William Henry "Bill" Lyon

William Henry “Bill” Lyon, Age 95, died peacefully on May 5, 2025, due to complications consistent with his age. He was a beloved husband, father, son, brother, and friend. Bill loved people and delighted in making them happy through acts of kindness, care, and humor.

He was born on December 4, 1929, in Madison, WV, to Myrtle and Bruce Lyon. Bill graduated from Greenbrier Military Academy in 1947 and went on to Washington and Lee University, where he played football and earned a degree in Business Administration. Bill was a veteran serving in the counterintelligence division of the Army during the Korean War. In 1959, Bill and his wife, Ruth Blakeslee Lyon, moved to Salisbury, NC where they raised their daughters. There, he began a distinguished career in the furniture industry. Together with his partner, Larry Shaw, they started two wrought iron furniture companies--Carolina Forge and Lyon-Shaw. While living in Salisbury, Bill was an active member of the First United Methodist Church and also the Rotary Club. Sadly, in 1980, Ruth predeceased Bill after a long illness with Multiple Sclerosis. In 1982, he married Margie Davis and moved to Winston-Salem, where along with Margie, he continued his career in the casual furniture industry. In 2005, Bill was so very honored to be the first non-retailer to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Casual Furniture Association. Later, Bill and Margie moved to the coast of North Carolina to be close to the ocean, which they both loved. Unfortunately, and sadly, in 2017, Margie passed away after an illness.

Throughout his life, Bill was gregarious, optimistic, and loved telling jokes, which he repeated often making his friends and family laugh every single time. Bill was a loving father and devoted husband who cared for his wives in sickness and in health. He had a long life filled with love for his family and many friends.

He is survived by his sister, Mary Lou Lewis, his children, Barbara and George Beal, Nancy Lyon and Dale Welk, Judy and Greg Chapin, Marion and Derek Hanes, and Margie and Jeff Helms, along with his grandchildren: Charlotte Beal, Billy and Melanie Tomaszewski, Michael and Christopher Chapin, Currie and Palmer Hanes, George and William Helms.

A memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Salisbury, NC at 2:00 pm on Thursday, May 29, 2025. A family burial will be held at Rowan Memorial Park prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Multiple Sclerosis Society or the Outerbanks Wildlife Rescue Shelter, Inc.

The Multiple Sclerosis Society: www.nationalmssociety.org

The Outerbanks Wildlife Rescue: www.outerbankswildlifeshelter.com

Summersett Funeral Home is serving the Lyon family. Online condolences may be made at www.summersettfuneralhome.com.