He grew up in Oxford and graduated from Mary Potter High School. He attended Fayetteville State University and graduated from the National Scouting Executive Institute in Cimarron, N.M.

Bill and his family moved to Chapel Hill in 1970. He is the former director of apprenticeship and training for the N.C. Department of Labor.

He served on the Town Council from 1977 to 1981 and from 1983 to 1987, and he served as Mayor Pro-Tem from 1985 to 1987. In 1984, Bill initiated legislation to celebrate the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. as an official town holiday, making Chapel Hill the first municipality in the state and one of the first in the nation to do so.

He returned to serve on the Chapel Hill Town Council in December 2005, almost three decades after he was elected the first time. It was his initiative that set into motion the effort to rename Airport Road to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in May 2005.

Recognizing his leadership in promoting civil rights in the community, Bill was honored with the Humanitarian Award from Fayetteville State University in February 2006. He was active in several local, state, and national organizations, including the Chapel Hill-Carrboro branch of the NAACP, the N.C. Black Elected Municipal Officials, and the National Black Caucus of Elected Officials.

Survivors include: his loving and devoted wife, Jean Swinson Thorpe, formerly of Goldsboro; his adoring and beloved children, daughter, Beverly Thorpe of Raleigh, and son, William Thorpe Jr. of Chapel Hill; his brother, the Rev. Ned (Gloria) Thorpe of Chapel Hill; and sisters, Mary Thorpe Brown of Philadelphia, Pa.; Louise Thorpe of Brooklyn, N.Y., Virginia (William) Thorpe of Oxford, and Gloria Thorpe Cross of Oxford; and a host of loving nieces, nephews, relatives and friends who will truly miss his presence.

A celebration of Bill’s life will be held Oct. 3 at University Baptist Church, 100 S. Columbia Street. Public viewing will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the homegoing service will begin at 1 p.m.

Dr. Mitchell Simpson and the Rev. Ned Thorpe will officiate. Interment will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Cemetery in Chapel Hill.

Arrangements are by Jones Funeral Home in Chapel Hill.