William "Bill" Peele

William Harry "Bill" Peele, Jr., age 87, passed away Wednesday, January 21,2026 in Birmingham. He was born on February 9, 1938 in Plymouth, North Carolina to William "Jack" Harry Peele, Sr. and Helen White Peele.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents and his son, Douglas Ryland Peele, Sr. He is survived by his wife, Lois Williams Peele; children, Rob (Denise) Peele, Bill (Dana) Peele, and Mary Beth (Nathan) Dunn; grandchildren, Douglas Peele, Caroline (Mirza) Crnolic, Courtney Peele, Robby (Brook) Peele, Caroline Craft, Ryland Peele, Morgan (Jared) Clark, Hallie (Ryan) Sliwoski, Natalie Dunn, Nate Dunn, and Cooper Dunn; great-grandchildren, Enzo Crnolic, Zane Crnolic, Harrison Swift and Holden Swift.

Bill graduated from Plymouth High School, where he was voted "best dancer" and worked for his father at Peele Cleaners. He later graduated from the North Carolina State University and spent more than 45 years in the papermill industry. He loved his work, which took his family from North Carolina, to Tennessee, Alabama and South Carolina. His strong work ethic and dedication set a lasting example for his children.

Growing up in Plymouth, a town known for its Civil War history, ignited his lifelong passion for history. He loved the state of North Carolina and took pride in tracing his heritage back to the colonial days. His hobbies reflected these interests and included collecting and trading historical firearms and artifacts, as well as coins.

More than anything, he loved his family and friends. He never met a stranger, enjoyed connecting with new people, and truly came alive in social settings. He loved a good party and could often be found on the dance floor, where his joy was unmistakable.

A visitation will be held at Ridouts Valley Chapel in Homewood, Alabama on Friday, February 6 at 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm. A Celebration of Life will follow at 1:00 pm.