William Lee Berry

Bill was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on December 24th, 1935. His family relocated to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as a teenager with his mother (Anna Berry) and father (George Berry). Bill went back to Indiana to attend Purdue University and received a Bachelor of Science degree in June 1957. While in school, Bill was an active member of Alpha Chi Rho and a member of the varsity Crew team.

After Purdue, Bill worked for General Electric Company in Roanoke, Virginia. While working in Virginia, Bill earned his Master of Science Degree in Industrial Engineering in June 1964 from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. From there, Bill went on to earn his Doctor of Business Administration degree from Harvard in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Teaching business operations was Bill’s passion and career for thirty-nine years. He taught graduate and doctoral programs at the following universities: Purdue University (1968-76), Indiana University (1976-82), University of Iowa (1982-88), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1988-92) and The Ohio State University (1992-2007).

In retirement, Bill and Carol moved with their daughter, Samantha, to St. James, North Carolina. Bill enjoyed spending time playing golf, traveling and with family & friends. Bill was active in the Trinity United Methodist Church in Southport for eighteen years. He enjoyed participating in Habitat for Humanity building homes. He loved taking his daughter, Samantha, to school and was a dear, generous man to his St. James neighbors and friends.

Bill is survived by his wife Carol (Engle) Berry, daughters Samantha Engle, Kimberly Engle, Lynne (Berry) Rahe, son Lee Michael Berry, grandchildren Abigail (Devlin) Hall, Hannah (Devlin) Culley, Henry Rahe, Harper Rahe, Hudson Rahe and great-grandchildren Kenley Phelps, Max Culley. He was preceded in death by his father George Lee Berry, mother Anna (Hansert) Berry and daughter Ann (Berry) Devlin.

A celebration of his life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 22, 2023 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Southport, NC.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial contributions may be made to the William L. Berry Scholarship Fund online at https://www.giveto.osu.edu/makeagift/details/620430?fund=620430 or by mail to the William L. Berry Scholarship Fund, C/O The Ohio State University Foundation, P O Box 710811, Columbus OH 43271.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.peacocknewnamwhite.com for the Berry family.

Peacock - Newnam & White Funeral and Cremation Service, Southport, North Carolina.