William "Bill" Lawler

       William “Bill” Lawler, 73, loving husband, father, stepfather, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, died suddenly on December 7, 2024 at Atrium Health Baptist Medical Center. He was born on October 16, 1951 in Chicago to the late William J. and Jane F. Lawler. Bill graduated from Newman High School in 1969, Northern Illinois University in 1973 with a BS and DePaul University in 1976 with an MBA. His thirty-six year career began in Chicago with Scott Paper and continued with Rubbermaid and Ecolab until his retirement in 2009. He recently enjoyed teaching in the business department at Forsyth Tech Community College as an adjunct professor. He was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church and The Dwelling, Winston-Salem. 
       Above all else, Bill prioritized service to others. Throughout his life, he volunteered on many non-profit boards and foundations, most recently Pennybyrn, Historic Bethabara Park, Shallow Ford Foundation, Catholic Charities of Winston Salem, Meals-on-Wheels, Second Harvest Food Bank. Bill raised money, built buildings, served food, stuffed bags and stacked boxes– whatever was needed he rolled up his sleeves and got to work. He did all of this with a smile, putting those around him at ease with a well-timed joke. 
       His greatest joy came from the time he spent with his children and grandchildren. He was always on the road to Atlanta, Raleigh, Richmond, Winchester, Chapel Hill and Asheville for sporting events, dance recitals, First Communions, Confirmations, birthdays and graduation celebrations. He relished the opportunity to travel with his children and grandchildren recently to the US Open, The Masters, Tennessee, France, Ireland and Chile. He was ‘present’ in every and any possible way. His absence leaves a tremendous void in our lives, but his life leaves a powerful example for us all. 
       Preceding him in death are his parents, wife Jill and infant son, Sean. Surviving is his loving wife Donna; six children, Julie Smith and husband Joel of Winchester, VA, Kathryn Lawler and husband Scott Ball of Atlanta, GA, Amy Munday and her husband Shawn of Chapel Hill, NC, Brian Lawler and his wife Jean of Asheville, NC, Patrick Lawler of Richmond, VA, Thomas Lawler and his wife Katie of Raleigh, NC, two stepsons Chris Kronner and his partner Ashley Hildreth of Brooklyn, NY and Patrick Kronner and his wife Rachel Cass of Lewisville, NC. He was ‘Grandpa’ and ‘Papa’ to fifteen grandchildren: Dimitri Smith and his wife Jannie, Dolan and Noah Smith, Nora and Milner Ball, Silas, Troy and Faye Munday, Lucy, Frances and Margot Lawler, Jackson Ballard, Annie Lawler, Elliott Kronner and Kate Farrell. Great-grandfather to Aurora Smith, Farrell, Gwyn and Atticus Hohneke. He is also survived by his sisters, Pat Ahern, Eileen Miller, Peggy Shanley, Molly McGinn and brother Terry Lawler. 
       “To those whom much is given, much is expected."  This is how Bill lived every day of his incredible life! 
                
       The family will receive friends from 3 - 6 pm on Sunday, December 15th at Hayworth Miller Kinderton Chapel in Advance, NC. A funeral mass will be conducted at Holy Family Catholic Church, Clemmons, NC at 10 am on Monday, December 16th with Father Stephen Hoyt and Father Michael Buttner officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Dwelling, Winston-Salem https://www.thedwellingws.org/ or Mercy Care, Atlanta GA https://mercyatlanta.org