Mr. Willie Howard Piner, Sr., age 73 of Wallace died Monday, November 05, 2012 at Vidant Duplin Hospital in Kenansville.  A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, November 8, 2012 at Padgett Funeral Home conducted by the Reverend Byron Murray. Burial will follow at Riverview Memorial Cemetery in Watha.  The family will receive from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 7, 2012 at Padgett Funeral Home.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Eula Mae Piner of the home; four sons, Randy William Piner of Wilmington, NC; Willie Piner, Jr. and wife Ann of Rose Hill, NC; Tad Piner and wife Rose of Wilson, NC; and Wray Piner and fiancée Alberta Scott of Wallace, NC; two daughters, Kathie Holt and husband Tim of Burlington, NC; and Tammy Piner of Wilmington, NC; eight grandchildren, Michael Piner of Rose Hill, NC; Christopher Piner of Wallace, NC; Brittany Piner of Wallace, NC; Joshua Blanchard of Walter Reed, MD; Justin Piner of Atkinson, NC; Hilary Piner of Wilson, NC; Talen Piner of Wilson, NC; and Amber Blanchard of Warsaw, NC; one great grandson, Killian Piner of Greensboro, NC and several cousins.

Born March 14, 1939 in Pender County, Mr. Piner was the son of the late Robert and Bessie Mobley Piner.  Willie was a former member of Wallace Baptist Church.  He graduated from Wallace Rose Hill High School in 1958 where he had participated in several sports, which included basketball, football and baseball. After graduating from high school, he went to work at J.P. Stevens as a machine operator for 20 years.  After working at J. P. Stevens, Mr. Piner worked at Guilford Mills, where he retired after 16 years.   He was a counselor and coach at the Correctional Center in Kenansville and a guard at Pender County Corrections.  He loved hunting, fishing, dancing, working in the garden, watching sports and loved eating popcorn and Pepsi with peanuts.  Willie was a good husband, father and grandfather and loved spending time with his family and friends.

Pallbearers are; Joshua Blanchard, Talen Piner, Michael Piner, Bill Norris, Jeff Merritt and Ray Roupe.