William V. Gwathmey Sr.

William “Bill” Vincent Gwathmey passed away unexpectedly on August 5, 2020 of natural causes. Born on March 11, 1932 in Manhattan, New York, he was the son of the late Gertrude Lee (Gwathmey) Mayfield. Bill was educated in the Baltimore City Public School system, graduating in 1949. Although trained as a shoemaker, he worked in a variety of jobs (including over 12 years at General Motors) before returning to school in the 1960’s to pursue his technical interests. Bill first attended Baltimore Junior College (now Baltimore City Community College) and later graduated from the former Radio, Electronic, and Television School (RETS) that was located in Halethorpe, MD. After a brief stint in radio as both a board operator and announcer to gain experience, he was hired as a technician with the American Telephone and Telegraph (AT&T) Company. For the next 25 years until his retirement in 1989, Bill rose through the corporate ranks and eventually became one of the first African American supervisors in the Baltimore region. Later as a Field Instructor, he traveled extensively to conduct staff trainings on electrical transmission equipment at station sites both nationally and internationally. After his time with the telephone company, Bill continued to maintain an active lifestyle by keeping up with family, church events, and current affairs. He was a 60 year member of Providence Baptist Church in Baltimore, staying particularly active in the Men’s ministry. Always making friends wherever he went, “Mr. Bill” as many called him was also known for being a great listener, often saying that, “…a good pair of ears can wear out a thousand tongues.” Bill is survived by his son Michael (Regina), his two grandchildren Marcia and Theodore, as well as a host of nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife Margaret and sister Evelyn. A graveside service will be held on Friday, August 14, 2020 at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Baltimore for only the immediate family due to COVID-19 concerns. However a memorial service is planned for Spring, 2021. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Providence Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland http://www.providencebaptistchurchinc.com/

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William V. Gwathmey Sr.

March 11, 1932 - August 5, 2020