William "Bill" D. Beaty

William Dick Beaty passed away at home on Monday, May 14, 2018, surrounded by his family and friends. Bill was born in Huntington, WV, on February 21st, 1935, the son of William Thomas Beaty and Lucy Virginia Dick Beaty.

Early in his life, Bill’s family moved to Raleigh. He attended Myrtle Underwood Elementary and Broughton High Schools. He had the classic mid-century boyhood: riding his pony around Lake Boone, spending summers with his beloved grandmother in McLeansville, attending Camp Seagull, and participating in Boy Scouts. He was a member of Troop 23 at White Memorial Presbyterian Church, ultimately earning the rank of Eagle Scout. He was the first Scout in Raleigh to receive the God and Country award. At Broughton, he was student body president and graduated in 1953 as salutatorian of his class.

Bill attended Duke University on an NROTC scholarship. At Duke, he was the president of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1957, having majored in economics.

In June of 1958 he married Anne Polk Denmark of Raleigh, marking the beginning of 58 years of marriage.

In 1957 to 1960 Bill began his military service, eventually achieving 1st Lieutenant in the US Marine Corps as leader of a Weapons Platoon stationed at Camp LeJeune, 2nd Battalion, FMF. During his service, he was deployed to the Beirut, Lebanon, conflict, and ended his Marine career as a Security Officer aboard the aircraft carrier Lake Champlain.

In 1960, Bill and Anne returned to Raleigh to start their family. Bill joined his father at their Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance office. Bill and Anne were members of the Terpsichorean Club, Lamplighters, and Edenton Street Methodist Church. They enjoyed their bridge club, nights out at the Frog and Nightgown, and dinners at the Angus Barn.

Bill worked with Connecticut Mutual until 1984, when he volunteered for Jim Long’s successful campaign for NC Insurance Commissioner. In 1985, Bill joined the NC Department of Insurance as Senior Deputy for Consumer and Agent Services where he wrote legislation for pre-licensing of all NC insurance agents, modernized the agent testing program, reorganized the Consumer Division of the department, and created the Senior’s Health Insurance Program. Bill left the Department in 1987 and started his own independent brokerage firm. He retired in 1997, and spent his retirement years sailing on the Neuse River, making furniture, golfing, working on the family’s Emerald Isle house, playing with his grandchildren, and ultimately caring for his beloved wife.

Bill was predeceased by his parents, as well as his wife Anne and his sister Mary Beaty White.

He is survived by his children, Virginia Beaty Cleary (George Holt), Tom Beaty (Bess), William Beaty, and his grandchildren, Will Cleary, Bowen Beaty, and Mary Yates Beaty.

Bill especially enjoyed the companionship of the Old Raleigh Boys in his later years. We are profoundly grateful for the faithful support, love, and friendship of Connie Privette and Armella Crabbe.

A visitation will be held Tuesday, May 22, 2018 from 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm at Bill's home.

A graveside service will be held Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at 1:00 pm at Oakwood Cemetery, 701 Oakwood Ave., Raleigh. A memorial service will follow the graveside service at 2:30 pm at Edenton Street United Methodist Church, 228 West Edenton Street, Raleigh. The family will receive friends following the memorial service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Ruth Sheets Adult Day Care Center, 228 West Edenton St. Raleigh, NC 27603.

Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary's Street Raleigh, NC.