Rutherfordton, NC
Mr. William (Bill) Arthur Hartley, age 85 passed away Sunday, March 11, 2018 while being cared for at Hospice House in Forest City, NC.
William lived a very full and productive life; beginning with his years in high school. He was a member of The National Honor Society, The Quilt and Scroll Society and The National Thespian Society. He graduated with high honors. In 1951 he joined the U.S. Navy and served four years active duty and four years reserve duty. While part of the active duty, he taught Aviation Electronics and flew as a combat air crewman on a number of missions during the Korean War. He also was on a carrier ship with a flight deck, at times being part of a crew to launch a combat aircraft, other times being part of the crew that flew the aircraft. In September of 2016, he was chosen to be honored by being part of the Blue Ridge Honor flight to Washington, DC.
Upon leaving the Navy he attended The University of Illinois at Champaign Urbana, continuing as part of the Reserve Corp and he graduated with where he was active in a number of student organizations while working a 20 hour week and maintaining a 4.8/5.0 GPA graduating Magna Cum Laude with a BSEE in Engineering and was one of the few to have his name inscribed on as brass plaque which hangs in the University library.
After graduating college worked for the following companies: Westinghouse Electric Corp, Youngwood Semiconductor; General Motors Corp, Delco Electronics Division Development Electrical Engineering Manager. IN 1966 he was with Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corp and in 1968, he went with IBM Corp as a Development Electrical Engineering Manager. Twice he received the excellence award for quality improvement on the PC computer. He was a member of the IBM quarter century club and for most of his career he was a management development consultant, leading groups and seminars on improving management skills. Not only did he do this in the US , he also worked in management development in England , Germany Scotland and France. He retired in 1993 from IBM.
In 1993, William and his loving wife Nancy moved to Rutherfordton, NC where they enjoyed the experience of building their own home themselves. In addition to this they were active in a number of other areas. Bill was active in First United Methodist Church of Rutherfordton and was active in helping Habitat for Humanity as well as being a volunteer for Veteran to Veteran program, provided by Hospice to other veterans. During his years of retirement, they travelled extensively in their RV, having been in every state with the exception of Hawaii, and every province of Canada, with the exception of Newfoundland.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife of over 40 years, Nancy Blake Hartley, two sons, Kevin Hartley of Burlington, MA; Brad Hartley of Tellico Plains, TN; one daughter, Catherine Marie Hartley of North Creek, NY; two stepsons, Dr. Christopher Willard and his wife Dr. Laurel Willard of Calgary, Alberta, Jonathan Willard and his wife Nicole of N. Waterboro, ME, one brother, James Hartley and his wife Irene of Greentown, IN, one sister, Brenda Langer and her husband Vernon of Godfrey, IL, one brother-in-law, Edward Blake and his wife Mary of Mooretown, VT, nine grandchildren and a number of other relatives and friends.
A celebration of William's life will be held 2 PM, Friday, March 16, 2018 at The First United Methodist Church in Rutherfordton, NC. The family will receive friends in the family life center following the memorial service. Military honors will be provided by The Rutherford County Veterans Honor Guard.
In lieu of flowers memorials are requested to Hospice of the Carolina Foothills, PO Box 336, Forest City, NC 28043 or The Alzheimer's Association, 3739 National DR, Ste 110, Raleigh, NC 27612.

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