October 1, 2025
William W. Eskridge, 1939–2025
The Virginia State Bar mourns the loss of William Wayne Eskridge, the 1986–1987 president of the VSB, who passed on September 20, 2025. He lived an amazing 86 years with distinction and love. He graduated from William King High School in 1957, the Medical College of Virginia with a pharmacy degree in 1962, and the University of Virginia Law School in 1966.
For many years, he was a partner at the Penn Stuart Law Firm, practicing law. He was highly regarded by his colleagues, and an accomplished mentor, medical malpractice defense attorney, and faithful friend.
In addition to serving the VSB as president and as an officer of the Council and Executive Committee, Eskridge served on VSB Council as the 28th Circuit representative, as chair and member of the Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee, as vice chair and member of the Disciplinary Board, as chair and member of the Ninth District Disciplinary Committee, and as a participating member of the Senior Lawyers Conference.
Other VSB committees he served include the Administration and Finance Committee, the Committee on Cooperation with Medical Profession, the Committee on Revision of Bar and Council Rules and Bylaws, the Special Committee to Study the Code of Professional Responsibility, the Committee on Lawyers Malpractice Insurance, the Resolutions Committee, and the Future Space Needs of VSB Study Committee.
Eskridge was the president of the Washington County Bar Association (1979), a member of the board of governors for the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (1969-1972), a fellow at the American College of Trial Lawyers, and a member of the Virginia Law Foundation (1990–1996).
His firm, Penn, Stuart, Eskridge & Jones, donated the painting, Landscape with Barns, by Hal Tench in 1991 to the Virginia State Bar in honor of Eskridge, following his term as president.
Mr. Eskridge’s obituary can be found online.