March 15, 2024, 88, Goldsboro —

William Delano “Bill” Wheat of Goldsboro, NC, peacefully passed away on Friday, March 15, 2024. He was born on October 14, 1935, in Caryville, Tennessee, to the late Jesse and Eufoula Wheat.

Bill grew up in West Virginia and upon graduating from South Charleston High School, Charleston, West Virginia in 1955, he moved to Ohio to secure employment prior to entering the military service. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in March of 1956. After completing basic training, Bill was stationed at Sewart Air Force Base in Tennessee, with subsequent overseas tours in Greece, Turkey, Italy, and Germany. His stateside tours ended at The Pentagon, where he retired from the Air Force with 22 years of service, having been stationed in Tennessee, California, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and the District of Columbia. Following his military career, Bill rejoined the workforce with the Army Corps of Engineers and the US Air Force as a contract specialist or contracting officer until retirement in January of 2001.

Bill is survived by his wife of 60 years, Margaret, numerous nephews and nieces, and great nephews and nieces. He is predeceased by his parents, brothers, Jack and James (aka Jimmy) and sisters, Jessie, Gloria, and Fay.

He enjoyed playing golf, gardening, landscaping, woodwork, and of course watching all sports, participating in golf, baseball, and softball activities.

The funeral will be held at 1:00 p.m. on March 23, 2024, at the Nottingham Missionary Baptist Church. Weather permitting, the services will be held outside at the cemetery.