LINDEN — William Cecil "Bill" Sears Jr., 63, of Raleigh, died Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014, at his residence in Linden. After graduating from Sanderson High School in Raleigh he joined the Army, from which he retired as a staff sergeant. Bill was in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, First Ranger Battalion in Savannah, Ga., 509th Airborne, Vicenza, Italy, and the 2nd Ranger Battalion, Tacoma, Wash. As a member of the 2nd Ranger Battalion, he participated in Operation Urgent Fury on the Island of Grenada to rescue American medical students. During this operation, he received wounds that lead to his retirement. Bill was a recipient of the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for Valor, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with Arrowhead Device, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge with Combat Star, Ranger Tab, Valorous Unit Award, Good Conduct Medal and the Army Commendation Medal. He was preceded in death by his parents, William Cecil Sears Sr. and Dorothy Lee Sears of Raleigh; and his wife, Giusseppina "Lilly" Sears of Verona, Italy. Surviving are his sister, Donna Sears Parker and husband Mark of Cary; brother, Clifford Dale Sears and wife Rhonda of Stedman; and his niece, Lauren Parker of Cary. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2014, in Sardis Presbyterian Church in Linden, with burial with military honors following in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Tuesday, prior to the service, at Sardis Presbyterian Church. Memorials may be made to the Ranger Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 52184, Fort Benning, GA 31995. Services entrusted to Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home of Fayetteville.