Billy Bob Capers

Jan 17, 1939 -

Jan 13, 2026

Billy Bob Capers, 86, of Anchorage, Alaska, passed away at Providence Alaska Medical Center on Jan. 13, 2026.

Bill was born to John H. and Lucile (Rushing) Capers in Paris, Texas, on Jan. 17, 1939. He graduated high school in June 1957 and enlisted in the U.S. Army.

Bill spent three decades with duty assignments across the United States, Europe, and Asia. He proudly served his country, including two tours in Vietnam as an Avionics Maintenance Warrant Officer.

Bill met his future wife and lifelong partner, Santa DellaValle, in New York, and they were married in June 1959. After retirement, they continued to travel the country in their motorhome, wintering in later years at Yuma, Ariz. They spent 63 loving years together until her passing in 2023.

In 1975, Bill's duty assignment led him and his family to Fort Richardson, Alaska. After two duty extensions in Alaska, he retired from the U.S. Army to call Anchorage his adopted home. His second career began with the Civil Service, doing what he loved and where he loved—in Alaska until his final working retirement.

Bill's hobbies and interests were wide and varied – everything from radio-controlled aircraft to amateur (Ham) radio, fishing to mechanics and reading to gardening with his wife. Bill knew something about almost everything and always found a way to make it or fix it. His children knew "Daddy-Fix-It" – no matter the problem, he knew how to address it and made it better. He was always generous with his know-how and his time for family, friends, neighbors and even first-time acquaintances. If anything broke on the car, house, plumbing, electronics or whatever else, you didn't need to call an "expert"; you called Bill because he was the expert you could trust no matter the time or place.

"Daddy, you are sorely missed. You taught us what duty, honor and loyalty really mean. You taught us to love the little things in life like a quiet stream on a sunny day, the satisfaction of fixing it ourselves, but mostly about our place in the world after seeing a lot of it through your eyes and our own. Vaya Con Dios, old man. Say hi to Mom for us until we meet again."

Bill is survived by his daughter, Susan (Jim) Brenner of Anchorage; sons, John (Nancy) Capers of Wildwood, Fla., and James (Karen) Capers of Honolulu, Hawaii; grandson, Michael Brenner of Camp Pendleton, Calif.; granddaughter, Stephanie (Devin) Collins of Anchorage; and great-granddaughter, Santina Collins of Anchorage.

Memorial donations can be made in Bill's name to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.

A private ceremony for the family will be held at Little Willow Creek.