William Howard Sayball Jr.

Bill was born on November 18, 1940, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He was the son of William Sr. and Mildred O’Connor Sayball.

Bill was a man with a larger-than-life personality. He had an extraordinary ability to make others smile. Bill was affectionately known as Husband, Dad, Big Poppa, Brother, Uncle, and Friend. Bill graduated from Bassick High School in 1958 and joined the United States Air Force on October 6th of that same year, where he served honorably for 4 years. Bill was stationed in Okinawa for 1 ½ years where he did Morse Code. After his service, Bill worked in the trucking business from 1962 to 2003. Upon his retirement in 2003, He and Brenda became “snowbirds” spending 4 to 6 months in Daytona Beach, Florida. In 2008, they became Florida residents and in 2023 they moved to North Carolina where they shared a home with their son Dan and his family.

Bill was an avid softball player. He played in the Bridgeport Men’s League with his brother-in-law, Vernon. When he, Brenda, and their boys moved to Southington, Connecticut in 1975, Bill played and coached in the Meriden Men’s League. He also played for several teams throughout Connecticut. He was also privileged to have played with his sons and their friends on their team “S&S Express” in the Southington Men’s League. At the age of 62, Bill began to play in the Seniors Softball League where he played in Southington, Madison, Wallingford, and Milford, Connecticut. He also umpired in several leagues in Connecticut for 40 years. Upon retiring in 2003 to Florida, William continued his senior softball career with the Greater Daytona Beach Senior Softball Association. He participated in several tournaments traveling throughout the state of Florida, Cape Cod, Massachusetts; West Haven, Connecticut; Loudoun City, Virginia; Mesquite, Nevada; and The Huntsman World Senior Games in St. George, Utah. He was well known for hitting home runs and would “hit them high and far”. Bill won a Home Run Derby in Lakeland, Florida in 2005. He also won several championships, championship shirts, trophies, awards and built lots of wonderful friendships.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Robert Sayball; sister, Agnes Salter (Nick); brothers-in-law, Vernon Whitlow, Reggie Whitlow, and David Whichard, Jr.; sisters-in-law, Brenda Jo Whitlow and Betsy Whitlow; and a special sister / friend, Marie “Midge” Brown. Those left to cherish and remember him fondly are his loving wife of 54 years, Brenda; two sons, Billy III and Daniel (Devlyn); two grandchildren, Derek Sayball and Darby Sayball; sister, Marilyn Kennedy (Bob); brother, James Sayball (Michele); 3 brothers-in-law, Buddy Whitlow (Mary), Morris Clyburn (Carolyn), and Richard Whitlow (Jenn); 3 sisters-in-law, Louise Whichard, Judy Whitlow, and Mary Lynn Mott (Kevin); as well as many nephews, nieces, and cousins, whom he all loved dearly.

Bill will be cremated with a Celebration of Life taking place after his cremation on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at 12:00 pm at McEwen Funeral Home of Monroe, located at 204 South Main Street, Monroe, North Carolina. The family will receive friends prior to the Celebration of Life service in the McEwen Colonial Chapel from 11:00 am until 12:00 pm. Burial will be held at the convenience of the family in a companion urn with his wife Brenda.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mcewenmonroechapel.com for the Sayball family.

McEwen Funeral Home of Monroe is honored to serve the family of William “Bill” Sayball, Jr.