Chaplain LT. Colonel/Pastor William (Bill) W. Erbach Sr., U.S. Army Ret., devout husband to Martha for 61 years steadfast father for 66 years, made his final journey on Friday, July 24, 2026, and is in the presence of the Heavenly Hosts.

For all those who knew him, he is easily remembered as gregarious and robust, with a personality that preceded him in any room he entered. What is easily overlooked, however, is the single word that sums up who he was: Servant. He served the Lord for 60 years before finally retiring from the pulpit. He served his Country as an U.S. Army Chaplain for 24 of those years, earning the Purple Heart and Silver Star for his valorous actions in Vietnam. He served the communities he lived in as either a volunteer fire fighter, a Scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts of America, a substitute teacher, a football coach, a board member of the Strasburg Express Baseball, as a Mason and Shriner, Civil War battlefield preservationist, and as a volunteer librarian.

Though he will be missed by many, he will be missed most by his three children, two daughters-in-law, five grandchildren, three great grandchildren, and his sister and brother-in-law.

Second Timothy 4:7 sums up Pastor Bill’s life: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” To paraphrase Mathew 25:23, you can imagine his greeting from the Lord: “Well done, my good and faithful servant. … Come and share your Master’s happiness!” In keeping with his tradition of concluding every service with a blessing, let him offer you this final blessing: “The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace…in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.”

The family will gather to receive friends at Stover Funeral Home, Strasburg, VA on Thursday, July 30, 2026, from 6-8 p.m.

Mr. Erbach will be laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery.

You may submit your condolences online at www.stoverfuneralhome.com.

Stover Funeral Home and Crematory, Strasburg, VA is honored to serve the family of Chaplain LT. Colonel/Pastor William (Bill) W. Erbach Sr., U.S. Army Ret.