William Knox Mawyer

William Knox Mawyer died peacefully in his home on Friday, May 10, 2024. He was 93. He was born in Albemarle County February 1, 1931 to the late Dewey S. Mawyer and the late Blanche Loving Mawyer. He was preceded in death by his sister, Constance M. Temple. He is survived by his wife of nearly 67 years, Betty Burch Mawyer of Sandston; his sons, Bobby (Carol) Mawyer and Brad (Lisa) Mawyer; grandchildren, Matthew Mawyer, Katie (Michael) Poppe, Sarah (Sam) Ridenhour, Mason (Emily) Mawyer and Morgan Mawyer; one great-granddaughter, Emma Ridenhour; and numerous nieces and nephews. He graduated Red Hill High School, attended the University of Virginia and graduated from the Jefferson School of Commerce. He served in the US Air Force and attended Control Tower Operations School at Scott AFB after basic training. He worked as an Air Traffic Controller at Castle AFB in Merced, CA, for two years. He attended Ground Control Approach Radar School at Kessler AFB in Biloxi, Mississippi after which he was stationed in Japan during the Korean War. Upon returning to the states he was hired by the Civil Aeronautics Administration (predecessor to the FAA) and started his career in Richmond, before being assigned to Williamsport, PA, then to Lynchburg, before returning to Richmond in 1954. He became a supervisor and attended the Management Training School at Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma. He retired from the FAA in 1985. Prior to and in retirement he was active in a number of community activities. He volunteered at the Virginia Aviation Museum during the entire time it was opened. He was a member of the Virginia Aviation Historical Society; an active member of Corinth United Methodist Church where he served on numerous committees; a founding member of the Exchange Club of East Henrico and was active in the development of the Chickahominy YMCA. Visitation will be held Wednesday, May 15, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Nelsen Funeral Home, 4650 S. Laburnum Ave., Richmond, VA 23231. A funeral service will be conducted at Corinth United Methodist Church in Sandston on Thursday, May 16, at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Mooreland Baptist Church Cemetery, North Garden, VA at 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Mooreland Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, P. O. Box 216, North Garden, VA 22959. Online condolences may be made at www.nelsenrichmond.com.