William "Bill" Towers Maddox Jr.

Bill Maddox – Dr. William Towers Maddox Jr. – passed away peacefully April 30, surrounded by family and friends who love him.

Bill lived his life with passion and integrity – driven with purpose, devoted to serving others, continually learning and sharing knowledge, ever humble, ever generous, and fully immersed in each moment.

He was born April 9, 1951 in Rome, Georgia, to Billy (William Towers Sr.) and Billie Kyle. He was the youngest of three, sharing a special bond with big brother Ed and big sister Russell.

From a young age, he cultivated a love of running, just like his dad. He ran for his high school track and cross country teams, and running became a life long passion that he shared with his children. He famously counted each step while he ran in order to track his mileage, and meticulously logged each run in Sierra Club wilderness calendars.

He pursued a career in medicine and joined Asheville Cardiology Associates (ACA) when it was still a small practice, as its fifth partner. Driven by a deep belief in equity in healthcare, Bill played a pivotal role in shaping the future of cardiac care across Western North Carolina. He served in several key leadership positions, including Medical Director of ACA and Chief of Medical Staff at St. Joseph’s/Mission Hospital.

Through his leadership – and his service directly in Franklin and Sylva – he helped build a regional network of cardiac care that ensured rapid, life-saving treatment for acutely ill patients. His efforts have saved countless lives across western NC.

Bill was a passionate man – everyone who met him experienced it. His third and greatest passion was for his family. He met the love of his life, Janice, very romantically in Amsterdam and then Dijon, France during a college exchange program. They moved and lived all over the south and east coast before settling in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, NC in 1982. They expanded their family with their three children, Leah, Mark, and Rachael.

His fourth passion, which he shared with his family, was travel – embracing new people, experiencing different cultures, and discovering new ways of life. He visited the Soviet Union four times, brought his own parents to Israel to fulfill a lifelong dream, and visited China, Ireland, Cuba, Kenya and more.

Bill is survived by his wife Janice, his siblings, their partners and his in-laws – Ed, Susan, Russell, John, Wayne and Doris – his three children and their partners – Leah, Graham, Mark, Brenna, Rachael and Tim – his four beautiful grandchildren – William, Laurel, Adeline and Levi – and many nieces, nephews, colleagues and friends.

A Celebration Of Life will be held for Bill Maddox at 2pm on May 30 at Kenilworth Presbyterian Church in Asheville, NC. A reception will follow in the Church’s Fellowship Hall. Arrangements are under the care of Groce Funeral Home’s Lake Julian team.

In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to ABCCM Medical Ministry, the Red Cross Western North Carolina, and Mountain Aging Partners. He would want the Western North Carolina medical community to THRIVE!