William J. McVey Jr. was born on August 2, 1924 in Newark, New Jersey to the late Reverend William J. McVey Sr. and Mary Grace (Giordano) McVey. He was raised "upstate" in Freedom Plains and later in Kingston, New York.

His early education was in a one room schoolhouse before moving to Kingston, where he graduated high school in 1941. He had an early career starting in radio, the "Bill and Bob show" (Kingston NY), and he attended some college before joining the Navel Air Corp. He later continued his radio career in Charleston S.C. with "The Breakfast Nook".

William met his wife of 68 years, Mickie (Dorothy Otto), in late 1950 while singing in the choir at his father's church in Kingston. They married on June 30 ^th , 1951 and moved to NYC on the upper west side of Manhattan where they raised five children; William J. McVey III, Janna L. McVey, Robbi A. Kelldorf, Robert B. McVey, and Melinda S. Simon (deceased).

William's passion for photography led him to become a professional photographer. He worked in advertising for Christian Herald Magazine, where he was known as the Christian Herald Singer. William made three albums, including Hymns America Loves Best and The Christmas Story.

He continued his career as an Advertising Executive for numerous publications (i.e., Atlas, Saturday Review, Gulf and Tennis magazines) before starting his own company, the McVey Michaels Group, from the early 80's until his retirement in 2012.

Throughout his life he honored his passions, always seeking knowledge. He was an avid reader, he loved writing and living life to the fullest. His hobbies included theatre, photography, singing, boating, fishing, hunting, and in his younger years, skeet shooting, tennis, rowing and swimming in the ocean.

Always photographing his family and friends.

He is survived by his loving wife and four of his children, nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren. His sister Wilma Evans preceded him in death.

His spirit lives in us.