William "Billy" T. Magnuson's Obituary
MAGNUSON, William T. “Billy,” age 58, passed away peacefully on June 9, 2026.
Billy grew up in Xenia and graduated from Xenia High School in 1986. He proudly served his country in the United States Army. Following his military service, he worked for the United States Postal Service, where he retired as a supervisor after more than five years of service.
Billy was an ornery jokester who never missed an opportunity to make someone laugh. He was determined, resilient, tenacious, extremely kind, and truly never met a stranger. He had a remarkable ability to connect with people and was always looking for ways to help those around him. Whether repairing fishing poles, restoring tackle boxes, fixing household items, or simply lending a helping hand, Billy found great joy in giving to others and never expected anything in return. His generous spirit continued even after his passing through the gift of organ donation, allowing others to benefit from his lifelong commitment to helping people.
A passionate outdoorsman, Billy loved fishing at Cowan Lake, Shawnee Park, and countless other locations, especially when accompanied by his mother, grandchildren, family members, or friends. He enjoyed camping throughout the years and cherished any opportunity to spend time outdoors. Billy was also a devoted fan of the Dayton Dragons and enjoyed attending games whenever possible.
Billy was an excellent cook, especially known among family and friends for his corn casserole and homemade Buckeyes. Self-taught and resourceful, Billy could seemingly fix anything placed in front of him. Humorously, he jokingly called visiting Walmart his "social time" and often considered it a form of stress relief.
His faith was an important part of his life. Billy loved sharing the message of Jesus with others and followed the ministry of Global Vision Bible Church in Lebanon, Tennessee. He was most proud of his children, grandchildren, his family, and his relationship with Christ.
Among Billy's favorite traditions were annual anniversary trips with his beloved wife, Jenny, to Gatlinburg each October, where they faithfully stayed at the Sidney James Mountain Lodge year after year. He also treasured hosting Christmas gatherings for the Magnuson family, preparing the meals himself and bringing loved ones together around the table.
Billy was preceded in death by his father, William Magnuson. He is survived by his loving wife of 19 years, Jennifer “Jenny” Magnuson; his mother, Kay Magnuson; his brother, John (Michelle) Magnuson; his sister, Judith (Alan) Stutes; his children, Alex (Colleen) Magnuson, Landon Magnuson, Ashley Norris, Makenzie Magnuson, Whittney Bailey, and Sierra (Dylan) Rider; his special children who adopted Billy as their papa, Zander Lewis and Jenevieve Lewis; his grandchildren, Mason Wholaver and Meredith Rider; along with many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and close friends.
A Celebration of Life gathering will be held on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at the Shawnee Park Pavilion. The family will receive friends from 12:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m., with a celebration of life ceremony to follow at 2:30 p.m. Dr. Stacy Worley will officiate the celebration of life service. Guests are encouraged to bring fishing poles and tackle boxes to celebrate Billy in a way he would have loved. A committal service with full military honors will take place at Dayton National Cemetery at a later date.
In honor of Billy and his commitment to helping others in need, memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, the City of Xenia Youth Fishing Derby, or the Gary Sinise Foundation. Conner & Koch Funeral Home in Bellbrook is serving the family. Condolences may be shared at https://connerandkoch.com.
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