SILVER SPRING — William (Bill) Elbridge Kister, 92 A native of Bowling Green, KY and resident of Silver Spring, MD passed from this life on February 21, 2026. The youngest son of longtime Bowling Green, KY grocer Frank Leo Kister and his wife, Mary Watson Aspley Kister, Bill was a proud graduate of Bowling Green High School (Class of 1951) and Western Kentucky State College (Class of 1955). After completing his military service, he moved to Washington, DC, where he worked for the Navy Department before beginning a long and fulfilling career with IBM. It was in Washington, DC that he met the love of his life, Patricia Valentine O’Dowd. Bill and Pat were married on July 29, 1961. Shortly afterward, they spent two memorable years living in Germany and traveling throughout Europe. Upon returning to the United States, they settled in Silver Spring, MD, where they began raising their family. Bill embraced several hobbies over the years—most notably woodworking, tennis, and fly fishing—and he took great joy in sharing his interests with those around him. Above all, he cherished his family and felt deeply fortunate that his four grandchildren grew up close by. Reflecting on his life, Bill often said he had “done a lot of stuff, seen a lot of stuff, gone to a lot of places, and seen good times and bad.” Yet what mattered most to him—what he considered his greatest legacy—were the two children he and Patricia raised together, Bill and Carolyn, whom he loved beyond measure. They were, in his words, the most important part of his life. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Frank Leo Kister and Mary Watson Aspley Kister of Bowling Green, KY; his brothers, Leon Aspley Kister of Houston, TX, and Robert Frank Kister of Camp Springs, MD; his sisters, Betty Jane Kister and Mary Louise Kister McCulley, both of Bowling Green, KY; and his beautiful red-haired Irish-Italian wife of 60 years, Patricia Valentine Kister, originally of Erie, PA. He is survived by his son, Bill Kister, his spouse Jackie, and their children Michael and Nicole of Olney, MD, and by his daughter, Carolyn Simpkins, her spouse Rick, and their children Maddie and Liza of Brookville, MD. A private prayer service is planned. Interment will take place at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Aspen Hill, MD. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice. Silver Spring – William E Kister