William "Bill" Horne, Jr.

William “Bill” Horne Jr, age 81, went home to be with The Lord on Friday, September 29, 2023 surrounded by his family.

Bill was born on May 23, 1942, in Swannanoa, NC. He graduated from Charles D. Owen High School in 1960 and attended Western Carolina University on a basketball scholarship before graduating in 1964. During his time at WCU, the Catamounts won two Carolinas Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament championships in 1963 and 1964 and appeared in the NAIA national championship game in 1963. After college, Bill pursued a career in professional bass fishing and textiles with VF Corporation, becoming President/CEO of Bassett-Walker, Inc. in Martinsville, VA in 1987. In 1994 he opened Angler’s Choice, a bass boat dealership in Martinsville that he co-owned until 2005 when he founded Southlake Marine in Union Hall, VA. Bill formally retired in 2009. In 2019 he joined Delta Star, Inc. as a member of the Board of Directors. Throughout his life, Bill was an avid fisherman and golfer, and a beacon of joy and laughter to all those around him. He was a devoted member of Christ Community Church and known for his kind heart, strong work ethic, and devotion to his family.

Bill was predeceased by his father, William Horne Sr, and his mother, Mae Horne. He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Jane Sullivan Horne, brother Charles Horne and wife Lynn of Bland, VA, sister Sarah Silver and husband Randy of Asheville, NC, son Trey Sullivan and wife Mehgan of Charlotte, NC, grandson William Gray Sullivan, step-children Chad Copp, Nena Cloer and families.

A funeral service will be held at Christ Community Church in Penhook, VA on Saturday, October 7, 2023 at 2pm with a Celebration of Life reception to follow at The Water’s Edge Country Club, 1825 Water's Edge Drive, Penhook, VA  24137.

In lieu of flowers please donate to:

Franklin County Humane Society (Planned Pethood Clinic & Adoption Center) 

https://www.plannedpethoodrockymount.com/donate

OR

Christ Community Church

14900 Old Franklin Turnpike

Penhook, VA  24137