WILMINGTON — On December 15, 2024, William Nicholas Rose, Jr. of Wrightsville Beach, N.C., transitioned peacefully with his family by his side after complications due to pneumonia.
Bill Rose was born January 12, 1943, in Wilmington, N.C. and raised in Wallace, N.C. by William Nicholas Rose and Alice Withington Rose in a loving, supportive community among a large extended family. He played football for Wallace-Rose Hill High School, attained the rank of Eagle Scout, and graduated in 1961.
Bill attended UNC Chapel Hill, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Bill was a lifelong, devoted football and UNC fan, even though he always called his favorite teams “Turkeys!” when they were not winning by at least 20 points. Tar Heel born, Tar Heel bred… you know the rest.
After graduating from college, in 1965 Bill became a Naval Officer, serving aboard a ship in the Pacific, and a year in Vietnam with the River Patrol Forces in 1968. Bill remained in the Naval Reserves, and later retired as a commander after 20 years. We honor and thank him for his service.
Bill and his devoted wife Kay moved to Wrightsville Beach when he was hired to work for a Mortgage Company in the early 70’s, and then joined the team at Carolina Savings and Loan. He remained in banking for 25 years, becoming the president of Carolina Savings Bank before its merger with BB&T. Bill started a second career as a Commercial Real Estate Broker officially retiring…well, we are not sure if he ever retired.
Bill shared his finance-oriented gifts and skills by serving on many community boards. Carolina Savings Bank recognized Bill’s loyal and dedicated service on its Board of Directors from 1983-1993. Bill was the President of the Wilmington Family YMCA from 1989-1990. In 1991, upon nomination by the Cape Fear Area Council, Bill earned the Silver Beaver Award from the Boy Scouts of America for distinguished service to youth. Cape Fear Community College recognized Bill for his distinguished service as a Trustee from 2004-2011. Bill was especially honored to join the leadership of the annual North Carolina Azalea Festival, eventually becoming President of the Azalea Festival in 1984. Work & service gave meaning to Bill’s life, and he found ways to contribute to his community, particularly serving the YMCA, until the end of his life.
After each day’s work, Bill headed to the YMCA, where he was a member for over 55 years. He loved playing racquetball at the Y, as well as tennis at the Cape Fear Country Club, with his buddies-you know who you are. He was able to keep playing these “lifegiving” games at 81, up until the last month of his life. He would encourage you to do the same. Join your local Y.
When Bill wasn’t working or at the Y, he retreated to his beloved beach home on the south end of Wrightsville Beach, which was a hub of friends, neighbors, and hospitality with the support of Kay Rose. We will miss our days of sitting on the sand with Bill and chatting about life.
Bill was an active, long-standing member of St. Matthews Lutheran Church, where he took his family every Sunday. He served on both the church council and finance teams at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, and is currently a member at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.
We believe Bill is in the presence of God, with his mom and dad, his family and friends who have gone before him, including his childhood dog Skipper, and his beloved cat, Sweetie. If there are recliner chairs in heaven, God has a good one picked out for him. Bill is leaning back, watching the Tar Heels win, and eating a bowl of ice cream with Sweetie curled up in his lap licking ice cream off his fingers, like he let her do every night. Simply Heaven.
Bill is preceded by his parents William N. Rose and Alice Withington Farrior.
Bill leaves to cherish the memory of his love, his beloved wife of 55 years, Kathryne (Kay) B. Rose, his sons William (Will) N. Rose Ill (Cindy Morton-Rose) & Charles (Randy) R. Rose (Megan Rose), his grandchildren Hannah, Ella, Maile (Bunny) and Charly Rose, his brother-in-law Carl (Pete) Berling, and his niece Leslie Berling.
Bill loved his family, friends, and the Wilmington community deeply. He will be missed, but the positive marks he left here will never be erased from the memory of time.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the NIR Family YMCA of Wilmington Endowment and St Paul’s Lutheran Church, Wilmington NC Endowment.
