Billy Vann Clem

Billy V. Clem, born February 23, 1938, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on February 1, 2022.  Billy was the youngest of 10 siblings born to the late Tobias and Maggie Clem of St David’s Church, Fort Valley, Virginia.  Billy and the love of his life, Kathaleen Spiggle Clem of Edinburg, married nearly 66 years ago on August 7^th, 1956.  He is survived by his sweetheart, Kathaleen, and his four children, Terri (Greg) Cotten, Cindy (Thomas) Seaborn, Vann (Elisabeth) Clem, Scott (Kim) Clem.  Billy has 18 grandchildren, Lloyd, Toby, David, Nathan, Emilie, Megan, Julie, Hunter, Caleb, Lucinda, Lauren, Margaret, Brooke, Grant, Spencer, Jordan, Duane, and Anthony, and presently 24 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

After various jobs as a young man, he ventured into training as a fingerprint reader for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Washington, DC.  He soon realized there was too much country in his soul for such city life and returned to the valley, working as a linesman for Shenandoah Telephone.  After getting his fill of climbing telephone poles in thunderstorms, Billy landed a more satisfactory arrangement at Stromberg Carlson and Sperry Marine in Charlottesville, Virginia.  Subsequently, Billy joined the Nuclear Research team at the University of Virginia.  After a brief stint with Forest Hill Associates, he returned to UVA, helping to wind up the nuclear research project, then continued with the UVA Material Science Department, ultimately working at UVA Hospital Clinical Engineering for several years before retiring in 2002.  All this while, Billy put his many talents to use as a handyman and helped many, many people - he was truly a “jack of all trades.”  He always kiddingly said he was “master of none” but his co-workers, associates, supervisors, and customers all concur he was an amazing craftsman. 

Billy moved his family to Free Union, Virginia in 1962, Crozet in 1967, then to Stony Point, in 1973, where he and Kathaleen have resided since.  

In the early ’60s, Billy was awakened to his personal need for a Savior, accepting Christ’s work on Calvary on his behalf.  Throughout his life, while not perfect, Billy endeavored to demonstrate God’s love to all.  He was quick to start a conversation with many, as he never met a stranger.  Billy is known for his famous hugs of greeting for all ages.  He readily expressed appreciation for the Lord’s love, his love for his family, his love for his Christian family, and for his “neighbor.”

To commemorate his life, and rejoice with the family in his move to his new home with Christ, a home-going service will be held at 2:30 pm, Sunday, February 13, 2022, at the Pavilion of Eden Ministries, 2900 Merrie Meadows Lane, Keswick, Virginia.  If you would like to receive the Livestream link please email your request to: bvcmemorial@outlook.com.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to Hospice of the Piedmont, 675 Peter Jefferson Pkwy, Unit 300, Charlottesville, Virginia, 22911 or to your local chapter of the American Red Cross.