William Fields "Bill" Medearis Jr.

William Fields Medearis Jr. died peacefully surrounded by family at The Post at Providence early Monday morning, September 1, 2025. He was 92. Bill was the son of Dr. William Fields Medearis and Helen Elizabeth Lethco Medearis. A born and bred Charlottean, he grew up in his multigenerational family home at 2038 Roswell Avenue. The family farm, which is now the Medearis neighborhood, is where he ran his bird dogs and hunted foxes.

After attending Charlotte Country Day, he went on to Woodberry Forest and Darlington School for Boys. From Darlington School he wrote to his father, "They've got a lot of fish in the lake, but school and fishing just don't mix too well." He went on to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His time there was interrupted to serve in the United States Army for the 8th Infantry "Golden Arrow" Division at Fort Jackson, SC, where he was promoted to the 49th Airborne Engineer Battalion. He was later transferred to Fort Knox, Kentucky, Company B, 30th Tank Battalion. Laughing, he described driving a tank to one of his children, "I tried to do a 360, but it didn't quite work."
Just before he left for training, he met the love of his life, Elizabeth Carroll Martin of Charlotte. They were married on October 11, 1957, at Christ Episcopal Church, surrounded by a close group of lifelong friends. They were married for 68 years. When asked about meeting Bill, Liz stated, "I always heard about Bill Medearis"
Bill began his career in electrical engineering working for Reliance Electric Engineering Company and Control Electronics. In 1966 as President of Cannon Aircraft Sales and Service he sold Cessnas and earned his pilot's license. His love for engineering and design was combined when he started Contemporary Furniture Design, a company focused on high quality handmade upholstered furniture. He took great pride in his product. To date, all his children and a few grandchildren still have pieces of his furniture.
An avid outdoorsman, fisherman, and hunter, Bill was an excellent marksman. He loved raising bird dogs in his teen years. When asked about one of his dogs' names, "Raker," he replied, "Johnny Raker was a beach bum from Lexington, NC, and both the dog and Johnny were crossed-eyed." Lots of laughter. He ventured all over-from the Outer Banks to Mexico and Argentina. He thoroughly enjoyed spending quality time with family and friends, frequently supplying them with a steady stream of vegetables from his annual garden. He enjoyed grilling out and cooking big family meals, especially Sunday night dinners. Many cherished memories came from time spent at family homes in Blowing Rock, NC and DeBordieu Beach, SC. He and Liz were longtime members of Christ Episcopal Church, Charlotte Country Club, DeBordieu Colony Country Club, and the annual "Summer Slump" parties.
Bill will be most remembered for his sense of humor, quick wit, and innate ability to make people laugh. His stories and antics were hilarious, frequently irreverent and laced with expletives. He was creative, imaginative, loyal and charismatic. Affectionately called "Poppa," "Big Daddy," and "Foul-mouth," he was deeply loved and will be greatly missed.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Ann Medearis Troutman. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Martin Medearis; four children, William Fields Medearis III (Pauline), Katharine Medearis LaBadie (Dan), Elizabeth Medearis Myers, and Martin Drury Medearis; and seven grandchildren, Margaret "Maggie" Medearis Cain (Pat) of Philadelphia, PA, William Fields Medearis IV, Dorothea "Francis" Medearis, Phister "Cole" Wardell Medearis, Katharine "Katie" Bailey Brooks, PhD of Delray Beach, FL, Elizabeth "Betsy" Rives Brooks and Elizabeth Caroline "E.C." Medearis Myers.
Thank you to the care team at The Post at Providence and Via Health Partners for their compassionate care and support.
In remembrance of Bill's life and in lieu of flowers, please make memorials to NC Wildlife Federation, 1346 St. Julien St., Charlotte, NC, 28205 or Memory and Movement Charlotte, 411 Billingsley Rd STE 103, Charlotte, NC, 28211.

A service celebrating Bill's life will be held Wednesday, October 29, at 2:00 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, 1412 Providence Rd., Charlotte, NC.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences may be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.