In Memoriam:
Bill Belew
It is with sadness that we inform the WANADA membership of the passing of long-term Washington area auto industry executive Bill Belew. He died last Sunday, August 2 passing in his sleep at the age of 84.
After service in the U.S. Navy, William R. Belew, Jr. spent a good bit of his extensive auto dealer career in the metro Washington area. He worked for Sheehy Auto Stores as a fixed operations manager at Sheehy Ford in Marlow Heights. Subsequently, he was the fixed operations manager at Covington Buick/GMC in Silver Spring. In 2000, he joined the WANDA staff to coordinate WANADAês dealer career training programs in auto technology that were well underway in the school systems of Montgomery, Fairfax and Prince Georgeês Counties. With his expertise at fixed operations, Bill was instrumental in establishing WANADAês Auto Dealer Education Institute in 2001, with its successful Auto Technician Development Program at Montgomery College in Rockville and Marshall Academy in Falls Church. And while at WANADA, he served in the leadership of the Montgomery Students Automotive Trades Foundation, overseeing the eminently successful Mini Dealership Technician Training Program through Montgomery County Public Schools.
Bill stepped out of WANADA in 2011 to be with his beloved Lillian, who passed away in 2013.
He is survived by his three children William R. Belew, III, Christina Belew and Rosemary Pastore as well as Lillianês nephew Theodore Theophilos. In addition he leaves two grandchildren and a great grandchild.
Funeral arrangements are tomorrow, Friday, August 7, at Collins Funeral Home, 500 University Blvd West, Silver Spring Maryland. The family will be available at Collins Funeral Home to well-wishers from 10 – 11a.m., with a memorial service to follow. Interment will be at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Silver Spring.
Those wishing to remember Bill with a memorial contribution can make it to the charity of their choice, noting that it is in memory of William R. Belew, Jr, C/o his son William Robert Belew, III, 7408 North 87th Avenue, Omaha, NE 68122.
To Billês family and his many friends in the Washington area dealer community, WANADA extends its sincerest sympathies.
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