William Edward Ogburn

William Edward Ogburn, Sr., age 91, passed away on Tuesday, August 12th, 2025. He was born in Camden, SC to the prominent Ogburn-Hough family. He was the last born child to John Thomas Ogburn and Alma Hough Ogburn.

As a young child, Mr. Ogburn lived in the Flat Rock/Dusty Bend farming community, until his family moved to Charlotte, NC. He had fond memories and fantastic stories of growing up along his siblings and other family members. During his teenage and young adult years, he was known through the community and Charlotte Newspaper as "Bullet Bill' due to his outstanding ball playing abilities. He held the longest homer hit at Freedom Park for decades. It was also in Charlotte that he met the love of his life, a shy but beautiful country girl, Annie Ruth Coble. They would marry, have five children, and build a life that lasted over 45 years together until her passing in 2008. He would grin as he retold proudly how the "city slicker married the pea picker". His wife, even in their old age, would comment how Bill was still the most handsome man she had ever seen. She was correct.

Mr. Ogburn is most known in the Richmond County community as the Bi-Lo manager who had at one time in the 1980's employed most of the teen-agers and young adults in the area. He was known as a tough but fair manager and those who worked for him absolutely loved him. Often, he would run into a former employee he had hired as a teenager some thirty years prior and they would share their memories and gratitude with him. He greatly enjoyed those encounters. After his retirement, he continued to work at the Food Lion in Hamlet and as maintenance for The Pines Apartments in Rockingham. "Mr. Bill" was a treasure to those whose paths crossed his.

Later in his life, he was able to sit in his yard or on his back porch during Halloween and watch with joy and laughter as so many in the community traveled through his yard for the Horror on Hylan trail. He would get so tickled watching people get spooked as his whole family, their friends and neighbors created mischievous props and thrills.

Family and his home was the absolute most important aspect of his life. Known as "Poppie: The Man, The Myth, The Legend", his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren had the upmost respect and love for him. At 91 years old, he was able to share so much while instilling a sense of purpose and duty in all of them. Life lessons such as never be intimated by others or treat others less than because "we all put our pants on one leg at a time" and how complaining was futile and a waste of time. If ever he caught one of us complaining, he would share the quote, "I once complained about having no shoes until I met a man with no feet". He would then cast his eyes on us to let us know to get it together and move on. He was a product of the great depression and a member of the greatest generation of all time; the "pull yourself up by your bootstraps generation". Thankfully, he passed his grit, determination, and strength over to his children and grandchildren.

His wife convinced him to join her family's church formerly known as St. Paul's UMC in Wolf Pit. Mr. Ogburn loved the years he spent and served at the church. He prayed daily and we know his ultimate prayer was answered the night of his passing. We can only imagine what a glorious reunion he had with his wife and family and how much peace he found in the presence of the Great Almighty.

He is survived by his children; Billy Ogburn(Sabrina), Mike Ogburn (Debbie), Cindy Shuman (Jeff), Kim Collins (Aaron), and Amy Hinson(Jerry). He has thirteen grandchildren; Alisha Nichols (Joesph), Shane Nadeau, Trey Ogburn, Casey Dawkins (deceased), Greg Stone (Kathy), Stacey Sparks (Charlie Tally), Jack Shuman, Cameron Ogburn, Austin Sparks (Brianna), Matthew Hinson (Jessica) Justin Hinson (Madison), Ashlee Ogburn, and Kirstan Ogburn. He lived long enough to know, love, and meet most of his nine great-grandchildren; Christian, Lila, Anna, Cooper, Parker, Kinsley, Hank, Natasha, and Elizabeth. Perhaps most importantly was his Sammy girl… a black lab/beagle mix that came into his yard as a tiny puppy and stayed by his side until Mr. Ogburn's passing.

The family would love for those who knew Mr. Ogburn to join them in celebrating his incredible life this Friday, August 15th. Visitation will be from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm at Watson King Funeral Home in Hamlet, NC. A graveside service will follow at St. Pauls Community Church at 3 pm. Donations can be made to the FirstHealth Hospice and Palliative Care Foundation, 150 Applecross Rd, Pinehurst, NC 28374. The family would like to extend a special thank you to all who helped their father and Poppie in his final days.

Online condolences may be made at www.watson-kingfuneralhome.com Watson-King Funeral Home in Hamlet is serving the Ogburn family.