William Price Furr

William Price Furr, 83, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on April 15, 2026. Born in Statesville, North Carolina, Bill never forgot his roots — returning year after year to gather with his Statesville High School buddies for a weekend of fellowship and laughs.

Bill attended East Carolina University, where he met the love of his life his freshman year. They moved to Charlotte for a career in textiles which led him to building a successful career as co-owner and Vice-President of Sales at Cumulus Fibres. His connection to ECU only deepened over the years, from Pirate football to working with the Honors College and Business School. He also had the distinction of serving on the Board of Trustees and was the lead benefactor for the campus iconic Cupola, a double-sized replica of the original dome topping the old Austin Building.

Bill loved making money, but he hated spending it. He'd give it away, but he'd never waste it away. That generosity showed up everywhere he lived. He served Good Fellows in Denver, Hospitality House in Blowing Rock, and the Inter-faith Food Council in Chapel Hill.

His faith was central to his life. Bill served on the vestries at St. Peter by the Lake in Denver and St. Mary of the Hills in Blowing Rock and was a devoted usher at Chapel of the Cross in Chapel Hill. His favorite time may have been the men's Thursday morning breakfast group and cooking hotdogs at their service projects.

Bill filled his days with the people and pursuits he loved. A golfer since his youth — which led to plenty of fun holes in his later years — he played courses all around the world, including Scotland and Augusta National, but his favorite rounds were in Blowing Rock, Vero Beach, and Chapel Hill. He enjoyed ocean sailing and boating on Lake Norman with friends and family. He cherished walks around Bass Lake and loved fishing with his buddies, whether it was fly-fishing in the mountains or bone fishing in the Caribbean. His Democratic leanings were always good for lively discussions on Thursday with his martini group in Chapel Hill or around the table at lunch with friends in Blowing Rock.

Next to God, Bill loved his family — starting with Em. She was his anchor and his partner in everything.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Emily Rouse Furr; his children, Tom Furr and wife Erin, Elizabeth Hammond and husband John, and Laura Sanchez and husband Paul; and his seven precious grandchildren, Emily, Josh, Price, Wilson, Sophia, Paul, and Olivia.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Price and Laurine Furr, and his brother, Tommy Furr.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 27, 2026 at 2 P.M at St. Mary of the Hills Episcopal Church followed by a gathering of friends to honor Bill at Blowing Rock Country Club. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Inter-faith Food Council at ifcweb.org, Goodfellows of Denver, NC at eastlincolngoodfellows@gmail.com or Hospitality House in Boone at hosphouse.org.