William Kailey, Jr.
August 18, 1930 ~ February 27, 2023
William Kailey, Jr., known to friends and family as Bill, was born on August 18, 1930, to William Kailey, Sr. and Marie Clifton Kailey, nee Rahm, the firstborn of the couple’s three children. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, and after an honorable discharge met his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ at a small Nazarene Church in southern California.
After being radically changed by God, he decided to attend Life Bible College in Los Angeles, CA where he met his future bride, Judy Pippin. After a short courtship, they were married on December 30, 1961. Their first child, David, was born in September of the next year, followed 18 months later by Naomi, two years after that Dan, and after an eight year hiatus, Elizabeth.
After college, the couple entered the ministry, moving across the country with three young kids and all their worldly possessions stuffed into a two-door coupe and a home-made trailer, to take up the pastorship of a small Four Square congregation in Arlington, VA. Pastoring a church, however, was not to be a long-term career for Bill, and he went looking for another line of work. In need of a job to support his family, God provided, and Bill took up carpentry, which he continued to do for the next six decades of his life.
Born and bred in southern California, Bill loved living in his adopted state of Virginia, and could often be heard saying, “Virginia is the state that’ll win ya.” He spent the rest of his life in Virginia except for a couple short stints in Lebanon and Jordan in the 1970s, using his carpentry skills to assist missionaries in those countries, and a few years back in California in the late 90s, and early 00s taking care of his elderly mother, who passed away in 2001 just shy of her 90th birthday.
Bill was always the hardest working man in town. Even after he officially retired, he kept on working hard, and could often be found serving family and friends with his carpentry skills, free of charge. Just past his 92nd birthday last August, he was still pushing a wheel barrow around the yard doing yardwork. It wasn’t until congestive heart failure finally caught up with him in the last few months of life, that he finally traded in his work gloves, and that was not by choice.
The greatest consistent passion of Bill’s life was studying the Word of God, and swimming in the deep end of the theological pool. He loved to dig into the Bible, and he loved to discuss what he was learning. To talk to Bill for more than 5 minutes and not come away with a reading recommendation for how you could learn more about some subject that was particularly important to your life, would be a rare occurrence. If you saw him again, he would most likely have for you a book, pamphlet, or even a photocopy of an excerpt from a book. While he wasn’t always the most gentle in his manners when he was discussing theological matters about which he cared deeply, he was always well-intentioned and wanted everyone to know Jesus and come to understand the mysteries of the Gospel in the same way God had revealed them to him.
In the early hours of February 27, 2023, Bill’s heart stopped beating and he went to be with his Lord and Savior, and it would not be surprising if he is even now having a good-natured argument with the Apostle Paul over some esoteric doctrine. His family knows he was eager to be free from his mortal flesh and see again his wife who preceded him by a decade, but most assuredly his greatest desire was to see Jesus face to face, and hear those words, “well done.”
He is survived by his children David Kailey, (Tammy) Naomi Ortega (Frank), Dan Kailey (Kathy), and Elizabeth Ringle (Jon) his Grandchildren Jeffrey May (Kimberly), Michelle Tackett ( John David), Valerie Celik (Enes), Nicole Ashton (Philip) Joshua May, Ryan May, Isaac May, John Kailey, Hannah Kailey, Katherine Kailey Andrew Kailey and Evana Ringle. His great Grandchildren David May, Elizabeth Tackett, Natalie Tackett, Christian Tackett, Benjamin Tackett, Emre Celik, Ayla Celik and Robert Ashton.
A Graveside service will be held at Quantico National Cemetery, Joplin Road, Triangle, VA on Wednesday, March 8, 2023 at 1:00 PM
After being radically changed by God, he decided to attend Life Bible College in Los Angeles, CA where he met his future bride, Judy Pippin. After a short courtship, they were married on December 30, 1961. Their first child, David, was born in September of the next year, followed 18 months later by Naomi, two years after that Dan, and after an eight year hiatus, Elizabeth.
After college, the couple entered the ministry, moving across the country with three young kids and all their worldly possessions stuffed into a two-door coupe and a home-made trailer, to take up the pastorship of a small Four Square congregation in Arlington, VA. Pastoring a church, however, was not to be a long-term career for Bill, and he went looking for another line of work. In need of a job to support his family, God provided, and Bill took up carpentry, which he continued to do for the next six decades of his life.
Born and bred in southern California, Bill loved living in his adopted state of Virginia, and could often be heard saying, “Virginia is the state that’ll win ya.” He spent the rest of his life in Virginia except for a couple short stints in Lebanon and Jordan in the 1970s, using his carpentry skills to assist missionaries in those countries, and a few years back in California in the late 90s, and early 00s taking care of his elderly mother, who passed away in 2001 just shy of her 90th birthday.
Bill was always the hardest working man in town. Even after he officially retired, he kept on working hard, and could often be found serving family and friends with his carpentry skills, free of charge. Just past his 92nd birthday last August, he was still pushing a wheel barrow around the yard doing yardwork. It wasn’t until congestive heart failure finally caught up with him in the last few months of life, that he finally traded in his work gloves, and that was not by choice.
