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Mr. William Archie Hendrix, age 88, a resident of 4131 Hwy 264 E. in Belhaven, died Friday, February 19, 2021 in Greenville, NC.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 27, 2021 at Mt. Olive Church of Christ, 39353 US Hwy 264 E., Belhaven, NC 27810 and will be conducted by Dale Morgan. Visitation will be held at 1:00 p.m. prior to the service.  The family asks that COVID protocol be observed by wearing masks and social distancing. Serving as pallbearers will be his grandsons, Jamie Hughes, Will Hughes, James Rose, Clint Hendrix, Tyler Guin, Jesse Six, Jason Burleson and nephew, Robert David Albin.

Mr. Hendrix was born in Wheatfield, Indiana on October 20, 1932 to the late Archie Hendrix and Nina Lyle Wagner Hendrix. On August 20, 1951, he married the love of his life, his late wife, Velma Shirley Hendrix at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Bath, NC.

In 1950, Mr. Hendrix graduated from Wheatfield High School.  Upon graduation, Bill enlisted and served in the United States Marine Corps finding himself in combat in Korea. After his tour in Korea, he returned stateside and was a trombone player in the Marine Corps band where he was privileged to travel the country playing in the stage band for the off-Broadway musical, Oklahoma. 

In 1953, discharged from his service as Corporal, Willie and Velma settled in Kouts, Indiana where they had 5 of their 6 children. Bill began his career as a journeyman machinist at McGill Ball Bearing, Inc. where he was also an apprentice. In 1965, they moved to eastern North Carolina where he continued his career at Texas Gulf Sulphur in Aurora and then Firestone in Wilson, retiring from his own shop in 1990.

Upon retirement in Hyde County, Bill was able to pursue his love of fishing and hunting fulltime and no one could do it better. He was the Johnny Appleseed of fishing and never gave up an opportunity to give a child a rod and reel from his stash he kept just for that. “Wild Bill” as he was known to his circle of friends in the fishing world, communicated either by phone or CB radio about where and what they caught that day, the weather, and where the fish might be the next day.  In his later years, when the fishing slowed down, the days not fishing he would get in his truck and make the rounds to all the landings and find out who was catching what and where. 

In addition to his parents and his wife, Willie was preceded in death by his brothers Johnny Hendrix, Charlie Hendrix, Donnie Hendrix, his sisters Gracie Wireman, Beulah Gourley and his son-in-law, Jay Guin.

He is survived by his brother David Hendrix, his sisters Patty O’Brine and Mary Brady.

He is also survived by his 6 children, Denise Guin of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Michele Hughes (Mel) of Fuquay-Varina, NC, Kevin Hendrix (Gloria) of Wilson, NC, Carol Rose (Jim) of Shelby, NC, Rod Hendrix of Wilson, NC and Chris Hendrix (Dawne) of Grimesland, NC.

Granddaddy is survived by his beloved grandchildren, Chris Guin, Jonathan Guin (Erin), Tyler Guin (Tara), Philip Guin, Jamie Hughes (Whitney), Will Hughes (Beth Anne), Clint Hendrix (Danielle), James Rose, Leah Buffington (Tate), Laura Rose, Christy Stearns (Richard), Jamie Glover (Karah), Kandace Six (Jesse), Hailey Hendrix, Hannah Hendrix, and honorary grandson, Jason Burleson.

And he is survived by his 20 great grandchildren whom he has dedicated the song “I Will Always Love You” written by Dolly Parton and sung by Whitney Houston. 

Uncle Willie leaves behind his many adoring nieces and nephews.
In addition to his family, Wild Bill leaves behind special friends Dr. Mark Beamer and Vanessa Beamer, Paul Tackett and Paul Tackett, Jr., Lynn Clayton, Dale Morgan, Jake Pilgreen, and many, many more.

The charity most dear to Willie and Velma’s heart was St. Jude Hospital where they have been monthly contributors since 1996.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN  38105, The Service League of Greenville Inpatient Hospice, 920 Wellness Dr., Greenville, NC  27834, or to the charity of your choice.

Online condolences may be offered to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com 

Paul Funeral Home of Belhaven is honored to serve the Hendrix family.