William Van Happe

“The game of life is a lot like football. You have to tackle your problems, block your fears, and score your points when you get the opportunity.” Bill Happe lived his life as described by these words from the late, great Lewis Grizzard – always tackling adversity and moving toward his goals, no matter what curveballs were thrown his way. He encountered many health challenges throughout his life, which he faced with courage and persistence, adapting to major lifestyle changes while maintaining his sense of humor. Charismatic, charming, and a hell of a punster. A lifelong Braves fan and a loyal supporter of the Georgia Bulldogs, he will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle.

Born on April 13, 1944 in Chicago, Illinois, the oldest child of five to Melvin and Marian Happe, Bill grew up in New Holland, Pennsylvania, where he had an active childhood, hiking the Appalachian Trail with the Boy Scouts, playing football, lifeguarding, and swimming competitively. A precocious child, he became a cheerful, though mischievous, teenager. He attended Lancaster Catholic High School, graduating in 1962.

After high school, Bill attended Iowa State University for three years, pledging Lambda Chi Alpha and majoring in engineering. After realizing that his personality and educational interests were better suited for business, he moved to Atlanta and enrolled at Oglethorpe University. He loved the liberal arts curriculum and warm southern weather and Georgia became his adopted home.

Upon graduation with a BBA in 1968, Bill enlisted in the Navy, serving for three years aboard the Waccamaw during the Vietnam War. While stationed in Norfolk, Virginia, he met his future wife, Cary Cole. After his discharge from active duty in 1971, he joined the Naval Reserves, married Cary in Martinsville, Virginia. They moved to Atlanta and he began his work in the regional office of Ford Motor Company. Bored by the mundane deskwork, he found his calling when he took a job with Proctor & Gamble in Florida and thus beginning his decades-long sales career.

Five years later, Bill landed his dream job in Atlanta with Mobil Chemical, moving back in 1978, where he and Cary put down roots and started a family. Bill was a devoted father who enjoyed cheering on his daughters, Paige and Stephanie, at countless swim meets. He carried this same devotion on to his grandkids, who could usually count on seeing their “Grandpa Willie” in the crowd for dance recitals and sporting events.

At work, Bill was an outside sales rep, a true “road warrior. He traveled all over the southeast, he built an extensive client base that stayed loyal to him for decades. His sales skills, work ethic, and ability to build a solid rapport with clients were legendary. Always willing to lend an ear, his colleagues looked to him for guidance in both their profession and personal lives.

He displayed enormous perseverance and determination throughout the years as he was faced with tremendous health challenges. Despite the major changes he had to adjust to, when many people would give up, Bill powered on. He pushed himself through physical therapy to get back to the things he loved; enjoying his time with family and getting back out on the road.

Bill is survived by his wife of 51 years, Cary; daughters Paige Happe and Stephanie Happe; grandchildren Alexandria and Gabriel Yacoub; sisters Marjorie (Nick) Edwards, Barbara (Brian) Jones, and Janet (Ron) Lunde; brother Jeffrey (Molly) Happe and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held at St. Clement's Episcopal Church in Canton, GA on Saturday, December 10, with visitation in the parish hall at 12:00 pm, followed by a memorial service in the sanctuary at 1:00 pm. Final interment will be at Georgia National Cemetery on December 12, 2022 at 3pm.

Please join the family for a reception on December 10th at 3:00 pm at Keegan's Irish Pub in Downtown Woodstock located 1085 Buckhead Crossing, Suite 140, Woodstock, GA 30188. Please feel free to wear your favorite Braves or Bulldogs attire in honor of Bill!

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Great Pyrenees Rescue of Atlanta: 4651 Woodstock Road, Suite 208-185, Roswell, GA 30075 (greatpyratlanta.org) or to Lancaster Catholic High School: 650 Juliette Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17601 (www.lchsyes.org).