William Emmett Sacra Jr

William Emmett Sacra, Jr., passed away peacefully Thursday, April 12, 2018, after a stroke, surrounded by his loving wife, Helen, and immediate family. Bill was two weeks shy of his 90th birthday. Born April 26, 1928, in Spotsylvania County, VA, Bill grew up on Linden Farm in Rapidan, VA. Bill graduated from Orange High School, Orange, VA, in 1945. He earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Virginia Military Institute, Class of 1950B; and a master’s degree in environmental engineering from Rutgers University in 1956, where he taught civil engineering for two years. He completed a year’s master’s education in civil engineering at the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology in Dayton, OH. Bill served during WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam War; then retired as a Major, U.S. Air Force. He was the owner of William E. Sacra & Associates, Consulting Engineers and Surveyors, in York, PA, with more than 60 employees (1963-1987). He managed several wastewater treatment plants and water departments (1956-1963 and 1987-1997). He continued doing consulting work up until his last week of life. He has been a Licensed Professional Engineer and Surveyor, as well as an active member of the American Water Works Association, for more than 60 years. He was President of the PA Water Environment Association, and a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers. A skilled equestrian, Bill rode in the 1985 Rose Bowl Parade with his Shriners’ mounted patrol drill team. He was also a decades-long member of the Rotary Club, American Legion, Moose Club, and the Elks. Bill and his wife Helen loved to teach ballroom dancing on cruise ships, and enjoyed traveling the world. Bill is survived by his beloved wife, Helen (Roy) Sacra; his daughters Cheryl (Charles) Sacra-Paden; Barbara (Joel) Burnett; and Jeanne (David) Moxley; his stepchildren Barry (Abbie) Roy; Roxanne (Terry) Bailey; and Derrick (LuAnn) Roy. Bill is also survived by his grandchildren Matthew, Amanda, Dustin, and Jason Paden, and Amelia Burnett, as well as step-grandchildren Mallory (Chase) Parker, Mason (Jayde) Bailey, Jonathan Roy, Jake Roy, Jack Roy, and two step-great-granddaughters, Sophie and Alice Parker. Bill is also survived by his two sisters-in-law, Sigrid Sacra and Ethel Sacra, and his brother-in-law Bill Sharp. Bill is preceded in death by his parents, William Emmett Sacra, Sr., and Della Alsop Sacra. Also preceding him in death are his siblings Louise (Lansdale) Boardman; Kenneth (Sigrid) Sacra; Richard “Goody” (Ethel) Sacra; and Margaret “Peggy” (Bill) Sharp. Bill’s beloved son, Robert Alan Sacra, died Oct. 6, 2014. Per Bill’s wishes, only immediate family attended his viewing. A Celebration of Life ceremony will be held at Waddell Memorial Presbyterian Church, 7133 Rapidan Road, Rapidan, VA, 22733 at 11:00 a.m., Wed, Aug. 1, 2018, honoring both Bill and his sister Peggy Sharp. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Waddell Memorial Presbyterian Church at P.O. Box. 27, Rapidan, VA 22733.

William Emmett Sacra Jr

April 26, 1928 - April 12, 2018