Billy “Bill” Marchant, 79, of Gastonia passed away September 7, 2024 at CaroMont Regional Medical Center. He was born September 14, 1944 in Gaston County, NC, a son of the late Fred Bridges Marchant and Dorothy Glover Marchant Woody.

Bill graduated from Frank L. Ashley High School in 1962 and from Western Carolina University in 1967. He was a Tax Auditor with the state of NC and retired after 30 years of service. He attended Armstrong Memorial Presbyterian Church of Gastonia for years. Bill was an avid Carolina Tarheels fan for both basketball and football. He was also a Carolina Panthers fan and a seat holder because he didn’t want to miss a game. He loved all sports and in his spare time enjoyed reading sports magazines. The beach was a place Bill enjoyed relaxing and people watching. Annual fishing trips to the coast with friends and coworkers was something he looked forward to in the fall of the year. Bill liked deep-sea fishing as well. He had an excellent sense of humor and loved seeing his friend’s reactions to his dry wit.  

Bill is survived by his sister, Katherine Woody Bossi (David); sister-in-law, Vivian Marchant; niece, Tonya Marchant Barbare (Tim); nephew, Freddy Marchant; great-niece, Alli Barbare; and great-nephews, Ty Barbare, Avery Marchant (Hannah), Will Marchant and Brady Marchant.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his step-father, James Baxter Woody; and brother, Fred Larry Marchant.           

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made online at diabetes.org or by mail to American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 7023, Merrifield, VA  22116-7023.