WICOMICO CHURCH—William Harry Muller, 70, died at his home in Wicomico Church on October 4, 2017.
Born in Dillon, S.C., in 1947, he was the son of Dr. and Mrs. William H. Muller Jr. of Charlottesville. Harry entered the University of Miami in 1967 and interrupted his academic career to join the military. He served as a first lieutenant in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969 and was awarded a purple heart for injury in combat. Returning stateside he completed his studies at University of Miami in 1972 and was then accepted into the University of Virginia School of Law, graduating in 1975.
After practicing law in Charlottesville for several years, he worked for Sprint in Kansas City, Mo., and then OSP Consultants in Sterling, before joining Quanta Industries in Philadelphia, Pa., as a corporate contract negotiator, a position he held until shortly before his death.
As a lover of the Northern Neck he attained his pilot’s license and bought a plane so that he could get to his home on Crane’s Creek in Wicomico Church in short order. Eventually he opened an office nearby and fulfilled his consultant duties from there.
Harry was proficient in several extracurricular areas and excelled as an avid cyclist, pilot and woodworker, and was a skilled sailor as well. Learning to sail at age 8, he became a racing enthusiast and in 2014 won The Race for Independence, a charity fundraiser for veterans. He was a consummate woodworker and his home has many examples of his fine craftsmanship.
Harry loved animals and supported the Animal Welfare League of the Northern Neck and the Northumberland Animal Shelter. He was a member of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Kilmarnock.
He is survived by his three children, Rebecca Anne Muller of Charlottesville, Dr. Mark William Muller and his wife, Dr. Hannah Muller of Salisbury, Md., Matthew Thomas Muller and his wife, Laura Shayder of Olympia,Wash., a sister, Marietta Muller Gwathmey and husband, Frank of Wilmington, N.C., and brother, John Lewis Muller and wife, Kate of Weems. Also surviving are his beloved companion, Lane Johnston of Wicomico Church and several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will take place at 3 p.m. Saturday, October 14, at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Kilmarnock. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Andrew’s Church, the Northumberland Animal Shelter, or the Emily Couric Cancer Center at The University of Virginia.
Currie Funeral Home LLC of Kilmarnock handled the arrangements.
