William Brady
July 27, 1924 — September 21, 2016
William Owen Brady
William Owen Brady, age 92, passed away on September 21, 2016, at his home at the Country Meadows Retirement Community, in Frederick, Maryland.
Mr. Brady was born July 27, 1924, in Washington, D.C., the only child to the late James E. and Thelma Z. Brady. He was the widower of the late Annette P. Brady, his wife of 65 years, who passed away on July 28, 2014.
He grew up on 5th Street, N.E., Washington, DC and graduated from McKinley Tech High School in 1943. .
Mr. Brady served honorably in the U.S. Army during World War II from 1943 to 1946. He entered active duty on August 16, 1943, at Ft. Myer, VA. After basic training, he served as a Rifleman Instructor, Infantry Basic Training, at Camp Croft, SC. Mr. Brady left for Europe on February 3, 1945. He served in the Rhineland of Germany and France (Central Europe) and led a squad of 12 men with Company C, 62nd Armed Infantry Battalion, 14th Armored Division. He fought in numerous battles and campaigns, including the Siegfried Line campaign which witnessed the US Army's most bitter fighting and set the stage for the final assault on the Rhine, leading the way into the heart of Germany. He earned the Good Conduct Medal, American Theater Ribbon, European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon and WWII Victory Ribbon.
Bill and Annette grew up across the street from one another. Bill taught her how to ride a bike and many years later taught her how to drive a car. Bill converted to Catholicism prior to his marriage to Annette Prencipe of Washington, D.C. on January 2, 1949, at St. Francis Xavier Church, Washington, D.C. He was a devout Catholic and a man of strong faith which sustained him throughout his life. He was the dedicated and loving Father to four children - Thomas C. (Annette) Brady, Kathleen (Wayne) Smith, James L. (Martha) Brady, Anita (Ronald) Bartlinski, and a proud and loving grandfather to eight grandchildren Brady (and Wendy) Smith, Karla (and David) Heinen, Sean and Nicholas Bartlinski, Nicola (and Kevin) Magley, William O. Brady II (Billy) Brady, Kevin (and fiancée Emily) Brady and James (and Molly) Brady. He was also the proud great-grandfather of Justine and Bryce Heinen and Thomas Magley.
Bill worked as a watchmaker for a Washington, D.C. jewelry store when he returned home from his military service. He began working for the National Security Agency in 1953 and retired in 1980.
Mr. and Mrs. Brady raised their four children in West Hyattsville, Maryland from 1954 to 1959 and then in Greenbelt, Maryland from 1959 to 1975. Mr. Brady had the distinction of being a very hands-on Dad from the beginning, helping with the care of his children and always a partner to his wife, Annette. He lovingly put forth extra effort to connect with each of his children and for this reason, he had a special relationship with each one.
Mr. and Mrs. Brady moved to Chevy Chase, N.W., Washington, D.C. in 1975 where they were members of the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament; then to Manteo, NC in 1986; and to Lake Heritage in Gettysburg, PA in 1989, where he and Annette were members of St. Francis Xavier Church. Their final move was to the Country Meadows Retirement Community in Frederick, Maryland in June 2013. They made new friends wherever they went and maintained very special life-long friendships.
After he and Mrs. Brady retired in 1980, they traveled throughout the U.S. and abroad and enjoyed their grandchildren.
Mr. Brady was a lifelong member of the Knights of Columbus and the American Legion; served as an usher at St. Hugh’s Church in Greenbelt, Maryland; and participated in numerous other volunteer activities. He was well known for his infectious laugh and his love for children and animals. He loved his childhood German Shepherd, Queenie, and the family pet, Chipper, but also watched and enjoyed other creatures such as birds and unusual white squirrels at his home in Gettysburg. He was very sympathetic to those less fortunate and always extended a friendly hand to others in need.
Mr. Brady developed Parkinson’s disease late in life, but as the disease took its toll on his health, he never complained and was always more concerned with others. He will be missed beyond words and remembered forever in our hearts.
Mr. Brady also leaves behind his sister-in-law and husband, Evelyn and Jonas Umholtz of Florida and numerous nephews and nieces, who Bill and Annette loved dearly.
Friends may call at Stauffer Funeral Home, 1621 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick, MD 21702 on Tuesday, September 27, 2016, from 2-4 pm. and from 6-8 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, 118 E. 2nd Street, Frederick, Maryland 21701 on Wednesday, September 28, 2016, at 1 pm, Internment with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery, along with his dear wife, Annette, will be scheduled at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Mr. Brady’s favorite charities - the Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250 (
www.dav.org
The family would like to thank Right-at-Home, and especially Debbie Blank, who was both Annette and Bill’s primary caregiver since 2014, for her incredibly professional and compassionate care. She was our angel sent from heaven and we don’t know what we would have done without her.
We would also like to thank Hospice of Frederick County for their care of both Bill and Annette in their final days. Memorial contributions may also be made in Bill’s memory to Hospice of Frederick County, PO Box 1799, Frederick, MD 21702, to Parkinson’s Research Foundation, 5969 Cattleridge Blvd, Suite 100, Sarasota, FL 34232 (
www.ParkinsonHope.org
Arrangements are by Stauffer Funeral Home and Stauffer Crematory, Frederick. Online condolences may be expressed at staufferfuneralhome.com