spent many hours discussing sports with his son, Mark, grandsons, John and Dean, and daughter, Linda. His family knew never to call him after a Redskin loss. He needed a day to recover from his grief; but after a win, there was no bigger Redskin fan than Bill Gamble.
Bill also returned frequently in his last years to his beloved hometown, Oakdale, PA. He truly loved Oakdale and its' wonderful small town ambiance. Oakdale has been called "America's Hometown". He considered it a privilege and a blessing to call it "home." His was a life far from ordinary and was, indeed, well lived. Bill recently said to his family that he had no regrets about his life. Very few can make that statement.
A funeral service will be held 9 a.m. Aug. 15, 2011, at the Fort Myer Old Post Chapel followed by internment with Honors at Arlington National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to either The Alzheimer's Association, Charlotte Chapter at 3800 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte, NC 28215-3220 or The Alzheimer's Association, National Capital Area Chapter, 3701 Pender Drive, Suite 400, Fairfax, VA 22030.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
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I was saddened to hear of the passing of your father and grandfather..My Dad William Edwin Hannah was your grandfather franks brother…I have many fond memories of the cousins from Oakdale visiting our home on columbia pike.please accept my sincere condolences…
Our thoughts and prayers be with the family. Dot(Hannah)Oelze Family
I am sorry to hear of his passing. I worked with Bill for many years at Better Homes Realty.
My condolences to his family. I just want to share a comforting message about God’s promise that in the near future we will see our dead loved ones again. The book of John chapter 5 verses 28 and 29 says: “Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, those who practiced vile things to a resurrection of judgement.” God promised that the whole earth will be made into a paradise and the dead will have an opportunity to live forever in peaceful and happy conditions.
I got to know Bill 30 years ago when the Better Homes Realty office was in the same building as my law office. We worked together professionally many times and became friends. Bill was one of the kindest, most decent people I have ever known. He cared deeply about his clients, and they could see this from his gentle manner and his hard work on their behalf. The world needs more people like Bill Gamble, and is diminished by his passing. May he rest in peace.
No words can express the life and the man Bill Gamble was. When my sister married his son Mark, our family was blessed by having Bill as part of our family. I will always remember more than anything the loving relationship he had with Gerry Lou, and his dedication to his children and grandchildren. What a wonderful, caring, honest and loving man. He will be greatly missed.
Dear Gamble family, I served with Bill at Carlisle Barracks , Carlisle P.A. during 1955-56. Bill and I where teammates on the Post’s softball team in those years. I have some pictures of us during those times. Please E-mail with your current address so i can forward copies of them to you. Bill was not only a good guy but also a good leader and ballplayer. My condolences on his death.
Linda and family so very sad for your loss, mr bill as we at the silver diner called him will miss him dearly. I myself served him and and his wife over 14 years ago and then he continued his daily visits to us. It was a pleasure to see him walk in the door. he will be dearly missed but always remembered. God Bless you all at this time. Bonnie and Vinnie and the SD staff, remember fondly…
I knew Bill to be a fine and decent man who loved to talk baseball. Perhaps Grantland Rice says it best: “Upon the field of life the darkness gathers far and wide, the dream is done, the score is spun that stands forever in the guide. Nor victory, nor yet defeat is chalked against the players name. But down the roll, the final scroll, shows only how he played the game.”
I only had the pleasure of meeting this fine man, one time. Mother, Mildred Thorne, met him at a wedding in Carlisle, PA. Mother said that he was the Best Man at her and Daddy’s wedding, so many years ago. She relayed stories of his wit, descenty and love for people. He truly touched the lives of many. Our prayers are with you and we will continue to remember him fondly.