William (Bill) Reuben Daniel (February 17, 1937- September 5, 2025)
Bill joined his Lord and Savior (and his sweet wife, Carolyn) in heaven on Friday, September 5 at Atrium Health Pineville. A service to celebrate his life will be held on Friday, September 12, 2025 at 11:00am in the Magnolia Chapel at Matthews Glen, 733 Pavilion View Drive, Matthews, NC. The family will greet friends following the service.
Bill was born to the late Reuben and Bessie L. Daniel on February 17, 1937 in Rock Hill, SC. He grew up in Rock Hill graduating from Rock Hill High School in 1955. Bill accepted Christ as his Savior as a young teenager. He loved the Boy Scouts and in 1953 he earned his Eagle Scout.
Bill entered The Citadel in Charleston, SC in August 1955 graduating on June 6, 1959 with a BS degree in Electrical Engineering. At graduation he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force Reserve. Before entering the Air Force he worked briefly for Duke Power Co as an engineer trainee.
Bill met the love of his life, Carolyn L. Schoen, at a dance, on June 25,1958, at McDill Air Force Base, Tampa, FL while attending the Air Force ROTC summer camp. They were officially engaged at The Citadel Christmas Hop on December 18, 1958 and were married in Tampa, FL on July 3, 1959. Bill entered the United States Air Force on August 15, 1959 and they left for Alaska a few days later.
Bill was stationed at Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks, Alaska for 3 years as their Electrical Engineer. He served as a coordinator between the then Strategic Air Command (SAC) and the 5010th Civil Engineering Group. He was released from active duty in 1962 and he and Carolyn departed Alaska. In 1971 he received an Honorable Discharge from the USAF with the rank of Captain.
Following his service in the USAF, Bill worked for 5 companies in electrical maintenance, engineering and sales before he and Carolyn started their own manufacturer’s representative business, WR Daniel & Associates in 1969. He represented manufacturers to the electrical utility industry in North and South Carolina. Bill and Carolyn sold their business on January 1, 2008. The company remains in business today.
Bill and Carolyn moved to Matthews Glen in Matthews, NC in 2010. Bill retired on January 1, 2011. He loved fishing, travel, family, and friends, but mostly Bill loved Carolyn. Their love for each other one is for the ages, inspirational to all who knew them.
Bill was a member of Carmel Baptist Church in Matthews, NC. One of his great joys in life was being an active part of 4 start up Southern Baptist churches (Carmel Baptist and Sharon Baptist in Charlotte, NC and Peninsula Baptist and Trinity Baptist in Mooresville, NC). He served as a deacon for 11 years. Bill and Carolyn were also actively involved in New Directions International/Feed the Hunger for over 40 years.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Carolyn, and his sisters, Ruby Lee Ford and Marianne D. Thomas. He is survived by his daughters, Kim (John) Daniel and Tammi Daniel; grandchildren, Will (Megan) Daniel and Carrie Frances (Logan) Silver; great grandchildren Ruth Eloise Daniel and Madelyn Elisa Daniel as well as nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The International Mission Board, PO BOX 6767, (for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International missions), Richmond, Va. 23230-0706 or The Bessie L Daniel Scholarship Fund at The Citadel Foundation, 171 Moultrie St., Charleston, SC 29409.
Arrangements are in the care of Heritage Funeral Home, Matthews, NC.