Obituary of William Oliver Vinson

William Oliver Vinson, 76, of Hillsborough, NC, died peacefully on Friday, July 19, 2024, at Duke University Hospital surrounded by his family. He was born in 1947 in Selma, AL to Charles William Vinson and Sara Friday Davis and grew up on the family farm. Bill attended Auburn University (class of 1970) where he graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration and where he met his wife, Davelyn Bolton Vinson. He began his career as a Cost Accountant for 2 years at Milliken and Company in LaGrange, GA before joining the Georgia Ports Authority, where he worked for 39 years as an Accountant, Assistant Finance Director, and Operational Auditor. Bill retired from the Georgia Ports Authority in 2011. While in Savannah, he was a member and served as an Elder at White Bluff Presbyterian Church and was a volunteer and Board Member at the International Seaman’s House. 

Bill and his wife, Davelyn, retired to Brevard, NC in 2011 and enjoyed their community there until 2022. While there, he was a member and Elder at Brevard/Davidson River Presbyterian Church and a served as a volunteer for both Habitat for Humanity and Sharing House.  

In 2022, Bill and Davelyn moved to Hillsborough, NC to be closer to family and he has been a member of Hillsborough Presbyterian Church. 

Bill was preceded in death by his mother, Sara Friday Vinson Davis, his father, Charles William Vinson and his stepfather, Lewis Davis. 

He is survived by his wife of nearly 54 years, Davelyn Bolton Vinson of LaGrange, GA, his son, Jade Patrick Vinson (Katherine Hasard) of Chapel Hill, NC, his daughter, Amy Elizabeth Vinson (Maureen Ventola) of Andover, MA, his grandsons Anthony Raphael Vinson-Ventola and Eric William Vinson, his German exchange student “daughter” Laura Boehme of München, Germany, several cousins, a niece, and nephews.

Bill was a dedicated family man, an avid woodworker and was known for his quick wit and good-hearted one-liners. He will be missed dearly by his family and friends.

A private Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, July 27 at 2:00 pm at Hillsborough Presbyterian Church with a reception to follow at his home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Habitat for Humanity (www.habitat.org).