WILMINGTON — William Martin “Bill” Hendley, 98, died Sunday, April 28, 2019, at New Hanover Hospital. Bill was born July 14, 1920, in Durham to John Vance and Lillie M. Hendley.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife of 62 years, Ila Mae Joseph Hendley; sister, Mary Ruth H. Williams; and grandson, Michael Vance Hendley Jr.
Bill is survived by two sons, Bill, and his wife, Lorraine, of Wilmington, and Mike, and his wife, Peggy, of Sanford; two grandchildren, Michelle H. Leonhardt, and her husband, Andy, of Belmont and John M. Hendley of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina; two grandchildren, Holland and Ben Leonhardt; and brother, John Vance “Mac” Hendley Jr. of Durham.
CPO Hendley joined the U.S. Navy in 1937, serving our country through active and reserve duty for 30 years. He served on the USS Oklahoma at Pearl Harbor; and on the USS Sway minesweeper in the Mediterranean during the invasion of Anzio Beach, Italy.
After retiring from the U.S. Postal Service in Durham, Bill and Ila moved to Wilmington, where he went to work as a real estate broker. He was a member of Winter Park Presbyterian Church, where he had served as a deacon. Bill was a gentle, loving family man and will be greatly missed.
A celebration of life service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 4, at Coble Ward-Smith Funeral Home, 3915 Oleander Blvd. The family will receive friends one hour prior to services at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142.
Share online condolences with the family at Coble Ward-Smith Funeral Home.