The greatest consistent passion of Bill’s life was studying the Word of God, and swimming in the deep end of the theological pool. He loved to dig into the Bible, and he loved to discuss what he was learning. To talk to Bill for more than 5 minutes and not come away with a reading recommendation for how you could learn more about some subject that was particularly important to your life, would be a rare occurrence. If you saw him again, he would most likely have for you a book, pamphlet, or even a photocopy of an excerpt from a book. While he wasn’t always the most gentle in his manners when he was discussing theological matters about which he cared deeply, he was always well-intentioned and wanted everyone to know Jesus and come to understand the mysteries of the Gospel in the same way God had revealed them to him.
In the early hours of February 27, 2023, Bill’s heart stopped beating and he went to be with his Lord and Savior, and it would not be surprising if he is even now having a good-natured argument with the Apostle Paul over some esoteric doctrine. His family knows he was eager to be free from his mortal flesh and see again his wife who preceded him by a decade, but most assuredly his greatest desire was to see Jesus face to face, and hear those words, “well done.”
He is survived by his children David Kailey, (Tammy) Naomi Ortega (Frank), Dan Kailey (Kathy), and Elizabeth Ringle (Jon) his Grandchildren Jeffrey May (Kimberly), Michelle Tackett ( John David), Valerie Celik (Enes), Nicole Ashton (Philip) Joshua May, Ryan May, Isaac May, John Kailey, Hannah Kailey, Katherine Kailey Andrew Kailey and Evana Ringle. His great Grandchildren David May, Elizabeth Tackett, Natalie Tackett, Christian Tackett, Benjamin Tackett, Emre Celik, Ayla Celik and Robert Ashton.
A Graveside service will be held at Quantico National Cemetery, Joplin Road, Triangle, VA on Wednesday, March 8, 2023 at 1:00 PM
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I don’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t know Grandpa Kailey and it never occurred to me not to call him that because I was so close to his family. I remember him always surprising me because he would speak sharply but then turn out to be joking, which he thought was hysterical. He had the best laugh and smile. He was always kind to me. He monitored his family’s woodstove and I remember him constantly chopping wood to keep everyone warm and toasty. I remember Bible studies with him and his deep commitment to it. It is very sad to think of not seeing him again, but happy to know he is well now.
I’ll never forget his smile or the way he would draw you in close by the arm when he had something important to share with you particularly in regards to Scripture. As hard as it is to know I may not see him again for some time, I’m very grateful for the 14 years I knew him in this life & look forward to seeing him again one day. My favorite verse since childhood is Philippians 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”, any tears I have shed are for our temporary loss while looking towards the joy of that which is coming, please know that God loves you, He wants you, simply accept His free gift of Salvation through Christ and one day you’ll see Bill “Gramps/Paka” again, this was what mattered most to him, that each of us have a personal, intimate relationship with God. We love you Gramps.
Dad (in law) I love you and you will always be in my heart. Thank you for your beautiful example of living in awe of our mutual Savior. I’m so glad you are finally with Him.
Kathy
Mr.Bill, we met at The King’s Chapel, in 2015, you soon became a huge part of our ministry here in the USA. Thank you for your support, friendship and great knowledge of God’s Word. You will be missed but I know you are finally home where you belong with your Savior and Lord. Goodnight Mr. Bill see you on that glorious morning.
Love,
Gary & Lisa…
He lived in our house where I was raised
Hardest working man never tired all day
Mama sent me out, lemonade in a cup
We talked about life and struck a friendship up
Said he fought in the war and it was crazy
Adored the mama of his four babies
While laying down bricks on my stairs late in June
He said “Don’t worry, I’ll see her real soon”
I asked what he meant, his response left no question
When he pulled out his bible with a cheerful expression
He said
“I raise up my hands and bow down my head
I’m finding the truth written right here in red
It tells me life’s more than just what I see
Oh yes in Christ I believe.”
Years later I sat by his bed late one night
Talkin’ ‘bout the life of Jesus Christ
Days later I got the bittersweet call
He’s finally holding her, praising God with his all
That night I thought to our last conversation
‘bout life and death and God’s salvation
Spent his last days obeying God with his whole
When he asked me that night saving one last lost soul
“Do you raise up your hands, do you bow down your head
Are you finding the truth in the words here in red
Do they tell you life’s more than just what you see
Oh yes in Christ, do you believe?”
He read to me that blessed, holy book
And studying it deep you know what he took
With every sweet chapter and every pure verse
He knew it wouldn’t end in a ride in a hearse
He knew it back then and now I do too
That we’ll all be together again someday soon
Praising God and rejoicing oh yes, it is true
And not with just him but with his wife too
So I raise up my hands and bow down my head
I’m finding the truth, it’s written in red
It tells me life’s more than just what I see
I believe in Christ oh do you believe?