Bill Walser

William Henry (“Bill”) Walser, beloved husband of Cheryl Yarborough Walser, proud father of William
Henderson (“Hense”) Walser (Michelle), and devoted grandfather to Dottie Kate and Jones Thurman
Walser, passed away at Randolph Hospice on Sunday afternoon.

Bill was born to Thurman and Mozelle Prevette Walser on July 15, 1951. His brother John Thurman
Walser Jr. (deceased) and sister Rebecca Gail Walser (Thacker) were twelve and nine years old,
respectively, when Bill arrived. The family doted on their baby boy.

Bill’s formative years in the 1950’s and 1960’s exposed him to the advent of rock-and-roll. Combined
with the music he heard growing up in Meadowview Presbyterian Church, the sounds of his youth drew
him deep into complex harmonies and music appreciation. Those who attended LSHS with him will
fondly remember Bill as lead singer in various garage bands, including the Trojans and Bill Henry and the Classics with friends Roger McCoin, Lee Holton, Doug Rowe, and many others. At least one of these
bands won the Battle of the Bands, covering songs ranging from the Beatles to Motown. One of his
classmates recently commented that he was considered the “White Otis”, singing a rendition of “Try a
Little Tenderness” that “brought the house down in 1969”.

Bill was longtime Circulation Director at The Dispatch, where he spent happy years with fellow staff and
during which time he perfected his golf game. According to one of that period’s most reliable reporters,
“Those were the days! Wild and wooly, with lots of Steely Dan and Makers Mark (all after work hours of
course)!! What a crew!”

Later, Bill became a fixture at his wife’s family restaurant, Yarborough’s. There he expanded his large
cadre of friends from behind the bar. He was always good for a laugh and never took himself too
seriously. He saw humor in everything, typically delivered with sarcasm and a smile. Many of Hense’s
friends remember Bill’s welcome presence among them as they grew up coming and going from the
Walser house.

In addition to the family members previously mentioned, Bill leaves behind sisters-in-law Sylvia Leonard
Walser and Rena Yarborough Curia and brothers-in-law John Curia, Mac Thacker and Hobart
Yarborough. On the Walser side, he also leaves two nieces who crashed his childhood, Joni Walser
(husband Andy Church) and Rebecca (Becky) Walser Abernethy (husband Miller Abernethy), two
nephews, Mark and Brian Thacker, and two great nieces, Anna Virginia Abernethy and Margaret
Rebecca Abernethy Conway. On the Yarborough side, he leaves nieces Cassi Curia, Morgan Curia,
Hannah Yarborough and Haley Yarborough, and great nephews, Bo Barcy, Brody Barcy, and Hayden
Yarborough. It would be remiss not to mention that Bill leaves behind the remaining members of the
FOJI Corporation, but joins those members who are holding his spot on the first tee.

Bill was an active member of First Reformed United Church of Christ, where he took his voice into the
choir loft. Even with his challenged mobility in recent years, Bill still managed to get to his seat in his
favorite spot of the sanctuary. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate charitable contributions to
First Reformed UCC of Lexington, Wake Forest Baptist Cancer Center, Hospice of Randolph or any
other hospice facilities of your choosing.

In view of COVID, the family will hold a small graveside service at Forest Hill Memorial Park at 1:00
PM on Saturday, August 22. A more public celebration of his life will be held at a later date.