William “Bill” Waters Sr.,

CLINTON — Mr. William “Bill” Waters Sr., 90, of 202 Inverness Road, died Tuesday, March 5, 2013 in UNC Hospitals, Chapel Hill.

The funeral will be held Saturday March 9, at 11 a.m. at First United Methodist Church, 208 Sampson St. Clinton, with the Rev. Robert C. Redmond officiating. Burial will follow in the Clinton Cemetery.

Mr. Waters was born in Duplin County to the late Robert Glenn and Beulah Puckett Waters. To sum up Mr. William Waters, three words come to mind: family, farming, and hero. It was a rare occurrence to see Granddaddy without a grandchild or great-grandchild clinging tightly to him. Family by blood or family by marriage did not matter to him; all that mattered was family. Mr. Bill instilled the love for farming into his family. His children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren all love to be at the farm working the land. Sergeant William Waters, Sr. is a true American hero. He was a World War II veteran, member of the 94th Infantry, and one of Patton’s Pawns, and we are all indebted to Sergeant Waters for the freedoms we continue to enjoy. He is preceded in death by his sister, Mary Edna Waters West, and brothers, Robert Wilton Waters, Henry Oliver Waters, Sr. and Cecil Donald Waters.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Marie Boyette Waters; three children, William Nelson Waters, Jr. and wife, Carolyn of Clinton; Judy Waters Smith and husband, DeWitt of Cary and Anita Waters Alpenfels and husband, Eric of Pinehurst; four sisters, Hazel Waters Kornegay of Calypso, Sarah Waters Smith of Pink Hill, Betty Lou Kornegay of Mt. Olive and Nellie Waters Davis of Albertson.

He was also survived by six grandchildren, Christin Maria Waters Minchew and husband, Todd; Stephen Wright Waters and wife, Leigh; William Nelson Waters III and wife, Heather; Holly Smith Talton and husband, Gabe; Anna Smith Miller and husband, Robert; and Sarah Waters Smith; eight great grandchildren: Kendrick Minchew, Will Minchew, Jane Caroline Minchew, Anna Leigh Waters, William Nelson Waters IV, Wright Waters, Louis Talton and DeWitt Talton.

Pallbearers will be Stephen Waters, Will Waters III, Gabe Talton, Robert Miller, Will Minchew, and Kendrick Minchew.

The family will receive friends Friday night at the home of Nelson Waters, 107 Deer Run Trail, Clinton, from 6-8 pm.

Flowers are appreciated and may be sent to Royal-Hall Funeral Home in Clinton. Donations can also be made to the First United Methodist Church, 208 Sampson St. Clinton, NC. Granddaddy will continue to watch over his family and help us to, in his words, “keep the rows straight and don’t skin it up.”

Online condolences at www.royalhallfuneralhome.com. Services are entrusted with Royal-Hall Funeral Home.