William H. "Bill" Friend Jr.

William H. Friend, Jr., age 93, passed away peacefully on March 7, 2026. Born on January 1, 1933, Bill lived a long, full life marked by curiosity, creativity, and deep devotion to family.

Bill grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, and graduated from the University of Cincinnati, where he was a proud member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. While attending the Institute of Paper Chemistry, he met Debbie, the love of his life. Their romance faced one small complication—Bill was 23 and Debbie was just 17. To earn her father’s blessing, the couple spent a full year apart, communicating only through letters and phone calls. Their patience was rewarded when they married in 1959 and shared 61 wonderful years together before Debbie passed away in 2020.

Bill built a successful career with Union Camp’s Research & Development Department, where his innovative mind flourished. His work took him around the world, earned him numerous company awards, and led to several patents, including advancements in removing chlorine from the paper bleaching process. In 1987, he and Debbie moved to The Landings in Savannah, Georgia, where they built their dream home—one Bill designed himself. After retiring in the 1990s, he continued to embrace new challenges, designing the first version of the house check routing system for The Landings.

Music brought great joy to Bill’s life. He and Debbie sang together in the choir at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, and he became deeply involved with the 13th Colony Sound Barbershop Chorus, serving in many leadership roles including as President. He built sets for their annual shows, developed a system for collecting Barbershop Valentines, and designed a program to help route the quartets during the popular Valentine performances. Bill also loved golf, proudly celebrating a hole-in-one, and at age 70, dancing lessons from Debbie opened a new shared adventure. They became enthusiastic members of the Penguin Club, where they loved dressing up and dancing the night away together.

Bill will be remembered for his sharp mind, inventive spirit, and profound love for Debbie and the life they built together. His legacy lives on through his daughter and the many lives he touched through his kindness, creativity, and music. After sixty-one years together, it is easy to imagine Debbie waiting for him once more—perhaps with a tux and a pair of dancing shoes ready—so they can step back onto the floor together and dance the night away again.