William Virgil Fortner Jr.

Bill was born on September 2, 1944, to William Virgil Fortner, Sr. and Dorothy (Winchester) Fortner and was raised in North Little Rock, AR where he loved to hunt & fish.

Bill attended North Little Rock High School, class 62, where he was a 2-sport star. After graduation, he enlisted in the US Navy, serving honorably as a gunner’s mate on the USS Wright from 1962-1968. After enlistment, Bill pursued a successful career working for a Wall Street firm as a bond trader for many years. After leaving the financial industry, Bill owned a profitable wholesale business in North Little Rock. In 2013, Bill decided to close his business & move to North Carolina to be close to his wife’s family. Bills retirement years were spent golfing, working his yard, visiting friends & going to his grandson’s constant sporting events.

Bills first passion was his grandkids, Brooke, who is soon graduating law school, & John who recently enlisted in the US Air Force & is training to be a firefighter.

He was preceded in death by his parents William and Dorothy Fortner, of North Little Rock, AR Brother-in-law Bob Rankin of Sherwood, AR and his younger sister Delores (Dodie) Tedder also of Sherwood, AR.

He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Karen Payton Fortner, his sister Sherry Rankin, brother Robert “Bobby” Fortner (Sue) his daughter Holly Skiles, granddaughter Brooke, a stepdaughter Marin Killoran, her husband, Scott and their son John.

He was very close to his nephew Keith Rankin and niece Kelly Rankin, great nice, Olivia and was blessed with 7 additional nieces and nephews and their families nearby.

The remembrance will be held at a later date.

As Bill & his wife were avid supporters, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either Wounded Warriors or Tunnels to Towers, both nonprofits that cater to the veteran / first responder community.