William Cecil Bass
May 24, 1945 ~ June 24, 2026
Born in:
Opelika, Alabama
Resided in:
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville Butterfly TrailWilliam “Bill” Cecil Bass, 81, died quietly and peacefully surrounded by loved ones on June 24, 2026.
He was the son of the late Cecil and Louise Bass of Opelika, AL, where he was born and raised. He was in ROTC, and was an accomplished sharp shooter. He graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Economics. After graduation, he was a proud Air Force Officer and was responsible for air traffic controllers in Vietnam during the war, where he earned a Bronze Star for valor. After serving five years in the Air Force, Bill and his young family moved to Asheville in 1972, where he spent the next 54 years building his real estate and general contractor businesses and serving the community.
The local real estate community knew him from his service as a two-time President of the Asheville Board of Realtors, and as the President of the North Carolina Association of Realtors in 2002. Bill served in leadership roles for decades within the NC Association of Realtors, including developing the Leadership Academy, which was later named for him as the William C. Bass Leadership Academy. Bill and his business partner, Steve Royster, built Bass and Royster Builders, a general contractor company. They built many homes and remodeled numerous historical houses throughout the area for over 25 years, winning the company Griffin Awards for historical restoration. In addition, Bill enjoyed teaching continuing education classes for many years for the NC Association of Realtors.
Bill served as President of the Rotary Club of Asheville and enjoyed serving his community, including the food packaging program, Rotarians for Hunger, which he led for many years. He also found tremendous meaning with his involvement in the Blue Ridge Honor Flight program, which takes veterans to visit the war memorials in Washington, DC. Bill served as an organizer and escort for numerous Blue Ridge Honor Flights.
Sailing, racquetball/pickleball, and weekends at his floating lake house on Fontana Lake were favorite pastimes. Bill also loved traveling – including traveling internationally, sailing in the Caribbean, driving cross country with Janet in their RV, and spending time with friends in Florida. Above all else, he loved spending time with his wife Janet, daughter Wendy (Jeff), son Scott (Jen), and grandchildren Tyler Bass, Caroline Bass, Chase Holub, and Emma Holub.
Memorial arrangements are pending. Any donations in his memory are appreciated to either an organization of your choice, or to Manna Food Bank, where Bill happily spent over 2000 hours delivering food to those in need in our area.
Groce Funeral Home’s Lake Julian team is assisting the family.
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This information was shared about your husband. I wanted to send you my prayers and a hug for this sad time. I hope you all find comfort in each other.
Much sympathy and love to your family. I remember Bill very fondly from our time as neighbors in North Dakota. I’m so sorry for your loss.
My first introduction to Bill Bass was when I bought my current home which was built by Bass & Royster in 1993. It was a Parade of Homes winner at the time and Bill was such a kind, true gentleman whom I highly respected and interfaced with over the years. I can so well remember our chats and the class person he was. In subsequent Parade of Homes events over the years, I always looked forward to visiting homes built by Bass & Royster since I knew how caring they were as builders. I was truly saddened when I saw Bill’s obituary in the Asheville paper, and I extend my condolences to Jan, and family and friends during this difficult time. His genuine humility and graciousness will be missed by all who knew him.
Oh, the times we had living across the street from the B’s in Brookwood Forest for 20 years. We raised our kids together. Wendy, Scott, and Slade were like brothers and sisters. We often said that we should build a duplex together and wouldn’t need but one kitchen. We owned boats together, we went to the lake together, we went to Colorado backpacking, we went to the beach, we went to the kids’ events, we sailed the Virgin Islands, Belize, we both had RV’s and traveled in caravan out West, we traveled anywhere we could find racqetball tournaments, the B’s invited themselves over for dinner, especially Friday nights, we acculated “toys”. We actually met at Blytheville AFB, never dreaming we would be neighbors. Bill built a home for us in Haywood County. It seemed we were more like brothers than friends. It’s been hard for the past year or so to see my friend go through what he’s been through. Maybe we’ll get together in heaven and play a game of racquetball someday! I miss you Buddy!.
I remember so very fondly the times at Circuit Courts/Visions etc, playing racquetball with Bill, Dave, Scott, and I think my (future, at the time) wife played in a league with Jan. And Wendy playing with Terri, Tracy, Terri-Lynne, seems like another one or two girls I can’t remember now. You guys were pillars of that place. We younger guys made fun of the “old guys”, Bill and Dave, because they wore so many braces on every joint. We wondered how they could even move! Well, now I’m there. When I play on most Thursdays it takes me 15 minutes to “suit up”, with belts, braces, straps and Blue Emu. I’ve thought about those times often, some of the best times of my life. Bill was such a great fellow. Prayers for his family.