Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
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Obituary Online notes for “Bill” William Mitchell CAUSEY Jr.
6/12/2023
William Mitchell Causey, Jr.
September 15, 1947 ~ June 2, 2023
75 Years Old
Retired Colonel William “Bill” Mitchell Causey Jr. passed away on Friday, June 2, 2023 at the age of 75.
Bill was the first of four children born to William “Mitchell” Causey Sr. and Helen Clapp Causey on September 15, 1947.
He grew up on the family farm in Greensboro, NC. Despite his Grandpa Clapp’s endless list of chores, Bill still found time to read books and play basketball. His first job at 13 years old was picking tobacco. He graduated from SE Guilford High School in 1964 at age 16 by skipping a grade. He went on to attend the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and graduated in 1968. While attending UNC-Chapel Hill he worked part-time for a building contractor, but still found time to enjoy his youth. He met his future wife, Jennifer Frances Robbins, at a McDonald’s while cruising around with friends.
Bill and Jennifer were married on August 15, 1968.
After a brief time working for a construction company in Greensboro, it became clear that Bill would be sent to Vietnam. Rather than wait for a draft notice, Bill enlisted as an officer in the U.S. Army in June 1969. His military career in Logistics brought his growing family all over the world.
Bill and Jennifer welcomed their first son, William Mitchell Causey, III in Fort Campbell, KY and their second son Matthew James Causey in Australia.
Bill steadily climbed through the ranks and retired as a Colonel. Among his favorite achievements were graduating with an MBA from Chapman University, as well as obtaining an MA from the Naval War College, opening the Army ROTC program at his alma mater, UNC-Chapel Hill, and adding new friends to his Christmas Card list.
Bill had numerous hobbies and interests, top among them were running, reading, volunteering, and being a Tarheel! He started running every day in his mid-thirties and continued the habit into his seventies. Bill kept meticulous records of how many miles he logged each day, then competed against himself to increase his mileage each year. An avid reader, Bill also logged every book he read. In his sixties he served on the Chatham County Appearance Commission, as well as the Rocky River Heritage Foundation. He volunteered for UNC Hospice and performed veteran service recognition pinning ceremonies. He also volunteered for the Chatham County Library book sales. He loved attending UNC football and basketball games, which typically ended in celebratory beer drinking at the Carolina Brewery.
After retiring from the Army in 1996, Bill went into heavy equipment sales and launched a few businesses. In 2004 Bill and Jennifer moved into their final home together on the Rocky River near Pittsboro, NC. It was Bill’s vision to build a home from scratch and he took great enjoyment from living there. In the summertime he loved grilling salmon, drinking beer, and singing along to “Rockin’ Robin” poolside.
When Jennifer passed away in January 2018, Bill began visiting his mother-in-law, Evelyn Visotsky Robbins, at Northpoint Nursing Home in Asheboro, NC every Sunday.
After Jennifer’s passing, Bill’s motivation to take care of himself declined. His family intervened and he was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. He was welcomed to Independent Living at Arbor Landing in Ocean Isle in June 2020, and transitioned to Horizons Memory Care in January 2023 within the same facility. Though Bill transitioned to a different living situation, his exercise habits remained. He continued to work-out five days a week under the guidance of the Ageility team. His brother, John Causey, regularly checked in on him and brought him out to enjoy his favorite meal, oyster stew made by John’s wife Margaret.
Bill is survived by his sons, Mitchell and Matthew (Jenny), siblings Ann Mendenhall (Ray), John Causey (Margaret), and Sarah Lasitter (Tom), as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
A graveside service with reception following will be held at 2:00PM on Thursday, June 22, 2023 at the Alamance Presbyterian Church, 4000 Presbyterian Road, Greensboro, NC 27406.
In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions can be made to either the Dementia Alliance of North Carolina or the University of North Carolina Army ROTC Program.
Dementia Alliance of North Carolina
Address: 9131 Anson Way, Suite 206, Raleigh, NC 27615
Phone: (919) 832-3732
Website: dementianc.org
University of North Carolina Army ROTC
Address: UNC – Arts & Sciences Foundation, Buchan House, 523 East Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, NC. 27514
Phone: (919) 962-6358, Website: armyrotc.unc.edu/donations/
Online condolences are encouraged and may be sent to the family at www.fulwoodfuneralservice.com
https://www.fulwoodfuneralservice.com/obituary/William-CauseyJr 54, William Mitchell Causey, Jr.