William Oughton

Published 2:37 pm Friday, April 18, 2025

Our husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather William “Paul” Oughton went to be with Jesus last night. He had just turned 88 years old and did a lot of things in those 88 years. Foremost his family and God came first. Paul was a broadcaster for 31 years, using his God-given talents in many capacities: Blue grass operas, state beauty pageants, Kansas City Chiefs and Royals games, summer programs for local teenagers. He and a talented crew from WITN-TV, where he was Vice-President of Operations, took the strong East Carolina Pirate football team to a Bowl game. For one statewide gubernatorial election, Paul was at the helm in the WITN-TV studio, guiding a multitude of workers who were keeping up with the incoming results.

On Saturdays, he would often make time to take one of his five children out for lunch or to the TV station to watch shows being put together. There was only one fishing trip when he took his oldest son to Havens Gardens. Upon returning, the son cupped his hand in a whisper and shared with his mom, “We lost the lure, the bait, the pole. We almost lost our patience.” To make up for that disaster, Paul took us all to Manteo where he led the production team in taping a N.C. Symphony concert that was aired state wide. Guess who has to learn the skill of finding the camera who will be picking up the trombone solo on the horizon? It takes years to hone broadcasting skills.

When Paul stepped out of Broadcasting, he opened a Pack and Ship store in the shopping center with the largest grossing Kroger in the nation. It also played a part in the success of Mail Express that Paul’s genial personality drew customers right in. Maybe not quite as exciting as Broadcasting, but he did play a part in helping the FBI nab a criminal.

As if he weren’t busy enough, he took a position as a professor at the local business college teaching Broadcasting. After graduation, one of his students e-mailed him, “Mr. Oughton, you probably don’t know this, but we all think you hung the moon.” And along the way, he helped his author wife promote her books Houghton Mifflin published and accompanied her on many trips.

To say this Jersey boy lived a full and caring life, is a gentle way of putting it. Just ask his classmates from Lumberton who knew him as a shy teenager who cast aside his shyness and made a difference in the world. His family loves him, his mom Marcelle and all the richness he brought to our lives. And to think, he did all this with an increasing disability: deafness.

Paul belonged to the First Presbyterian Church and served as a Deacon and Elder. Special thanks to the church ladies who provided meals during tough times. Also, gratitude to Lillian, Sandy and Susan for providing rides.

Special thanks to the caring staff at Ridgewood Manor who made his last days, and ours with him, warm and loving. They are awesome!

Surviving are; Jerrie Preston Oughton, Cher and Lester Fox, Lisa and Bob Colletti, Mary Shannon Oughton, William Sean and Michelle Oughton, and Preston Hall and Kathryn Oughton, Kinzie Oughton, Robert Kyle Oden, Abbigael Oden, Caroline and Boyd Copeland, Katelyn and Davis Copeland A service celebrating Paul’s life will be held when his 5 children in 5 different states can be gathered. Until then, honor his life by appreciating all the Broadcasters out there who impact our lives.

Joseph B. Paul Jr. Funeral Service is honored to assist the Oughton family.