William Rankin Crowder Jr.

February 26, 1947-December 29, 2021

Bill Crowder lived a life filled with family, friends, art, travel, a fulfilling career in interior design, cooking, beloved pets, dining, entertaining, and love.

Bill grew up in eastern North Carolina. His early life was filled with kindness, adventure, and creativity. His zest for life was surely inherited from his extraordinary parents Bill and Edith. His kindness is exemplified in a memory from his beloved sister. Bill would warm a blanket on the radiator to make sure she was comfortable at night when she was very young. Wherever Bill called home, while moving parish to parish with his father’s Methodist ministry, he immersed himself in school and fellowship. His adventures included being King of the Fall Festival, manager of the varsity football team, and holding various offices in school. His creativity announced itself during his cherished Christmas seasons with family as a young man. He meticulously made gorgeous ornaments. They looked like lovely pieces of stained glass plucked from a church window.

Bill’s storied life in ingenuity was fostered through his study of art at Greensboro College. The International School of Interior Design in DC and The New York School of Interior Design followed. He worked in the famous Franciscan Fabrics Showroom in New York City and was most influenced by his mentor, Charles Dear. In 1982, after 10 years in NYC, he moved his successful business to Greensboro, NC. He went on to start Crowder Designs with his brother, Gene and his husband, Joe. He had a flair for creating bespoke spaces by mixing antique, vintage, and modern furnishings. Functional beauty was paramount. He wanted clients to “live bigger” in the spaces he created. Featured in numerous publications, Bill established clients from North Carolina to New York City, from Arkansas to California. He traveled the world for his clients and for pleasure. His favorite city was Venice.

Bill had a passion for art. He served on the board for the Green Hill Art Gallery. He created hundreds of pieces and had many successful gallery shows. Many of his beautiful works adorn walls throughout the country.

Bill enjoyed dinners and holidays with friends and family. He was a very talented cook and loved to entertain. Bill cherished his time on the altar guild at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. He adored his art classes. He had a compassionate heart and rescued many sweet cats over the years. Bill had an infectious smile and laugh.

Bill’s stylish memory lives on through every glimpse at a painting, the colorful fabric of a bow tie, through beautifully designed decor, a song, an elegant meal, through family, and friends that became family.

His parents, Bill and Edith Crowder, preceded Bill in death.

He is survived by his husband, Joe Hoesl; his brother, Gene Crowder (Barbara); his sister, Mary Grist (Richard); and numerous other family members and friends.

A service of remembrance will be at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Greensboro, at 11:00am on May 10, 2022. The family will receive friends at a reception to follow in the Haywood Duke Room.

If desired, memorials may be made to Triad Health Project, Arts Greensboro, Guilford County Animal Shelter, or a charity of ones choosing.

Fond memories may be made through www.haneslineberryfhnelm.com.