William Crenshaw

Obituary of William Everett Crenshaw

William “Bill” Crenshaw, 77, passed away on December 16, 2020 at his home in Fort Mill.  Bill was born on November 10, 1943 to Olvin Alexander Crenshaw, Jr. and Catherine Zeman Crenshaw, in Charlotte, NC where he lived his entire life, graduating from Charlotte Catholic High School in 1961.

Bill enlisted in the United States Navy in 1961 where he trained and served as an Interior Communications Electrician on the USS Sandoval.  After his honorable discharge from the Navy, he embarked on what would become a 38-year career with Southern Bell Telephone Company.

In his younger days, he was an avid slalom and barefoot water skier, and his favorite place in the world was the family cabin on Lake Wylie, where he enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. He was an active member of the Boy Scouts his entire life, earning the Vigil Honor, the highest honor that the Order of the Arrow can bestow upon its members for service to lodge, council and Scouting.

In retirement he loved to travel, and he gave freely of his time volunteering with the Boy Scouts, the Telephone Pioneers, and the North Carolina chapter of the USO.  Bill joined his wife Renee as a staunch advocate for animals, rescuing and advocating for abandoned cats and dogs.  A self-taught tinkerer and lover of gadgets, Bill always had a large workshop and was widely known by friends and family as an amateur DIY-er often combining electronics and duct tape to produce suspect inventions.  He was best known for his affable, good-hearted nature and was a kind, intelligent, soul who very much enjoyed time spent with family and friends.

His wife Renee Garrison Crenshaw, his son Jody Crenshaw, his brother Frank Crenshaw, and both his parents precede him in death. 

Bill is survived by his brother Richard Crenshaw and his wife, Elizabeth, his son Jeffrey Crenshaw and wife Marjorie, his daughter Elisa Sole and husband Griffin, two grandchildren, Katie Sole and Michael Crenshaw, and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM Wednesday, December 30, 2020, in the Chapel of Hankins and Whittington, 1111 East Boulevard, Charlotte. Those who are unable to be in attendance may join the service here: Live Stream

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Bill’s name to the NC Chapter of the USO (northcarolina.uso.org) or the Boy Scouts of America Mecklenburg County Council (donations.scouting.org).

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