Williams Edward Arant, Jr.

Birth date: Oct 29, 1935 Death date: Feb 10, 2021

Williams (Bill) Edward Arant, Jr., age 85, died peacefully, surrounded by family, at his home in Easton Maryland, on February 10, 2021. Raised in Manning, South Carolina, Bill started his working life early, at age 10, delivering Read Obituary

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Patti Kelley

248w ago

My deepest sympathy to Barbara and the family. I had the opportunity to work in the same office as Bill at Suntrust. He was the definition of a gentleman. He was kind beyond words and was truly interested in everyone he met. We had many conversations on a multitude of topics. I have two special memories of Bill. One was that he would always finish the crossword puzzles that I could not and most often in pen. The other was his entrance at work - always whistling and smiling. I am so honored to have known him.

David R Bradshaw

248w ago

Bill is a major reason that I am in the banking field today, and he taught me that attitude is everything. When choosing teams in this world, Bill was always picked first, regardless of the business, sport or anything in life. We will all miss Bill, but his legacy lives on in hundreds of us! My family's deepest condolences to Barbara and the entire family!

David Bradshaw, Oak Ridge, TN

John Wagstaff

249w ago

When I think of Mr. Arant, (Will always call him that) there are so many memories that I have of him. Yes, he was the father of my best friend, but he was an upstanding man as well. I can see him in the middle of Derbyshire Road talking baseball with my dad well into the night, like it was yesterday. Maybe he and my dad are in heaven right now talking baseball!

I also remember the time that I played him in ping pong in the basement of the Arant house and somehow I got up 3 or 4 to nothing and I started spouting off that I was going to beat him 7-0 (A skunking!). Well, he did not let that happen and proceeded to beat the young whippersnapper. Boy did he let me know about it.

I can remember him playing John Denver, Elton John and Wild Cherry on the basement stereo system as well.

I am not even going to talk about his college team! What was it?

I was always welcome in the Arant house, even when Bill and I were doing something stupid (like taking a candle into a leaf fort!) The Arant family was a key family to the Derbyshire Road family in Winston Salem. It was a sad day when they moved. Now the Arant family is hurting. I hope that you all can hug each other and feel the rest of the Wagstaff family hugging you as well.

Please accept my families' and my sincere condolences about your loss at this very sad time. I wish I could see Mrs. Arant, Jenifer and Bill once again.

John Wagstaff
Wilmington, NC

Loni Peters

249w ago

Dear Barbara,
My deepest condolences to you and your family. Bill was a larger than life person. I'm honored to have worked with him at SunTrust, Capital Bank and First TN and to have called him friend. Loni Peters

Bob Wagstaff

249w ago

Dear Mrs. Arant, Jenifer and Bill,

I just heard of Mr. Arant's passing and want to extend my deepest condolences for your loss. My memory of him is as a towering, intimidating giant of a man but also, a man who was very approachable and willing to connect. And the iron-fist handshake is no joke. I still recall our many 2-on-1, 3-on-1 and even 4-on-1 driveway basketball challenges against Mr. Arant - I do not recall him ever turning us down. Similarly, I do not recall ever beating him. Indeed, we feared that some fundamental, global framework would crumble if, by chance, we ever were to win. We always suspected, that as we (the collective neighborhood kids) got older, he was getting nervous about our chances and that's why you moved. Please know that the "Arant house" is still the "Arant house" and will always be the "Arant house".

I'm still working on forgiving him for being a Duke fan - I suppose he needs some flaw.

I wish peace for you and your family and hope you can find solace in your love of each other and in your memories. From what I can tell, he lived a remarkable life and you all were fortunate enough to be a part of that.

Bob Wagstaff
Roanoke, VA (Winston-Salem, NC)

Tim Williams

249w ago

Knew Bill 40 years. Always a gentleman. Great credibility, friendly smile, community servant. I will miss my friend.

Alison

249w ago

Dear Barbara, Jenifer, Bill and family,
Words cannot express my sympathy in your great loss. However, what a legacy of service to community and great relationship connections. The greatest, of course, came through on his love, care & pride in you.
Peace,
Alison

Diana Morgan

249w ago

I am deeply sorry for you and your family, Barbara. He was a special person for Knoxville.

Diana Morvan

Sandra Tietjen

249w ago

To the Loved Ones of Mr. Arant,

I met Mr Arant only once, when my husband, Ed, worked with him at Capital Bank in Knoxville, TN. Ed admired Mr. Arant tremendously, both professionally and personally. In May of 2020 I was diagnosed with cancer and was referred to the UT Cancer Center. Ed called Mr. Arant and asked him for advise on choosing a care facility and doctor. “Bill Arant knows everyone,” were Ed’s words. Mr. Arant got back to Ed quickly and assured Ed that we were at the best possible place for treatment and working with the best doctors. We were both so appreciative of him taking the time to make the calls and contacting Ed so quickly. I wanted you, his family and friends, to know of our appreciation. You are all in our prayers.

Sincerely, Sandy Tietjen
Maryville, TN

Ed Tietjen

249w ago

Barbara and family: Bill was a colleague at Capital Bank who distinguished himself in many ways. To me the most important was his ability to make people around him feel like they were friends, not just business contacts. It was the little touches that made him shine. At lunch he would make a point of learning the names of the wait staff and treat them with kindness and respect. After every business call Bill would return to the office and pen a handwritten thank you note to the person visited, very much a lost art in today's electronic world. During business meetings he made it obvious to the contact that he was genuinely interested in how they were doing and how he might help. In short he was a caring and authentic man. Those who were privileged to know him were rewarded in many ways. He was also well known for his robust handshake. I took to fist bumping with him after my first. Today I mourn his passing and wish well to the family. May he rest in peace. And may Duke win March Madness.

Ed Tietjen
Maryville, TN

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