William Lawrence Howard, Sr.

William Lawrence Howard, Sr., of Chapel Hill, passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, August 17, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family. He was born on December 22, 1941, in Orange County, North Carolina, to the late Jesse “JT” Thomas Howard and Adell Carden Howard. He was a lifelong native of Orange County and a graduate of Chapel Hill High School.William was the beloved husband of Kathleen Wright Howard. He spent many years working at UNC Hospitals, where he eventually retired as Supervisor of the Carpentry Department. William was a man of remarkable talent who could build or repair just about anything. He had an incredible ability to look at a photograph or picture and recreate what he saw. Whether he was working with his hands, caring for his home, or helping someone solve a problem, William took great pride in doing things well.In his younger years, William was an avid outdoorsman and especially enjoyed fishing. He was particularly proud of catching what he believed to be a record Amberjack in 1980, a story he happily remembered and shared through the years. He also enjoyed golf and had a great golf game, often spending time on the course with friends and family.William loved sports and was talented at nearly every sport he played. He shared that love of sports with his children and grandchildren, taking the time to teach them and proudly attending their games. He was involved with UNC Football for 18 years, pulling chains during the games and taking great pride in being part of the Tar Heel football tradition. He also taught his son marksmanship, passing along not only his knowledge and skills but also the time and patience that made those lessons special.His faith was an important part of his life. William loved his church and enjoyed attending services and helping with Vacation Bible School. He was always willing to lend a helping hand and use his many talents to help others.William took great pride in his yard and garden and enjoyed spending time caring for them. He had a wonderful sense of humor and a personality that could bring a smile to those around him. He loved to travel with family and friends and made a special point of including his mother on their trips, creating memories that would last a lifetime.Above all, William was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. His greatest joy was spending time with his family, teaching them, supporting them, and sharing in the many moments of their lives. His kindness, humor, talents, and love for his family will be remembered by all who knew and loved him.William is survived by his wife, Kathleen Wright Howard; his daughter, Lisa Kay Andrews of Pittsboro; his son, William Lawrence Howard, Jr. of Pittsboro; his bonus daughter, Kelly Collins Truesdale and husband Jason of Chapel Hill; grandsons, Thomas Andrews and wife Brittany, Ethan Truesdale, Eric Truesdale, and Eli Truesdale; and his great-grandchildren, Jesse Andrews and “Sissy” Lennox Andrews.He was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse “JT” Thomas Howard and Adell Carden Howard, and his sisters-in-law, Edna Howard and Pat Howard.William leaves behind a lifetime of memories and the lasting legacy of a man who could build almost anything, fix almost anything, teach almost anything—but most importantly, a man who loved his family deeply. He will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered. The Funeral Will be held Saturday, August 22, 2026 at Light House Baptist Church. The family will receive friends from 5pm to 7pm on Friday night at Walkers Funeral Home in Chapel Hill, 11680 HYW 15-510 Chapel Hill. Burial will be at Westwood Cemetery. Memorials may be made to his church Light Baptist Church,12063 US HYW 15-501 North Chapel Hill, NC 27517.