by Longtime industry executive was senior vice president of Thomasville Furniture, president, CEO of Stanley and LADD
Editor’s note: The following obituary is being reprinted from the website of Cumby Family Funeral Service with some minor modifications.
HIGH POINT — Furniture industry legend, community leader, philanthropist, and patriot, serving in both World War II and the Korean Conflict, O. William (Bill) Fenn, Jr., passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at Hospice of the Piedmont, with his family by his side, after courageously battling a long-term illness. He was 99.
Fenn was born March 13, 1927 in Sherman Texas, to the late Madonna and O.W. Fenn, enlisted in the U.S. Army upon his high school graduation and was sent to Yale University to learn the Japanese language, as the Army needed Japanese interpreters. Upon completion of the language course, he was commissioned a 2nd Lt., and assigned to General McArthur ‘s staff as an intelligence officer in Japan. Upon his discharge from the Army, Bill returned to Yale, where he graduated with a degree in Applied Economics in the Class of 1949. He then went to work for Armstrong Cork Company, working his way up to assistant district manager. At the outbreak of the Korean Conflict, he was called back to the U.S. Army where he was promoted to Captain and served in electronic intelligence. Upon completion of his duties in Korea, he was again assigned to Japan.
After his service, he returned to the Armstrong Cork Company as an assistant general sales manager. He worked there until 1970, when he joined Thomasville Furniture Industries and rose to become a senior vice president and general sales manager.
In 1977, he joined the Stanley Furniture Company where he served as president and CEO. In 1982 Bill, Don Hunziker and Dick Allen formed LADD Furniture, Inc., where he served as president, CEO and director of marketing, and became recognized as one of the top leaders in the industry, at one point overseeing 14 companies within the LADD Furniture empire.
After retiring in 1993 he was named the director of the North Carolina Furniture Export Office and in 1998, he also served as the director of the North Carolina Department of Commerce Trade Division in Raleigh, North Carolina. Governor James Hunt awarded Fenn the Order of the Long Leaf Pine in 1995, North Carolina’s highest civilian honor, for his service to the Furniture Industry and the State of North Carolina. To recognize Bill ‘s 40 years of outstanding service and leadership he was elected to the American Furniture Hall of Fame in 2007.
Fenn also served on multiple furniture industry boards including Vaughan-Bassett, the International Home Furnishings Marketing Association, the American Furniture Manufacturing Association, Western Merchandise Mart, the International Home Furnishings Center in High Point and the American Furniture Hall of Fame, where the board room is named in his honor.
He was also very committed to serving his community and served on the boards of the High Point Community Foundation , BB&T, Branch Banking and Trust, the High Point Chamber, Bryan School of Business at UNC-G, String and Splinter Club, High Point Regional Health Foundation Planned Giving, High Point Country Club and St. Mary’s Episcopal Church Vestry and Order of the Oak.
Fenn had a life-long love and admiration for the country of Japan and the Japanese people. He studied the Japanese language and culture at Yale, the Imperial University in Tokyo and the University of Minnesota, and became a fluent Japanese speaker, a skill he retained his entire life. Upon serving on General McArthur ‘s staff during years following the war, he traveled extensively and built life-long relationships. Over the years, Fenn maintained these personal and business relationships, and in 1999 he was appointed by Japan as the Honorary Japanese Consul General for the Southeastern U.S.
Fenn epitomized the spirit of the “Greatest Generation” who interrupted their lives and their careers to serve selflessly for our country in both WWII and the Korean Conflict. Like others of this generation, he rose up from his humble beginnings in East Texas, attended a prestigious Ivy league School, served honorably as an officer in the U.S. Army, built a 40+ year career in the furniture industry and generously devoted his leadership and philanthropy to his adopted home of High Point, where he lived for more than 50 years. He will be fondly remembered as a caring and committed friend and mentor to so many in the furniture industry and community, where his leadership has left a permanent legacy of excellence.
In addition to his parents, preceding him in death were Lucille, his wonderful first wife of 54 years and mother of his children, and his sons, Miles and Mike.
He is survived by his loving wife and best friend, Candy, who faithfully and lovingly cared for him in the later years of his life; his daughters, Andrea Fenn and Kelley Fenn (Terry); his grandchildren, Will Moore (Lyall), Liz Moore (Ben), Chris Eagle (Hollee), and Hayes Eagle (Erica); and his truly GREAT grandchildren, Evelyn, William, Isla, Adelaide and Emery. Also surviving him is his brother, Dan (LaJuan), Miles’ wife Lynn, Mike’s wife Alli, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. In addition he is survived by his many caregivers (his “beck and call girls!” ), especially Arna, Monique , Tonya and Angela.
A memorial service will be held at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 13, 2026. A reception will immediately follow at The American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame in High Point.
In lieu of flowers the family requests you send memorials to The American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame, 311 S. Hamilton St. High Point, N.C., 27260, Helping Hands, 2301 S. Main St. High Point, N.C., 27260, or Hospice of the Piedmont, 1801 Westchester Dr. High Point, N.C., 27262. Cumby Family Funeral Service in High Point is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.
