Billy L. Harpe
June 26, 1924 ~ December 23, 2010
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
DR. B.L. HARPE
ASHEVILLE - Dr. Billy L. Harpe died Thursday, Dec. 23 after a lengthy illness.
Dr. Harpe was born in Wilmington, N.C. June 26, 1924. After spending his early childhood there and in Georgia, he moved to Asheville as a young teen. He graduated from Asheville High in 1942 and entered the Navy shortly thereafter, serving on the destroyer escort USS D.L. Howard for 3 � years in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters.
Upon his return, he entered the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tenn. and graduated in 1949. He began his practice of Optometry in West Asheville, retiring in 1988.
Bill is survived by his wife of 61 years, Elizabeth, his children Sally and Merlin Young of Wendell NC, Ann and John McIntosh of Charlotte NC, Holly and Douglas Lee of Waycross GA, and Christopher and Andrea Harpe of Anderson SC. �Papa Bill� is also survived by twelve grandchildren, Katie Furr, Courtney Hickman, Laura and Kristen Young, Erin Demo, Maggie McIntosh, Madison, Zachary and Lauren Lee, Christopher, Jonathan, and Molly Harpe, one great-grandson, Noah Furr, and one brother, Dr. Eugene Harpe of Waynesville NC.
Bill was a charter member of the West Asheville Business Association and the Asheville Sertoma Club. He belonged to and served in local and state optometric societies. He was a co-founder and leader in the Woodfin Scout Troup, served on YMCA Boards and on the Buncombe County Board of Health for many years.
He was a former member of the Asheville Country Club and of the Royal Rhododendron Brigade of Guards.
He was involved in church activities from childhood, had been an active member of Central United Methodist Church for almost 50 years, serving in numerous capacities, recently retiring as the Sunday School Secretary after 47 years!
Bill was an avid golfer and a talented woodworker. He generously shared his talent with his family and friends alike.
Be it known his deep faith, great love of family, and his incredible sense of humor never deserted him.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m on Tuesday, January 4, 2011, at Central United Methodist Church.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Central United Methodist Church, 27 Church Street, Asheville, NC 28801, or to the Hospice Solace Center, PO Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813.
Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue is assisting with the arrangements.
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Bill was a true friend. No one enjoyed a joke more than Bill. He loved to tell one and hear one. He was a true friend to everyone and like Will Rogers he never met a man he didn’t like. He will surely be missed.
You were always there to help your little brother, especially in getting started in practice when I came home from service.You made my office furniture and helped with the equipment. Rest in peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2
‘There is a time for everything…a time to be born and a time to die.’
Verse 22 reads: ‘So I saw that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot…’
Dr. Harpe took care of my eye needs and glasses from my childhood until he retired. I always liked his sense of humor and how kind he was to me. I remember when he would tell me I had one ear higher than the other and one earpiece sat in the air raised off the table. He was always smiling and had nothing but good to say. He enjoyed what he was doing.
May God give you strength, comfort, and peace and fill your hearts with his love in the weeks ahead.
God bless you in this difficult time in your lives. Just know that God loves you and I love you.
Gene and family,
Audrey and I are so sorry to learn of your loss. It sounds like your brother was a wonderful person. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
Love in Christ.
For a child it was a scary visit, but it turned into a relationship with a wonderful funny man. He took care of our needs for years. Even years later he remembered who you were and cared…. We are truly blessed to have known him. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Dr. Harpe was my parents eye Dr. in West Asheville until he retired. I remember Mama dreading to go to the new Dr.! We loved Dr. Harpes bubbly personality. Everytime I may go down Haywood Rd. and pass his office for so many years, I still think of Dr. Harpe. May God comfort each of you through this time.
Dear Libby and family,
We were lndeed saddened to learn of Bill’s death. I remember Bill in high school but we had lost contact until a few years ago when we started having lunch together every Wednesday. Bill was a good man and friend and I will surely miss him.
David Moore
I got my first pair of glasses in 1969 from Dr.Harpe. I was seven years old. He was my eye doctor until he retired and I still go to the same office. As a child he was the only doctor I was not scared of. I loved going to the eye doctor. Dr.Harpe is a special person I will always remember.
I was sad to read of your loss. Please know my thoughts and prayers are with each of you.
Dr. Harpe was like a family friend because he examined three gener-ations, along with uncles, aunts and cousins.
Please except my heart felt sympathy.
I have never had a better golf partner or friend dearer to me than Dr. Bill Harpe. What a competitor!
What a wonderful and compassionate human being! He could still rattle off the names of his patients, whom he considered ‘family’, twenty years after retiring. ‘Greatly missed’ is an understatement.
There are so many fond memories of Dr. Harpe. One interesting fact: My father, J. M. Smith (Candler, NC) was his very first patient when he opened his practice on Haywood Road in West Asheville. Dr. Harpe always sent my father a Christmas card expressing thanks for his trusting a totally new optometrist and for his continued friendship. He was also my eye-care professional for many years and he was the only ‘medical person’ that I always looked forward to seeing. His wit, his skill, and his personality will be sorely missed not only by his family but by anyone who was fortunate enough to cross his path.
Our sympathies and prayers go out to your family. We feel fortunate to have known your husband/father/grandfather/greatgrandfather. Bill was a wonderful man with a great sense of humor. He will be very much missed.
Love from our family to yours.
Holly,
We returned from my wife’s folks and I was saddened to learn of your father’s passing. Please know my family will keep yours in our prayers.
Tommy McMahon
Dear Libby and Family,
We got the news about Bill while visiting family in Charlotte and lovely thoughts of him and you came to mind…going all the way back to Malvern Hill days.
Please know our thoughts and prayers are with all of you. We plan to see you on the 4th.
Blessings for the days ahead.
Chris,
I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your Dad. You and your family are in my prayers. Please let me know if you need anything.
I was so sorry to hear of your loss from my mom today. Espcially during this time of Christmas. It is our family’s hope that you are comforted by God’s love now and for the months and years ahead.
Bill was a great neighbor and will missed.
So sorry to hear about Billy. I will miss him very much. I always enjoyed our meetings together. I hope that many great memories are comforting you.