William E. "Bill" Delp

William “Bill” Edward Delp, 78, of Ft. Walton Beach, FL, passed away on Jan 28 after battling lung cancer, COPD and associated complications.

Bill was born in Princeton, West Virginia on Jan 2, 1941, to Emory William and Hallie Mae Delp.  He grew up in Bluefield, Virginia, attending Graham High School, Bluefield College and McLains Business College.  He married Linda Lou Kidd in 1959 and entered the US Air Force in 1960, serving as an airborne radio technician.  Following his service, he worked in Virginia and Kentucky as a commercial communications radio technician.  After the birth of son Stephen in 1964 and daughter Linda Gail in 1965, the family moved to Ft. Walton Beach and Bill started Ft. Walton Communication, Inc.

Due to Bill’s dedication and hard work, the company enjoyed considerable success as the local area’s sole Motorola Service Station (MSS).  For more than 40 years, the company faithfully served local, state, and federal agencies, law enforcement, emergency response, Eglin AFB, and countless local merchants.  In 2007, Bill transitioned the company into a commercial radio/cellular tower communications service, with Bill remaining owner and president until his death.

Bill was an extremely dedicated man, to his family, his company, and his community.  He was committed to supporting his children’s education and activities through their school years and careers.  Bill also made the welfare of his employees a top priority, treating them as family and mentoring many.  Bill’s loyalty, concern, and care for his employees were returned by many of them serving loyally for more than 30 years.  As for the community, Bill was a devoted member of the Ft. Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce for over 50 years.  He also remained active in supporting local athletics with company sponsorship, faithful attendance and support for many men’s, women’s, coed, and little league softball and baseball teams.  In addition, Bill became an avid aviator, earning his private pilot’s license with multiple advanced ratings. 

Surviving are Bill’s many loved ones:  his wife of 60 years Linda Lou Delp; son Stephen Edward Delp; daughter Linda Gail Snedeker Faulkner (Richard); grandchild Kyle William Snedeker (Leslie); great-grandchildren Eli Brayden Snedeker and Maddie Grace Snedeker; sisters Brenda J. Covert and Fay A. Maines; sister-in-law Barbara A. Delp; and many nieces, nephews, step-grandchildren, and step-great-grandchildren.  Bill was preceded by his parents and brother, James Mason Delp.

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