William "Will" Charles Egerton

He was the son of Robert Earl Egerton, Sr., a mechanical engineer, and Caroline Duckworth Egerton, a nurse. He was the fifth of six children, with an older and younger sister. His siblings, Sarah, Robert, Dwight, John, Will, and Amy shared a special closeness and unbreakable bond growing up in the small town of Cumberland, Rhode Island.

During his formative years, Will learned to drive a tractor, milk cows, ride horses, bale hay, and perform other farm chores on the family “hobby” farm. The Egertons volunteered their farm and animals to the Providence chapter of the Head Start program when it was in its infancy in 1965. They would regularly bring busses of inner city kindergartners to the farm, giving them the experience of spending time with cows, horses, ponies, and sheep. Will and his brothers would saddle up their five Shetland ponies and give the delighted children their very first pony rides.

Will was part of all activities available to a young boy in a small town. He was a Cub Scout, a member of the 4-H Club with his prize sheep, and a member of the local Junior Grange Association. He always wanted to be with his older brothers at the local swimming hole, where they watched over him so he never ventured too far out to be swept away by the current.

The annual Fourth of July parade was a much-anticipated event and Will loved every aspect of it. As a baby, he was pushed in a carriage, as a toddler he rode on the floats, and as a five-year old, he marched with the neighborhood boys as part of the “Abbott Run Fishing Club.” One of the absolute highlights of the parade was the family’s 1928 fire truck. For several years Will, his brothers, and another 20 or so neighborhood kids would climb aboard, hanging off the sides as his mom drove the parade route with everyone taking turns pulling the bell and making the siren scream. Some days, just for fun, his mom would drive the kids to school on the fire truck.

In his high school years, Will began to discover his many and varied interests. He wrote for the school newspaper and was on the yearbook staff. Art, drama, and debate clubs occupied his time. It seemed Will made friends with and genuinely cared for everyone. He also possessed a truly giving spirit, volunteering his time at the nursing home where his beloved grandmother lived, becoming a favorite among residents and staff. It was during those years that he began to develop his own unique sense of style and flair for fashion. Both popular and smart, he was chosen to deliver the commencement address at his graduation from Lincoln High School.

After high school, Will enrolled in several classes at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in Providence. It was there he realized his true passion, the world of design. The company he worked for at the time, a retail clothing store, recognized his organizational and design skills and transferred him to Houston to open, merchandise, and manage a new branch of their New England store.

Right after his move to Houston, he met his life partner, David Ellis Thorpe. They formed an immediate bond over interests in art, architecture, interior design and love for Golden Retrievers. Together they envisioned and decorated the seven homes they shared and loved during their 40 years together. At the same time, each continued to pursue and maintain his own independent business pursuits.

His next endeavor was at Banana Republic, where he opened, set-up, and managed several stores. He then went on to sales/management and Revillon Fur runway modeling at Saks Fifth Avenue. These professional experiences led Will to the interior design industry. He was hired by Brittain’s Fine Furniture of Houston as a sales associate and was quickly promoted to furniture and accessories buyer for the company. There he had the opportunity to become acquainted with many furniture manufacturers, along with their owners and reps. At this stage his immense talent was apparent to all and this is when many of his life-long friendships were forged.

In the early 1990s, Will was offered a manager and buyer position at The Market Antiques, a group of popular home furnishings stores in Texas. It was here that he met Denise Schneider, who was also employed at The Market. During this time period, and what became a highlight of his career, Southwood Furniture Corporation, recognized his talent and recruited him to select all of their new fabrics for each upholstery piece being displayed in their furniture market showroom.

After 12 years, Will and Denise left The Market Antiques to form their own design firm. Together they cultivated an exciting and fulfilling design business of 28 years. They loved getting to know their clients and creating unique and custom designs for them. Their business took them from coast to coast and all over the country, but Will called Houston home, and it is here that everyone can see his influences. His creative decisions were instinctive and quick. He never had to think about it, he just did it. His color sense was matched by no other. His remarkable talent was, in his words, “God-given,” and he was an inspiration to all. His dry wit and fun-loving personality were infectious.

Will is preceded in death by his mother, Caroline Duckworth Egerton; his father, Robert Earl Egerton, Sr.; his brother, Dwight Lee Egerton; and his nephew, Patrick John Egerton. He is survived by his partner of 40 years, David Ellis Thorpe; his sister, Sarah Egerton Mittleman and her husband Steven of Framingham, Massachusetts; his brother, Robert Earl Egerton, Jr. and his wife Angela of Edgartown, Massachusetts; his brother, John Albert Egerton and his wife Karen of North Smithfield, Rhode Island; his sister, Amy Egerton Dark and her husband Irving of Lincoln, Rhode Island; several nieces, nephews, grand nieces, and grand-nephews of Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, California and Spain; and his close friend and business partner, Denise Schneider of Houston.

Will was a joyous ray of love, light, and laughter in the hearts of all who knew him. He will be forever missed and always remembered.

Arrangements for a Celebration of Life are pending for when family and friends may gather together, and will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in memory of Will Egerton (ID# 12020978) be directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN, 38148, or by phone 800-822-6344.

“I had an UNBELIEVABLE ride!”