William "Bill" Harold Batts, 90, went to be with his Lord July 18, 2011. Born in Virginia, Mr. Batts was retired from the Federal Bureau of Investigation where he served as a special agent from 1954-1977 at Newark and mostly New York City field offices. He served in the U.S. Navy from May 1944 to May 1946 and September 1950 to December. He was in the Pacific Theater in World War II, service minesweepers and was at the invasion of Okinawa and served on Mona Island. He graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1951 with a degree in business administration. Mr. Batts lived in Raleigh, N.C., for 26 years and was a member of the Men's Garden Club of Wake County, North Carolina since 1985 and was a square dancer since 1977. He was a member of Ruth Lodge No. 89, Norfolk. Mr. Batts was a member of Nansemond River Baptist Church. He was the widower of Pennie G. Batts.

Survivors include four daughters, Marilyn B. Thomas and husband Robert of Carrollton, Va., Pamela B. Strickland and husband Richard of Rocky Mount, N.C., Pennie L. DiTomasso and husband Steve of Peoria, Ariz., and Ellen B. Bohn and husband David of Forest, Va.; 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

A funeral will be held Friday, July 22, at 11 a.m. by Dr. Timothy L. Piland at Baker-Foster Funeral Home, Bennett's Creek Chapel, 5685 Lee Farm Lane, Suffolk, VA 23435 with burial at the Whitakers Family Cemetery in North Carolina at 3 p.m. The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Salvation Army or Nansemond River Baptist Church. Condolences may be registered at www.bakerfoster.com.