William (Billy) Carl Stechmiller Obituary (1951

William (Billy) Carl Stechmiller died on November 30 at ET York Hospice Center from complications of Lupus. He was born at Alachua General Hospital (AGH) on August 14,1951. At the age of three, he was struck by a car, and was in a coma for 37 days at AGH. Partially paralyzed on the right side, he had a long recovery with intermittent seizures for which he took Dilantin. At the age of 12 he developed Lupus, likely from the Dilantin. For the next sixty years, he battled the many complications of Lupus. Undeterred, he graduated at the age of 22 from UF in 1973 and played the trumpet in the UF Marching Band (the only Stechmiller to make it to Florida Field). He earned a Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of West Virginia in 1978 and then served in VISTA from 1978-1980 in Olean, New York. He then worked briefly in Hickory, N.C. and moved back to Gainesville in the mid 80's.He worked at Older American's Council where he met Elizabeth (Betsy) Andrews in 1989. They both became members of the United Church of Gainesville (1624 NW 5th Ave.) and they were married there in 2003. Lupus Cerebritis, nephritis and coagulopathy led to his disability and retirement in 1994 but he continued serving by volunteering at Alz Place (Alzheimers) for nearly twenty years and Haven Hospice. He was a member of the Gainesville Community Band and was mentored by virtuoso trumpet player Bill Dishman. Billy is survived by his wife Betsy, brother Bruce Stechmiller (Joyce) niece Stephanie Girardi (Matt), nephew Chris Stechmiller, nephew Evan Stechmiller (Charlotte, Griffin and Micah), nephew Kirk Stechmiller and niece Tara King (John, Drake and Ryan). Betsy and Bruce would like to thank the wonderful members of United Church of Gainesville for their support and his doctors: Henry Babers, Jape Taylor, Hal Brodsky, Eric Sobel and Molly Mandernach. Funeral service will be Monday, Dec. 11 at United Church of Gainesville 1624 NW 5th Ave at 2PM. A reception there will follow the service.