He was born in Winterville, NC, to Levy and Mamie Butts Dempsey, and attended Winterville schools. Upon receiving his discharge from the U.S. Air Force, Bill attended North Carolina State University, graduating in 1957 where he was a member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity.
Bill worked for Allis Chalmers Manufacturing Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Buford Hall and Smith in Atlanta, Georgia. He returned to Raleigh in 1966 to work for Aeroglide Corporation, then worked for Abernathy Thomas Engineering Company for 25 years. He was a member of Christ Episcopal Church, The Sphinx Club and The Raleigh Sports Club.
Bill is survived by Kirk Shepherd Dempsey, his wife of 57 years; his son, Shep Dempsey of Wilmington; his daughter, Trish Garrabrant and husband Raiford, and his two grandsons, Raiford and Pete Garrabrant of Raleigh.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Glenwood Hayes Dempsey.
A funeral service will be held at Christ Episcopal Church, 120 E. Edenton Street, Raleigh, at 11:00 am on Saturday, March 24, 2018, with a reception to follow in the parish hall.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests gifts of remembrance be made to Christ Episcopal Church (ccral.org) or Transitions LifeCare 250 Hospice Cr Raleigh, NC 27607 (transitionslifecare.org).
Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary's St., Raleigh, NC.
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