William Jacob Crompton

William "Bill" Crompton, 82, of Arden, passed away Monday, October 26, 2009 at John F. Keever Hospice Center. A native of Buncombe, he was the son of the late Marion Avery and Mildred McIntyre Crompton. He is also preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Johnsie Whitaker Crompton who died in 2000 and a grandson, Justin Leon McClellan who died in 2007. As a young man, he worked for Southern Railways from 1943-45 as a call boy. He served in the US Navy as an electricians mate third class during WWII; he went on to receive his high school diploma in 2002 since he was unable to do so because he was serving his country. He was a former employee of Ecusta Corporation. He also helped with the installation of the runway lights at the Asheville Airport. He later became the owner and operator of Ace Electric Service for 30 years. Bill also served as a volunteer firefighter for the Skyland Fire Department. He was an avid sportsman and loved birdwatching. He was a member of First Baptist Church of North Augusta and a former charter member of Arden First Baptist Church where he served as chairman of the deacon board and as a trustee. Surviving are his son, Billy Crompton and his wife Susie of Evans, GA; two daughters, Lynn Crawford and her husband Tom of Plant City, FL and Sheila McClellan and her husband Leon of Arden; sister Peggy Salomone of Enka; four grandchildren, Jennifer Leigh Nelms and her husband Michael, Carole Candis Patterson and her husband Jeremiah, Melissa Sue Marks and her husband Johnathan and Christopher Barry Crawford and his wife Melissa; and seven great-grandchildren, Matthew Jarrett and Ansley Caroline Nelms, Jack Gavin Peterman, Kinsey Nia and Kaden Nicholas Patterson, Katherine Anne Marks and Gibson Thomas Crawford. Graveside services will be at 2:00 p.m. Thursday at Green Hills Cemetery with Reverend G. Scott Lynch officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the graveside service. Military honors will be provided by the Buncombe County Veterans Council Memorial Team. The family would like to express their appreciation to the staff at Care Partners Hospice for all of their love and care for Bill. Memorials may be made to Care Partners Hospice, PO Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813.