William Calvin Pitt, III

William Calvin Pitt, III passed away on October 11, 2018 with his family by his side in Arlington, Virginia.  Bill struggled with Alzheimer’s over the last several years, ultimately succumbing to a brief battle with lung cancer.

Bill was born in Denver, Colorado on July 13, 1944, the son of William “Billy” C. Pitt, Jr. and Alta “Boots” Huffines Pitt.  A native of Tarboro, North Carolina, Bill graduated from Tarboro High School and went on to study at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Bill earned an Advanced Management Degree from Harvard Business School.

Bill began his career in the hotel industry at the Williamsburg Inn in Williamsburg, Virginia in 1963.  He later worked at the Greenbrier Hotel in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia where he rose from the front desk to the office of the President at age 34.  Bill went on to serve as Chairman and CEO of CSX Resorts where he helped orchestrate the acquisition of Rock Resorts.  After retiring from CSX, Bill served as President and CEO of Guinness Resorts, USA in Stamford, Connecticut.

Bill served on several Boards including publicly traded United Bankshares, Inc. for more than thirty years and Metrotrans, Inc.  Bill was also on the Board of the National Epilepsy Foundation and the Junior Achievement Association of Wilmington, North Carolina.

Bill retired and spent more than twenty years in his beloved Wilmington, North Carolina with his long-time devoted girlfriend Margaret Sackley.  Bill is survived by his sister Mary Bryan “Bee” Sieburg (Dick), his brother Joseph “Joe” Whitehead Pitt, Sr. (Bernice), and his four children Bryan Pitt Reynolds, William C. Pitt, IV (Alice), John Culbreath Pitt (Bess) and Caroline Pitt Loomis (Ross). He is also survived by his ten grandchildren: Sarah Reynolds, Lizzie Reynolds, Michael Reynolds, Hannah Reynolds, Margaret Pitt, Henry Pitt, Liza Pitt, Hayes Pitt, Harper Loomis, and Samantha Loomis.    

A visitation with his family will be held on Sunday at 6 PM – 8 PM at Joe and Bernice’s home at 211 E Wilson Street, Tarboro, NC. A celebration of his life will be held on Monday at 11:00AM, October 15th at Calvary Episcopal Church in Tarboro, NC. Following the burial, lunch will be served at the home of Joe and Bernice Pitt.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Calvary Episcopal Church,Tarboro, N.C., St. Andrews On-the-Sound, Wilmington, N.C.or a charity of your choice would be appreciated.

Arrangements are handled by Carlisle Funeral Home in Tarboro.  

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