With deep sadness, we share the passing of William Ammons Munyan of Charlotte, North Carolina. After a courageous 8 year battle with renal cell cancer, he passed on Saturday, June 29, 2024, at the age of 76, surrounded by love and family.   

Bill was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, October 5, 1947, to the late John Irvin Munyan and Virginia Ammons Munyan. He is also preceded in death by his much loved, older sister, Joan Munyan Crews, and his beloved mother-in-law, Jennie Quattlebaum Johnston.

Bill graduated in 1966 from Page High School in Greensboro, where he played football, ran track and excelled in the Page Orchestra as the first-chair clarinetist. After briefly attending Louisburg College, he served 4 years in the US Navy as an Interior Communications Electrician on the USS Thomas Jefferson Polaris Class Ballistic Nuclear Submarine. Following his naval service, he completed an Associate of Arts degree at Louisburg Jr. College. He then earned a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from UNC Charlotte in 1978, and later received a Master of Architecture from the University of Colorado Denver in 1982.  Bill married the love of his life, Jennie Hannis Johnston, June 25, 1977. Together, they raised three daughters: Joy, Holly, and Jennie.

An architect by education, specifier by trade, Bill was known as a “Titan” in his industry. As Past President of the Architectural Woodworking Institute (AWI) Quality Certification Corporation, he was honored with their Charles “Chic” Rinehimer Award in 2022. He was a dedicated member of the AIA MasterSpec Review Committee, contributing significantly to the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI), earning him more than 25 awards for his efforts. Bill mentored a generation of emerging professionals through CSI certification, the AIA MasterSpec advisory group, AWI Quality seminars and presentations. Throughout the past 40 years, he taught over 200 construction and continuing education courses at Central Piedmont Community College. In 2009, after 21 years as Director of Specifications at FreemanWhite, he co-founded R & M Group Architects, with his dear friend, William Rakatansky, where he continued to work until present.

Bill’s tireless work ethic, dedication to passing on his knowledge to others, impeccable attention to detail, sardonic sense of humor, and straight-talk style, truly set him apart. He set a high bar for quality work and for kind, ethical relationships that will continue to benefit all who knew him. Bill Munyan was absolutely brilliant and will be greatly missed by the many he befriended, mentored and positively impacted throughout the years.

Bill loved his family and friends; his work; his two cats, Tigger and Roxy; Coca-Cola; Very Cherry Jelly Bellies; Star Trek over Star Wars; James Bond over Indiana Jones; the architectural design of rollercoasters; the color pink; James Patterson novels; and music by Peter Gabriel, Fleetwood Mac, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, along with most 70s and classic rock. He and Jennie also cherished the 1976 Orleans hit, "Still the One”, as their song. Renowned for his wit and sarcasm, Bill's humor brought smiles and laughter to those that knew him.

He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Jennie Johnston Munyan of Charlotte; daughters, Joy Munyan, Holly Munyan, Jennie H. Munyan and fiancé, Ryan O’Keefe of Charlotte; niece, Catherine V. Crews and partner, Frank J. Lacombe of Rolesville, NC; brother-in-law, David Johnston, and wife, Shelly Johnston, and children, of Summerville, SC; along with many other family and friends who will miss him dearly.

Donations in Bill’s name may be made to Levine Cancer Institute, honoring his legacy and love of life.

       ~ Raise a can of Coca-Cola and watch an episode of Star Trek Voyager for Bill ~

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