William Byron Whartnaby died peacefully on July 16th at the Mountain Home VA Medical Center in Johnson City, TN. Byron endured the challenges of pulmonary fibrosis and compromised lung capacity for some time, and, ultimately, his heart and lungs could not sustain him.  He was grateful for the care provided by the VA staff on the hospice unit.

Byron was a unique spirit who wandered the earth to the tune of his own drummer.   He will be remembered by friends who knew him well for his humble manner, generosity of spirit, and quirky and unpredictable commentary on life.  We never knew what he might say.  Sometimes he challenged us with his controversial thinking.  Other times he just made us laugh!!  When notified of his death, friends remembered him with comments like: "He made me laugh every day," "He taught me so much," "So glad I knew him."  Byron will be missed by us all.

Byron was born in Wilmington, Delaware, on April 18, 1942, son of Elizabeth Seery and William T. J. Whartnaby. He attended school in Wilmington, graduating from Colwyck High School in 1961. After high school, Byron enlisted in the United States Air Force. While the Air Force did not become his career, his chosen path provided him with a life of unique opportunities and the friendships made along the way.

Byron was intrigued by all things mechanical from an early age. As a child, he took great delight in disassembling household objects and then trying to reassemble them. While not always successful, he honed his skills in adulthood. From his early days in cybersecurity in the Air Force, Byron was intrigued by technology and, after discharge, worked for a variety of technology-related companies.

Those jobs took him back to Wilmington, to Silver Spring, MD, and ultimately to Southern California. While in Southern California, he worked sales for a time in Italy, an adventure he thoroughly enjoyed and remembered fondly. In SoCal, Byron met Genrik and Peggy Sirvis and went to work with them at DEI. He soon became a part of the family, referring to them as "Mama" and "Papa" and to their daughter, Barb, as his "little sister."  They referred to him as their "unofficially-adopted son" He stayed loyal to Genrik and Peggy and when Genrik required dialysis three times each week, Byron would take him, sitting by his bedside where the two of them swapped life stories. When they traveled to Vermont to see their daughter, he went with them as companion, chauffeur, and baggage handler.

Ultimately, Byron started his own company, making "interface conversion products" and internet diagnostics. He was ahead of his time, creating early remote work for his employees. He closed the business after a decade and began a wandering journey that led him to Florida where he attended bartending school.  Ultimately, he returned to California to take care of his adoptive parents and oversee the closure of their company. After California, he tried Arizona, first in Phoenix and then in the mountains of Payson. When his lung challenges began, he searched for the best VA in the country and moved to Johnson City to be near Mountain Home, VA. It was an excellent choice, and the staff provided the best of care including the last three weeks of his life spent in the hospice unit.  They were warm and caring, regularly thanked him for his military service, and laughed at his unusual sense of humor.

Byron had several pets who were like family to him. Vinny, the dog, and later Ansel and Peepers, two black and white cats, were favorites. He asked that their ashes be mixed with his, so they are together forever.

Byron was predeceased by his biological parents Elizabeth and "T.J." and his "adoptive" parents Genrik and Margaret ("Peggy) Sirvis. He is survived by his adoptive sister Dr. Barbara Pickard Sirvis of South Burlington, VT, cousins in the Philadelphia area and a diverse collection of friends across the country.

Asked if he had any parting words, ultimately his response was "Byron has left the building." He asked that his ashes be scattered in North Carolina, Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia, and the California desert. May he rest in gentle peace and his memory be a blessing to all.

Byron requested that memorial donations "Support friends in need." Donations in Byron's memory also may be made to:

Mountain Home Veterans Administration Medical Center

Volunteer services – Community Living Center (CLC-1)

P.O. Box 4000

Mountain Home, TN 37684

(423) 926-1171

Or a charity of one's choice.