William Neale Pedersen

William Neale Pedersen, age 78 of Oriental, North Carolina, passed peacefully surrounded by his loving family on September 15, 2020 following a courageous battle with a brief illness. Born November 5, 1941 to George and Mary (Roberts) Pedersen in Chicago, Illinois, Bill grew up in the midwest before moving to Rye, New York during his high school years with his parents and younger brother Sada. His sister Jo was born when Bill was 17.

At age 12 Bill became a ham radio operator, which was a life-long hobby. He participated in cross-country running and graduated from Rye High School in 1960, followed by Lafayette College with a B.A. in economics in 1964. He joined the Army ROTC in college and served for 5½ years of active duty, including a tour as a pilot in Vietnam from 1967-1968.

Bill married Lynne Braisted of Staten Island, New York in June 1965. They lived on base at Fort Rucker in Alabama where their son Robert (Rob) was born in 1969 and then lived in Point Pleasant, New Jersey where their daughter Heather was born in 1970. They later settled in Amherst, New Hampshire where they raised their children.

Bill was a pilot with Eastern Airlines from 1970-1987, a career that gave his family many opportunities for travel around the world, including Bill and Lynne’s passion for sailing in tropical locations. Upon his retirement, Bill took on a variety of jobs that satisfied his passion for challenge and adventure - everything from sales to long-haul truck driving across the country. During that time, Bill and Lynne relocated to Massachusetts where she worked in real estate, and they supported Rob and Heather’s pursuit of their academic and athletic interests. The family enjoyed summer weekends together on the water in New Hampshire, Maine and Rhode Island, where Bill cherished a variety of boating activities, including sailing boats and waterskiing.

In 2006, they retired to Oriental, North Carolina in a beautiful home built by Rob, where they enjoyed sailing, kayaking, landscaping, and visits from their grandchildren Justin and Anna every summer. Bill also enjoyed spending time helping Rob with clearing land and building a runway on Rob’s property in Grantsboro, North Carolina, as well as further pursuing his own interests in cycling, music, movies, books, video games and politics.

Bill and Lynne made frequent trips to visit Heather and her family, first in Newtown, Connecticut and later in Los Gatos, California. Over the years, they enjoyed a close bond with their extended family, Heather’s in-laws Bill and Mary Peck.

Bill was best known for his sense of humor, jokester pranks, creative ideas and inventions, and an adventurous spirit.

Bill is survived by wife, Lynne; son Robert Pedersen and wife Jenny Hawk; daughter Heather Pedersen Peck and husband Chris Peck; grandchildren Justin Peck and Anna Peck; brother Sada Pedersen and wife Jill Newman Pedersen; sister Jo Pedersen; and niece Elizabeth Pedersen.

A closed family Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.