William L. Zlater (Bill), age 75 passed away peacefully in his sleep at home on July, 24th 2024 after his long battle of liver disease.

Bill was born on December 21, 1948 in Columbus, Ohio to Margaret Rinehart. Bill's life had very humble beginnings, being raised by a single Mom in the projects of Columbus with his 8 other siblings. His earlier childhood years shaped him into the hard working, legendary man he became. When he wasn't at school you could find him on a street corner in the city selling newspapers or shining shoes to help provide for his family. At the age of 18, he made the decision to enlist in the United States Marine Corps and was in combat for 7 months in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Bill continued to have a long successful career as a United States Marine and retired as a Master Sergeant after serving our country for 20 years. After his retirement from the Marine Corps, Bill went on to have a long successful career for the United States Department of State as a Contracting Officer, from 1987 until retiring in 2015. During his retirement Bill volunteered his time at the National Museum of the Marine Corps and was an active member of the Fredericksburg, Marine Corps League.

Bill met the love of his life Denise Stillwagon after returning home from Vietnam, January of 1970. They met at the VFW in Bellmawr, NJ where they were hosting a Dance Social for soldiers who had just returned home from the Vietnam War. Bill's dance moves that night swept Denise right off her feet and the two fell madly in love and were married shortly after, May 2, 1970.

Bill and Denise spent the next 4 years of their marriage, traveling with the military and falling more in love with each other before their first daughter Melinda (Mindy) was born in 1974 in California. Their second daughter Jacquelyn (Jacquie) was born February in 1976 in Maryland and their youngest daughter Jennifer (Jenny) was born in 1979 in South Carolina.

Military life continued to send the Zlater family abroad, taking them to Japan before Bill's final duty station in 1984 at Quantico, Virginia where Bill and Denise decided to lay down their roots and raise their family after his retirement in 1987 in Fredericksburg, VA.

Bill lived for his "girls", the OG Girl Dad. After work you would find him coaching the girls softball team, being the assistant Girl Scout Leader and driving them to various activities for school or dropping them off at the movies or the mall. I don't think Bill would ever tell his girls "No". On Saturday mornings he would make pancake breakfasts for his family before starting his day of endless "Honey Do's" around the house, building fences, sheds, swing sets, no task was too difficult for him to take on and after working all day around the house, he would fire up the grill to make a delicious feast for his family.

Bill's love and pride for his family was always showing, especially when he became a Grandfather! Bill was a Grandfather to 11, Austin, Michael, Kiera, Jacob, Mackenzie, Tristin, Ryan, Nathanael, Jack, Philip & Cecil. Bill & Denise's (Pa & Gaggee) house was always full of laughter, love and joy. Summer days were spent boating, fishing or swimming at the lake and evenings filled with good food and family & friends. Holiday traditions were filled with music, decorating for the holidays, baking cookies, large feasts and of course pictures with silly hats Gaggee would buy us every year to take pictures. Family traditions and spending time were very important and every few years, Pa and Gaggee would take their entire family on exciting adventures on various cruise ships for Family Vacations.

Bill was known for his heart of gold and his love and passion for his family, friends and life, his departure has left a deep wound for his entire family and all those that have called him a friend. He is survived by his wife Denise G. Zlater, his 3 daughters Melinda Hibbs and spouse Kyle Hibbs, Jacquelyn Zlater & Jennifer Thomas and spouse Nathan Thomas, his 2 Son "Out-Laws" Julio Pena-Martinze & Christopher Mitchell and 11 Grandchildren Austin, Michael, Kiera, Jacob, Mackenzie, Tristin, Ryan, Nathanael, Jack, Philip & Cecil.