William "Bill" Hugh Lane

ALEXANDER - William “Bill” Hugh Lane, age 84, of Alexander, North Carolina, passed away on December 26, 2025, at Advent Hospital in Hendersonville, following a brief illness.

Born on July 14, 1941, in Carrollton, Georgia, Bill was the son of the late Kathryn Watson Lane and Hugh Lane. He was lovingly raised within an extended family that included his grandmother, Kate Watson.

Although he had early jobs as a hospital technician in Carrollton, Georgia, and a real estate property manager in Atlanta, he became fascinated with the concepts of humanist psychology and went back to school in his 50s. He studied in the renowned and pioneering humanist psychology department at the University of West Georgia, earning two master’s degrees in psychology and ultimately becoming a psychotherapist specializing in trauma. He always valued his unique experience at West Georgia.

Bill was a practicing psychotherapist until his death and constantly explored cutting edge therapies to facilitate healing.

While he spent most of his adult life in Atlanta, four years ago Bill fulfilled a longtime dream when he found the perfect property in Alexander near Asheville, North Carolina, complete with a cascading waterfall and flowing creek, and built a home there.

Bill had many passions. He was an avid collector of mid-century and Art Deco furnishings, Arts and Crafts pottery, and artwork of all kinds. He also cultivated an impressive collection of bonsai plants and created beautiful gardens and landscapes at his homes.

He is survived by his cousin, Kay Stewart; her husband, Davis; and their children, Joe Stewart, Will Stewart, and Kathryn Walkup. Bill related to them as an uncle and lovingly thought of Kay’s seven grandchildren as his great-nieces and great-nephews. He is also survived by lifelong friends as well as many dear new friends in the Asheville area.

Bill was wise, humble, caring, and generous, and he was deeply loved by all who knew him.

A Casual Celebration of Bill’s life will be held on January 25, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Ox Creek Community Center, 346 Ox Creek Road, Weaverville, North Carolina. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bill’s memory to Manna Food Bank at www.mannafoodbank.org.

West Family Funeral Services is honored to be serving Bill’s family. Condolences may be offered to the family under his obituary at www.westfamilyfuneralservices.com.