William Leroy Sullivan Sr., Baltimore City Police retiree
William Leroy Sullivan Sr., 86, of Milton, formerly of Linthicum. Md., and Ocean Pines, Md., passed away at home Monday, April 15, 2024, surrounded by family. He was born Nov. 20, 1937, in Baltimore, Md., son of the late Samuel W. and Viola A. (Parker) Sullivan.
William began working at a very young age with his father, Sam, as a street vendor (arabber), selling fruits, vegetables, poultry, and seafood from a horse-drawn cart in Baltimore City. William then worked for the Albert F. Goetze Meat Packing Company in the late 1950s before starting his lifelong career with the Baltimore City Police Department, retiring in 1995 as a detective sergeant in the robbery unit. He enjoyed 33 dedicated years protecting and serving his community. After retirement, he worked for several years as an investigator for the Baltimore City Department of Social Services. William eventually retired, and he and his wife of 67 years, Margaret, moved to Ocean Pines, Md., and then eventually to Milton.
He moved to Southern Delaware in 2018 but the City of Baltimore remained the place he called home in his heart and was devoted to it. William’s hobbies were active and constructive. He was an avid outdoorsman who relished the planning of many crabbing trips on the Wye River as well as fishing trips and vacations in Ocean City, Md. William also loved playing cards, handyman projects, watching old Western movies, and cheering on the Baltimore Orioles and Baltimore Ravens. He enjoyed dining out in Ocean City and Lewes, and quite often you would find him enjoying lunch on Sunday at The Wheelhouse Restaurant in Lewes, one of his favorite places to dine. William also loved telling stories about the old days at the Baltimore City Police Department when officers did not have ballistic vests, the police cars didn’t have air conditioning and officers had to purchase their own handcuffs.
He was a proud member of the Fraternal Order of Police in Baltimore City Lodge No. 003, as well as a past member of Anne Arundel County Moose Lodge. More than anything, he treasured time spent with his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren who were the apples of his eyes. William was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. His presence will be dearly and genuinely missed by all the lives he touched.
In addition to his parents, William was predeceased by his brother, Vernon Sullivan of Baltimore, Md. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Margaret Kay Sullivan; his children, Barbara Sullivan of Annapolis, Md., Karen White (Keith) of Greer, S.C., Patricia Finley of Linthicum Heights, Md, Dianna Stotz (Andy Kulp) of Annapolis, and William L. Sullivan Jr. (Heather) of Milton; his numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; his brothers, Robert Sullivan of Perry Hall, Md., and Thomas Sullivan of Baltimore; and his sister, Genevieve Murray (Blaine) of Perry Hall.
Services will be private.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in William’s memory to Baltimore Retired Police Benevolent Association, P.O. Box 935, Bel Air, MD 21014-7935.
Visit Mr. Sullivan's Life Memorial webpage at parsellfuneralhomes.com.
