Stiner, William Evan

William Evan (Bill) Stiner, 67, of Fairlawn, Va., died in his home surrounded by loving family and friends on Wednesday, October 21, 2009. He was born on January 9, 1942, in “The Last Best Place,” Big Sky, Townsend, Mont. His soul, heart, and mind, therefore, were always tied to mountains and natural beauty. He died in the mature mountains of beautiful Southwest Virginia, completing the metaphor of life.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ann Marie Stiner, and William Prosser Stiner; a sister, Carol Ann Mason; and his first wife, Deloris Catherine Thulin Stiner.

Bill was a member of First United Methodist Church in Pulaski. He had many careers throughout his life; military, counselor and hospital administrator. However, it was in the New River Valley he found his true calling: teaching psychology at New River Community College for the past four years. He deeply cared for his students. Many a night, he could be found at his computer trying to track down one of his students to encourage them to turn in a project because he truly wanted them to succeed.

He is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 25 years, Linda Sayers Stiner; daughter and son-in-law, Seanna and Chad Carter, of South Korea, and daughter and son-in-law, Kim and Chip Coman, of Chelsea , Ala.; son and daughter-in-law, Evan and Kristen Stiner, of Beaufort, S.C.; stepdaughter, Shannon Bruce, of Fairlawn; stepson, Robert Bruce and his wife, Gretchen, of Austin, Texas; brother and sister-in-law, Dana and Barbara Stiner, of Bellingham, Wash.; sister and brother-in-law, Mary Jay and Steve Kitt, of Albuquerque, N.M.; brothers-in-law, Dennis Sayers and wife, Anne, of Fairlawn, and Maynard Sayers and wife, Sharon, of Dublin; his special mother-in-law who loved to cook for him, Ruth James, of Fairlawn; seven grandchildren who loved their Papa; numerous nieces and nephews; and very dear friends, Sam and Pam Feazell of Southlake, Texas, and dear friend and surgeon, Stuart Goldstein, of Fairlawn.

Before his death, Bill said, “If wealth is measured by friends, I will die rich beyond my ability to imagine.”

A prayer service will be held 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 25, 2009, at the Family Life Center of First United Methodist Church, Pulaski, Va. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of William E. Stiner to the New River Community College Education Foundation, Box 1127, Dublin, Va. 24084. The Stiner family is in the care of Mullins Funeral Home & Crematory in Radford, Va., www.mullinsfuneralhome.com.