Longtime Christian retailer Bill York died at his Richmond, Va., home Feb. 25 after a long-undiagnosed case of Lyme disease, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported. York who owned Logos Bookstore in Richmond from 1972 to 2009, was 83.

His store was part of the Association of Logos Bookstores, a nonprofit trade association that serves seven independent Christian bookstores in the U.S. An InterVarsity Christian Fellowship staffer at Virginia Commonwealth University, York and his wife, Beth, opened one of the first Logos bookstores in the 1970s.

The store was "a place adjacent to campus where many students and Richmond residents came, not just for books, Bibles, gifts and music, but for prayer, Bible study and encouraging words," said Logos officials. "He will be remembered as a soft-spoken Southern gentleman, book lover, bird lover, Jesus lover and a man who loved people regardless of religion, race or nationality."

He was a founding member of Logos' board. In 1972, InterVarsity Press published York's One 2 One, a collection of brief Bible studies that helped Christians introduce their friends to Christianity.

In addition to his wife of 51 years, York is survived by his son, daughter, brother and three grandchildren. A memorial service will be held March 9 at St. Giles Presbyterian Church in Richmond.