William L. Averitte, 84, of Cantonment, passed away October 8, 2013, at Baptist Hospital.

William was born January 30, 1929, in the Vander community near Fayetteville, NC. He loved his family and childhood, saying he grew up in the best time in history, despite being born the year the Great Depression began. He served in the Army and met his wife Mary Ann at a Lawrence Welk dance while stationed in Wisconsin. He attended North Carolina State University on a GI bill, where he studied industrial engineering and then went to work for Westinghouse in Raleigh, NC. He retired as a senior engineer from the Pensacola Westinghouse plant.

Bill enjoyed many hobbies, including woodworking, fishing, gardening, bowling, hunting and golf. In his younger years, he played several sports and later he enjoyed coaching the winning Westinghouse basketball team. He was an avid reader, averaging five books a week until his death, as well as a Civil War history buff and an engaging conversationalist and story teller. He was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Milton, where he served in many capacities. He appreciated his many friends, including his Wednesday morning breakfast buddies, who met for 20-plus years.

Preceding him in death are his wife, Mary Ann and his sons, Bryce (on whose birthday he passed) and Brent; grandson, Chad Averitte and brother, Clayton Averitte.

He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Allison and Alex McCrory of Cantonment; granddaughter, Kendall McCrory of Tallahassee and grandsons, Troy Averitte of Navarre and Stephen McCrory of Boston. Also surviving him are his sister, Louise Hanlon of Cocoa Beach and brother, Robert Averitte of Greensboro, NC.

Funeral services were held Saturday, October 12, 2013, at Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel with Reverend Frank Beall officiating.

Entombment was at Bayview Memorial Park with military honors.

Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel is entrusted with arrangements.