William Coppers Holford

William Coppers Holford, 79, of Silver Spring, Maryland, died in the early hours of March 12, 2026. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Rebecca Latta Holford, who passed away in 1998.

William was born on October 28, 1946, in Washington, DC, the youngest child of James Leo Holford and Velma Coppers Holford. His parents, born in 1906 and 1907, were both raised on farms in Kansas and moved first to California and then to DC to find work during the Great Depression. William was raised in an apartment complex in Silver Spring and was part of the first graduating class of Springbrook High School, where he formed lifelong friendships.

After an admittedly lackluster start at the University of Maryland, William enlisted in the US Air Force in 1969. He was stationed at Goose Bay in Labrador, Canada, where he specialized in electronic communications cryptographic equipment. During basic training, he quickly overcame his childhood stutter. He told the story of his first day where he recited his eight-digit service number perfectly back to his commanders after hearing it shouted at him only once. He was nominated as dorm chief, despite his introverted nature, simply because he was the tallest man in the room at 6’7”. He rose to that challenge, along with many others.

Following his honorable discharge in 1971, William returned to the University of Maryland, College Park, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, becoming the first member of his family to graduate from college. He went on to build a career as a mainframe computer programmer and manager, working with the telecommunications company MCI, which later became MCI WorldCom and eventually Verizon. He also worked for the US Congress and GEICO.

Bill and Becky were married on May 4, 1985. The couple moved with their young children to Colorado Springs, Colorado, where they purchased a home in the equestrian neighborhood of Rock Island. Together they enjoyed home renovation projects and exploring the western landscapes that were new to them. Becky was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and passed away far too soon in 1998. Bill did not remarry and spoke of how he loved and missed his Becky. Each year, until his retirement, he honored her memory by mailing boxes of chocolates to Becky’s family and friends. In his final weeks, a smiling photo of the two of them brought him great comfort.

Over the years, William enjoyed interests in a variety of topics, including researching family history and genealogy, memorizing public transportation routes and traveling around Montgomery County, Maryland by bus and train, computer equipment and gadgets, and, in his later years, keeping up with the news and learning about nutrition. He experienced mobility challenges due to spinal stenosis and used an extra-tall walker for more than a decade. After a brief hospital stay, William was moved to a healthcare facility for further evaluation of his health issues. He passed away peacefully after suffering cardiac arrest.

William is survived by his children: Deanna Holford of Frederick, Maryland; Glenn Holford and wife, Molly Debelius Holford, of Frederick, Maryland; and Brendan Holford of Texas; as well as three grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his siblings, Mary Delaney and Jim Holford.

William will be remembered for his quiet and steady nature, his intellectual curiosity, his honesty and integrity, and his deep loyalty to those he loved.

William will be laid to rest at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Frederick, Maryland at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 18. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition.