Obituary for William Duke "Bill" Headen
William “Bill" Duke Headen, 77, of Salem VA, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, March 21, 2023.
He was born on November 26, 1945, to the late William Walter Headen and Mildred Austin Duke Headen. After graduation from Andrew Lewis High School in 1965, Bill joined the Army, was an Army Reservist, and was honorably discharged with the rank of Drill Sargeant. A childhood love of airplanes and steam engines led Bill to a job at Norfolk Southern Railway, where he remained for 38 years, but spending time with his children brought him the most joy. Bill loved football and shared this passion with his children, traveling to Green Bay for games, and spending many Saturdays together watching college football, especially cheering on his favorite team, UVA. His love for football led him to coach little league for Salem Parks and Recreation for 12 years. In his later years, he found great joy in driving a school bus for the City of Salem and valued the friendships he made with his parents and other school bus drivers. Bill was a talented pen and ink artist who wrote beautiful poetry. He was a lifelong member of the Salem Church of Christ and cherished his church home and family.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his sisters, Martha Ann Headen, and Frances Headen Baker. Left to cherish his memory are his children, Ann Paige Lawrence (David), Joshua Francis Headen (Laura), Barbara Joy Headen (William Brantley), Robert Christian Headen; grandchildren, Anna Barrett (Taylor), Hudson Lawrence, Kane E. Headen; niece, Susan Grozier (Doug); nephew Scott Baker (Rhonda).
A service to celebrate Bill’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at the Salem Church of Christ with Pastor Scott Baker and Pastor Taylor Plott officiating. The family will receive friends from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. on Monday, March 27, 2023 at the John M. Oakey & Son funeral home located in Salem, Va.
Online condolences may be left for the family by visiting www.johnmoakey.com.
He was born on November 26, 1945, to the late William Walter Headen and Mildred Austin Duke Headen. After graduation from Andrew Lewis High School in 1965, Bill joined the Army, was an Army Reservist, and was honorably discharged with the rank of Drill Sargeant. A childhood love of airplanes and steam engines led Bill to a job at Norfolk Southern Railway, where he remained for 38 years, but spending time with his children brought him the most joy. Bill loved football and shared this passion with his children, traveling to Green Bay for games, and spending many Saturdays together watching college football, especially cheering on his favorite team, UVA. His love for football led him to coach little league for Salem Parks and Recreation for 12 years. In his later years, he found great joy in driving a school bus for the City of Salem and valued the friendships he made with his parents and other school bus drivers. Bill was a talented pen and ink artist who wrote beautiful poetry. He was a lifelong member of the Salem Church of Christ and cherished his church home and family.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his sisters, Martha Ann Headen, and Frances Headen Baker. Left to cherish his memory are his children, Ann Paige Lawrence (David), Joshua Francis Headen (Laura), Barbara Joy Headen (William Brantley), Robert Christian Headen; grandchildren, Anna Barrett (Taylor), Hudson Lawrence, Kane E. Headen; niece, Susan Grozier (Doug); nephew Scott Baker (Rhonda).
A service to celebrate Bill’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at the Salem Church of Christ with Pastor Scott Baker and Pastor Taylor Plott officiating. The family will receive friends from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. on Monday, March 27, 2023 at the John M. Oakey & Son funeral home located in Salem, Va.
Online condolences may be left for the family by visiting www.johnmoakey.com.