FAYETTEVILLE — Dennis Hinkle Williams, of Fayetteville, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015, surrounded by his loving family. He was born Feb. 24, 1926, in Greensboro, the only son of Elsie Blanche Hinkle and Euclid Monroe Williams.

He was educated in the Greensboro City Schools and was a graduate of Oak Ridge Military Academy and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity.

Dennis was vice president of Odell Hardware Co., a large wholesale hardware distributor in Greensboro. Odell was later sold to General Hardware Co. (NAPA), and then became Orgill Brothers Worldwide in Memphis, Tenn. He led the sales force for 40 years in the Carolinas and military contracts in Europe.

He was an active member of Hay Street United Methodist Church, where he served as former chairman of the board of trustees and the finance committee as well as an usher. He also was a member of the Fayetteville Kiwanis Club, Highland Country Club and the Supper Club.

Dennis was a UNC-Chapel Hill sports enthusiast and could always be found cheering for his Alma Mater. His favorite pastime was spending time either at his home at Myrtle Beach or the mountains of North Carolina, where he had a home at Hounds Ears in Blowing Rock for many years. In addition, he was an avid horse enthusiast and was joint owner of Sally Hill Farm Inc. in Fayetteville and Murfreesboro, Tenn., home of the family's world champion Tennessee Walking Horses. Besides the horses, his greatest love was his family, his customers and his many friends.

He was preceded in death by his eldest son, Lee Monroe Williams of Florence, S.C.; his parents; and his sister, Faye Williams Hall of Swanee, Ga.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Elizabeth (Betty) Sexton Williams; his children, Kathryn Candace Williams, Dennis Craig Williams and wife Lynn, and Charles Stuart Williams and wife Teri, all of Fayetteville. He also is survived by seven grandchildren, Ryan Craig Williams, Justin Stuart Williams, Jared Charles Williams, and Kendal Kathryn Williams of Fayetteville, Caroline Elizabeth Grumman and husband Sean of Charlotte, Dennis Caleb Williams and wife Jennifer of Charlotte, and Meredith Palmer Williams of Columbia, S.C.; as well as a great-grandchild, Jackson Cole Grumman of Charlotte.

The family extends its sincerest and heartfelt gratitude to Dennis' loving and compassionate caregivers — Roy (Colonel) Baldwin, the family's horse farm manager and friend for 62 years; Deborah Peterson, LaTonya Herring, Tamika Nowell, Margot Pfeiffer and Lillieth Brown, as well as the nursing staff of Community Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Dennis' honor to Hay Street United Methodist Church, 320 Hay St., Fayetteville, NC 28301.

The family will receive friends this afternoon, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, at the home, as well as from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 23, 2015, at Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home, prior to the service. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday in the Chapel of Jernigan-Warren. Burial will follow at 3 p.m. Monday in the Sexton family plot at Mount Hope Cemetery in Florence, S.C.