WILMINGTON — William Cashwell “Bill” Stokes passed away on January 12, 2026 having lived a rich, fulfilling life.
He is survived by his daughter Lydia Stokes Finlayson (Marc) and son William Wilson Stokes, grandchildren William Bryan Finlayson (Virginia), Dalton Peter Stokes (Casey), John Wilson Finlayson (Kristan), Alexandra Stokes Muffley (Scott), and Katherine Stokes Finlayson, and five beautiful great-grandchildren Eli Muffley, Wyatt Stokes, Christopher Finlayson, Dahlia Muffley and Leland Stokes.
Bill was preceded in death by the love of his life and wife of 62 years Lydia McKeithan Stokes. He was also preceded in death by his father James A. Stokes, mother Myrtle Cashwell Stokes and brothers James A. Stokes, Jr. and Robert F. Stokes.
He was born in Charlotte on August 24, 1926 and always fondly remembered his hometown. He was in high school at Charlotte’s Central High when World War II intervened. In 1944, Bill volunteered to serve in the U.S. Navy, where he was assigned to the Pacific Theater aboard U.S. LST 1019. Bill was the pilot of one of the Higgins boats that carried Marines to the beaches during some of the fiercest battles toward the conclusion of the war, including Okinawa. He never spoke much about his wartime experience, but he was a proud Navy veteran and displayed pictures of his ship and crew throughout his life.
Returning home after the war Bill took advantage of the G.I. bill to complete his education at Davidson College, where he joined Kappa Sigma fraternity and made many lifelong friends. He graduated with a business degree and went to work in the banking industry as his father had done before him. He and Lydia were married in 1958 in her hometown of Raeford, NC and began their lives together back in Charlotte with First Union Bank. Daughter Lydia came along in 1960 and son Bill followed in 1963.
Bill was sent by First Union to open the Wilmington branch in 1969, and after settling in Wilmington, Bill and Lydia decided they didn’t want to move anymore. They loved Wilmington and wanted to put down roots there. And boy did they put down roots! Bill joined the Kiwanis Club where he served faithfully for more than fifty years. He rarely missed a meeting, even in his later life, and was recognized by the club for his exemplary service. He also volunteered with many other civic organizations such as the Red Cross and worked the polls on election day for the New Hanover Board of Elections.
After retiring from banking, Bill went to work at Rippy Cadillac where he used his integrity, charm and remarkable ability to remember names and faces to become a top salesman.
Wherever Bill went he made friends and touched lives with his kindness, concern and legitimate interest in people and their families. He might go years between meetings, but he could immediately recall the prior conversation and ask about family members by name. His love and kindness was reciprocated throughout his life by love and kindness from folks whose lives he had touched.
Bill loved many people and many things, but mostly he loved his family. As the family he and Lydia started grew to include grandchildren and great-grandchildren, his pride was immense. Whenever he could, he would see a grandchild’s baseball game, lacrosse match, cross country meet, tennis match or dance recital in person. Nothing made him happier than having a cocktail with his family at the Carolina Yacht Club and introducing them to the dozens of friends who stopped by to pay their respects.
His First Presbyterian Church family was second only to his actual family. Bill and Lydia joined First Presbyterian as soon as they moved to Wilmington and immediately got involved with anything and everything going on. In addition to the Sunday school teaching, ushering, fellowship, and congregational care service, Bill was elected an Elder and served numerous three-year terms on the church’s governing board, the Session. He served many years as Church Treasurer. Nothing in the life of the church was beyond his notice and many ministers over the years engaged in friendly debates with Bill over church doctrine and governance. Even in his later years, Bill would attend Sunday services when he could and held forth with his many friends in the Gathering Place, taking great pride in knowing everyone’s name and remembering their families.
The great constant in Bill’s life was his love for his wife Lydia. Nothing pleased him more than sharing a meal with her at the home they built together on South Churchill Drive, talking about family, or what he had done at work or her day teaching school. The respect and devotion they shared was extraordinary and when Lydia passed in 2021 Bill really never got over it. They are back together now and picking up right where they left off.
Bill Stokes was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He was a faithful friend to more people than we can count, and he will be dearly missed.
Donations in Bill’s memory may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 125 S. 3rd Street, Wilmington, NC 28401.
