WILLIAM CLYDE GOBBLE

William “Bill” Clyde Gobble, 93, passed away peacefully at home in Sugar City, Idaho on Thursday, May 25, 2023. He was born in Appalachia, Virginia to Clyde and Mary (Johnson) Gobble.

Bill entered military service in 1951. He served in the Air Force Air Defense Command in Colorado Springs, Colorado for 3 years. While on furlough in 1951, he returned home to Virginia to marry his sweetheart Lil. Following his military service he moved to Indianapolis, Indiana to continue his career as a Computer Programmer for Grain Dealers Mutual Insurance Company. Bill helped program the first computer at Grain Dealers and was a pioneer in the computer age of their company.

In 1987, he and Lil returned to Wise County, Virginia to work at the Wise County Court House. He dedicated his retirement years to genealogy research serving as President of the Wise County Historical Society for 26 years and Treasurer of the Southwest Virginia Historical Society for 20 years.

In 2018, they moved with their daughter and son-in-law to live in Idaho. He enjoyed his remaining years spending time with his family, watching Yankees baseball, and listening to the Golden Oldies. He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in various callings over the course of 63 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Betty Flanary Debusk.

He is survived by his wife of 72 years Lillian (Hamilton) Gobble; son, Russ (Teresa) Gobble; daughter, Karen (Jerry) Yates; brother, Jim Gobble; sister, Carol Blazzard; 8 grandchildren, Courtney (Ryan) Thayne, Justin (Jessica) Gobble, Heather (Spencer) Haacke, Travis (Sarah) Gobble, Lindsey (Justin) Shaw, Kyle (Erin) Gobble, Ashley (Brett) Nance and Kristen (Walter) Weidner; 24 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and a host of other family and friends.

Funeral service was held on Tuesday, May 30, at the Sugar City LDS Stake Center. The family received friends that morning from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at the stake center prior to services. Military Rites were held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, June 5, 2023 at the Powell Valley Memorial Gardens in Big Stone Gap. Burial followed. Family and friends met at the cemetery for services.

Please visit www.sturgillfuneral.com to leave online condolences for the family.

Sturgill Funeral Home 1621 Norton Road SW Wise, VA 24293 is in charge of arrangements.