William Ellis Minnick, 82, of Gloucester, entered peacefully into his heavenly home Thursday, August 17, 2023, with his wife by his side. He was born in Shelby, North Carolina, on March 30, 1941. Bill graduated from Newport News High School in 1959 and The Apprentice School at Newport News Shipyard. He spent most of his years in Newport News working as an electrical engineer for several companies, the first and last being Newport News Shipbuilding.

Bill was a member of Cornerstone Fellowship Church. He served on the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Board and Gloucester County Wetlands Board and was a longtime member of the Middle Peninsula Amateur Radio Club and a former member of the Abingdon Ruritans Club. Bill loved projects and building various things on his property, including designing and building a front-end loader for his Power King tractor. He loved living on the water, sitting on the pier, and boating, and he loved his cats, especially “Buddy” and “Sister.”

Bill is survived by his wife of 57 years, Elaine Peck Minnick; three daughters, Elizabeth Smith (Leonard), Molly Bargerstock (Michael), and Tina Vadas (George); two grandchildren, Vicky Nidbella and Gracie Bargerstock; three great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

The family wishes to thank all the caring staff at Charter Assisted Living of Williamsburg and Liz Scaggs from Traditions Health Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Gloucester-Mathews Humane Society, P.O. Box 385, Gloucester, Va. 23061.

The family received friends on Wednesday, August 23, 2023 at Peninsula Funeral Home, with a funeral service, conducted by Pastor Bill West, following. Private interment was held at Oakland Christian Church in Newman Memorial Cemetery, 5641 Godwin Blvd., Suffolk, Va. 23434.

Arrangements are under the care of Peninsula Funeral Home, 11144 Warwick Blvd., Newport News, Va. 23601.