William "Bill" Darwin Sturgell, Sr.

William Darwin Sturgell, (91), of Friendship, Maryland, passed away peacefully the morning of September 17, 2026. Born in Ashland, Kentucky, on August 8, 1935, to his parents William B. Sturgell and Cordelia Blanche (Jones) Sturgell, Bill’s work ethic started early. Beginning at the young age of 8, he began delivering newspapers on his bicycle. His middle and high school years were spent in Miami, where he continued working as a newspaper delivery boy before school under the shadow of the Orange Bowl. But he was also a two-sport athlete and worked a second job as a bookkeeper for a local florist. That work ethic followed him throughout his life. After high school, while working for the FBI in Washington, DC, Bill attended evening class at the Strayer Business College. It was at the FBI where he met Barbara Anne Hamblin, his future wife. The two were married at the Bolling AFB Chapel on May 13, 1955, and celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary in 2024. Bill has been a resident of south county for 68 years. As the family grew, Bill and Barbara left the D.C. metro area and ended up moving to Deale in southern Anne Arundel County. Easily recognizable by his black crew cut and infectious smile, Bill focused on providing for his family by working multiple jobs including the local Sinclair gas station, with H&R Block, driving school buses, Captain Kidd’s, Jim’s BBQ, and eventually, the Mazo-Lerch Company, where he began a successful career in institutional food sales. Joining PYA Monarch a few years later, he would subsequently complete 50 years of outstanding service with US Foods in 2024. Because of his extensive career in the food service industry, the children remember fondly their dad, often giving driving directions based on the location of restaurants in the area in which they were traveling. And many a weekend afternoon in recent years were spent with Barbara together, driving the roads of southern Maryland, shopping and eating at familiar local haunts or new restaurants. The children also remember the many daylong trips their father would take them on in the mid-Atlantic region, Ocean City, Skyline Drive, and the Pennsylvania Dutch country among the favorites.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara, and his half-brother, William A. Sturgell. He is survived by his two half-sisters, Connie (Sturgell) Stoner and Debbie (Sturgell) Cooke. His loving family of five children includes Sharon Sturgell Staley and her son, Tom (Martina) Scibelli; Billy (Susan) Sturgell, Jr and their children, Bill (Jenn) and Amanda; Bobby (Lynn) Sturgell and their son, Ben; Karen Sturgell and her daughter, Shelby Anne; and Jim (Jennifer) Sturgell and their daughters, Maddie and Caroline. He was blessed with eight great grandchildren, Jacob, Andrew, Lydia, Sage, Aaron, Joe, Liam, and the late Jonathan; and one great, great grandchild, Lucy.

A public service will take place on Monday, September 21st, at Cedar Grove Methodist Church in Deale. Visitation is from 9-10am with a funeral service beginning at 10:00am. A family burial will take place at noon at Lakemont Memorial Gardens in Davidsonville. All are invited to the Cedar Grove Methodist Church reception hall for fellowship and food from 1-3pm.

The family would like to express our thanks to the residents of Deale and South County for their support and friendship over many years. Memorials are preferred to Tracey’s, Shady Side or Deale Elementary schools in the Anne Arundel County public school system, where several of Bill’s family are involved.

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.”

—Psalm 116: 15