HAMPSTEAD — William A. “Bill” Stamper, 92, passed away peacefully on September 21, 2025 surrounded by his family. Already he is deeply missed and loved by family and friends.
Born on February 19, 1933, Bill grew up as one of eleven children to Hobert and Bertie Stamper in Smyth County, VA. The hard life of crop farming in the Depression was a background that instilled in him the resilience, determination, and a deep appreciation of family that would serve him well for a lifetime and that would define his remarkable journey.
A proud US Army veteran, he ran away from home at 15 to join the Service and pulled it off by simply switching his first and middle names and adding three years to his birth. Even at 15 he had a penchant for finding a way to accomplish his goals. He would serve in the Korean War with distinction in the Battle of the Pusan Perimeter, earning a Bronze Star with Valor. He would only recently speak of the war with his grandson Jones, who was completing an oral history project in high school.
Always the entrepreneur and with an 8th grade education, he became a founding partner of Tabor Machine Shop and headed the sales team there traveling from Bluefield, WV to Alabama, Pittsburgh, to Canada and the North Carolina Coast. One of his favorite journeys was to Central China in 1984 where in a landmark deal between East and West, commerce took place and he was one of the first westerners seen since Marco Polo. His was an amazing life.
Bill married the love of his life, Bobbie, and they celebrated 70 years of marriage this past January. They were quite the pair! Their marriage was built on their Christian faith, they shared devotion, love, laughter, heartache and mutual respect for one another. He absolutely adored her. He had “out kicked his coverage” and he knew it!
Bill was the proud father of three children – Susan, Lori Ann and Todd. He was prouder still of his four grandchildren Stacey and Brent Smith (of Raleigh) and of Riley and Jones Stamper (of Washington, DC and Charlotte). These were his kids and while he told them straight and direct how things were, no one else was allowed to speak to them that way. He was a Big Grizzly Bear, cuddly but with claws.
After a successful career as an entrepreneur and partner at Tabor Machine Shop, Bill and Bobbie retired to Topsail Beach in 1992, where on a dare from her, he ran for and served twice as the Mayor of Topsail Beach from 1999-2003. He was deeply committed to Topsail and making it a better place for locals and visitors alike.
A great man of unwavering faith he loved and cheered for the underdog. You always knew where you stood with him, even when his comments might not be best for him personally. As he once told a General in Korea, “Sir, the reason the radio isn’t working properly isn’t because of the equipment…..It’s because of the operator.” He was immediately busted back down to Corporal from Sergeant.
Honest, brave, unabashed, loving, uncompromising on matters of importance, he was a “Man for all Seasons.”
He was preceded in death by his parents and all but one of his 11 siblings. He also knew heartache losing both his daughters and a daughter-in-law (Susan, Lori Ann and Ashley) during his lifetime.
His family representing him at the service will be his wife Bobbie (Hampstead), his son Todd (and wife Jill, Knoxville, TN), grandchildren Stacey Smith and Brent Smith (Raleigh), grandsons Riley (and wife Analisa, Washington, DC) and Jones (wife Julia, Charlotte) and his beloved caregiver Debbie Hurn (Surf City).
The family wishes to thank Novant – New Hanover Medical Center and Lower Cape Fear
Hospice for their wonderful care. Special thanks to the nurses of the 7th Floor, Dr. Forshay and his longtime physician Dr. Manalucus.
The service will be held at Hampstead Baptist Church on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at 1pm. The service will be led by Rev. Joey Canady and a reception will follow, with details shared on that day of the service.
The family asks for great stories, funny (but not too racy) jokes to be retold and memories be shared as we celebrate our memory of him.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the NC Home for Children or Hampstead Baptist Church in his memory.
