William "Bill" Louis Bingham

William Louis “Bill” Bingham died December 19, 2025, in the family home in Raleigh, NC. Bill was born in Cascade, Jamaica, on March 31, 1934, to missionary parents, the Rev. Buell Elden Bingham and the Rev. Lois Crouse Bingham. The family returned to the United States as his father served churches and his mother taught school in Oklahoma, California, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and North Carolina.

Bill graduated from Roper High School and received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering (NC State), an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering (Purdue), and a Ph.D. in Engineering Science and Mechanics (Penn State). He taught at the Institute for Science and Engineering (Nancy, France), worked at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (Washington, DC), and was an Associate Professor in the College of Engineering for 42 years at North Carolina State University (Raleigh). During his tenure at NC State, he was named to the Academy of Outstanding Teachers (1980-81), received the George Blessis Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Advising (2001-02), and the William C. Friday Award for Distinguished Service in Retirement (2016).

Bill married Annette Patton Bingham of Greensboro, NC, in 1955, and together they lived in Lafayette, IN; Washington, DC; State College, PA; Nancy, France; Hyattsville, MD; Chicago, IL; and Raleigh, NC. Their children are the late JEB, Allen, Dan, and Lorri.

Bill was a member of Avent Ferry United Methodist Church and active in the church life at many levels. He provided lay leadership for United Methodists in North Carolina in social justice, Christian unity, and interreligious relations. He also led multiple United Methodist Volunteers In Mission work teams to Jamaica and Haiti.

Bill was active in the community through his service and leadership with the Triangle Interfaith Alliance and as a founder of Kids’ Café at Avent Ferry UMC. He volunteered with the Ecumenical Institute in Chicago, the Institute of Cultural Affairs in Jamaica and India, and the North Carolina Council of Churches.

Bill was preceded in death by his father, Buell Elden Bingham; his mother, Lois Crouse Bingham; his wife of 60 years, Annette Patton Bingham; his son, John Elden “JEB” Bingham; and his sisters,

Rebecca Bingham Carnes and Juanita Miller Rummans. He is survived by his sister, Priscilla Sue Durkin, and his children: William Allen Bingham (Cindy), Marcel Daniel Bingham (Gail), Nancy Lorraine Bingham, and grandchildren, Elizabeth Ann Bingham, Elena Claire Bingham (Clara Sterberg), William Lee Bingham, and Seth Daniel Bingham.

A Service of Death and Resurrection will be held Sunday, December 28, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at Avent Ferry United Methodist Church with the Rev. Liz Roberts presiding. The family will greet friends and family in the Fellowship Hall immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Bill Bingham to the endowment fund of Avent Ferry United Methodist Church, 2700 Avent Ferry Road, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606.

Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary's Street, Raleigh is serving the Bingham family.