The Rev. William “Bill” Albert Cathell Sr., 88, of Parksley Road, passed away May 8, 2019, at Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury, Md.
Born at home May 29, 1930, in New Castle, Del., he is the son of the late William Edward Cathell and the late Anna Virginia Cathell (Shultz).
Best known as the founder and pastor of the United Christian Church of Parksley, and as a tax preparer and notary public, Rev. Cathell has undertaken many pursuits in his lifetime. He joined the Army in 1948 and served as a ski trooper. He was an electrician and plumber. He owned and operated Home Comfort Oil Company. He received his Bachelor of Science in auditory from the University of Eastern Florida in 1962 and was a hearing aid specialist. He founded the business C.J. Cathell Enterprises with his wife, Carolyn, under which many of his pursuits were conducted including vacuum cleaner sales in Delaware and Virginian and the tax preparation company they originally started together at their home on Parksley Road. The tax company later opened its well-known location at the Cathell apartment complex in Parksley.
Rev. Cathell was ordained to the ministry May 31, 1967, by the United Christian Church & Ministerial Association. He was a youth pastor for New Castle Baptist Church in Delaware. He built and founded the Pine Cove Mission Church in Felton, Del., that had a Sunday radio broadcast. He served as chaplain at the Delaware State Hospital. He was the pastor of the Felton Church of God. He retired from the ministry in 1983. However, he was called back to the Lord’s work and founded the United Christian Church in Parksley in 1988 in the storefronts of his apartment building in Parksley. Rev. Cathell was a talented singer and guitar player who enjoyed leading his congregations in song and holding services and visitation at local nursing homes. When the original apartment building was destroyed by a tornado, the church was temporarily housed in a storefront on Cooke Street in Parksley until he built the current building for the United Christian Church in 2000 on Parksley Road where he continued to preach for the rest of his life. The legacy of his church will be carried on by his son, the Rev. William A. Cathell Jr. and Timothy Taylor.
In his free time, Rev. Cathell enjoyed camping, fishing, and crabbing with his family and friends, working in his garden and watching cowboy & western T.V. shows.
Rev. Cathell has touched so many lives and won innumerable souls for God. He was loved by so many: family, friends, church flock, and many others whose hearts are broken at this loss, but who are comforted in knowing this man of God is now with the Lord in Heaven.
Rev. Cathell was predeceased by his brother, James Edward Cathell.
He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Joy Cathell; his sister, Maryanne Alderson; his sons, William Albert Cathell Jr. and Michael Robert Dobraski; his daughters Ruth Adkins, Janie Savannah, Robin Ford, Marlene Hinderer, Shelley Baez and Marcella Keen; and numerous other including nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A viewing was held at the United Christian on Parksley Road on the evening of Monday, May 13, from 5-7 p.m. A funeral service was held at the United Christian Church on Tuesday, May 14, 2019 at 2 p.m. with the Rev. William Cathell Jr., the Rev. Tim Taylor, and the Rev. Sam Welch officiating. Interment immediately followed at the United Christian Church Cemetery.
Service was entrusted to Smith & Scott Funeral Home, Accomac.
