William "Bill" Freeman

William “Bill” T. Freeman

Waynesville, William Thomas Freeman, age 94, passed away on Friday, October 11, 2019 surrounded by his family.

A native of Haywood County, he was a son of the late Thomas and Martha Quilliams Freeman.  In addition to his parents, Bill was also preceded in death by his wife, Betty Jo Grant Freeman, who passed away in 2002; one son, William Michael Freeman; two brothers, Jack and Johnny Freeman, and two sisters, Hilda Jennings and Thomasine Dillard.  Bill enlisted in the Navy in 1943 and proudly served his country until 1945.  Upon his discharge, Bill was accepted to North Carolina State University where he received a degree in Forestry.  After college, Bill started B and P Motor Lines in Hazelwood from 1949-1959.  He also worked in the poultry business and was co-owner of Green Valley Mobile Home Park on Hyatt Creek.  Bill was also a respected building contractor having developed Auburn Park in Waynesville along with Kenneth Muse, and several other neighborhoods in Haywood County.  Bill was a Mason with the Waynesville Lodge #259 A.F. & A.M., where he received his 60-year pin. Most important, Bill was an amazing and beloved husband, father, and grandfather.

Bill is survived by his daughter, Gwen Freeman Nicholson, of Webster; son, Timothy “Tim” Grant Freeman, of Waynesville; brother, Jimmy Freeman, of Arizona; one grandchild, Gwendolyn Luann Hughes; one great-grandchild Samantha Leigh Mann; and three great-great grandchildren, Jordin, Emily and Kaydence.

The family would like to offer many thanks for the excellent care at Pruitt Health and ICU Mission K408 North Tower; as well as Kathy Mitchell, Jason Hyatt, Christina Kirkpatrick, Larry, Dale and David Mathis for helping Bill over the years.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 15, 2019 in the Waynesville chapel of Wells Funeral Home.  Military honors will be provided by the U.S. Navy and VFW Post 5202 at the funeral home.  Burial will follow at Green Hill Cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 12:00 until 2:00 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home.  Serving as pallbearers will be Terry Green, Tom Freeman, Thom Dillard, Millard Floyd Grant, Danny James, Dirk Grant, and Travis Bramlett.  At all other times, the family will be at the home of Tim Freeman, 60 Springview Street, Waynesville.