William Hadley Denton

The life of William Hadley Denton, 19, a sophomore at Penn State University, ended all too early Sunday, Jan. 7. Will, as he was known to most, was born in Raleigh on June 8, 1998. Throughout his days at Underwood Elementary School, Martin Middle School, Leesville Road High School and Penn State, Will loved being a student. Will saw education as a way to be all you could be, a belief that he shared as a gift with his friends. In his youth, he loved sports and being part of a team, especially on the summer swim team at Crabtree Swim & Tennis Club and many seasons with the Olympic Boys and Leesville Road High School soccer teams. At Penn State, Will studied health care policy and administration. He joined the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, and a highlight of his college days was participating with his fraternity brothers in THON, the largest student-run philanthropic group in the world. THON raises money for the families of children stricken by pediatric brain cancer, and Will was proud that his fraternity was part of the top fundraising group last year as THON raised more than $10 million. Will’s favorite saying was, “Remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird,” from Harper Lee’s novel. Protecting the innocence of others and being loyal to friends were traits that made Will a special friend to those who crossed his path. Will’s spirit and love provided a great light in the lives of his parents, Van and Tali Denton of Raleigh, and Will was devoted to and is much loved by his brother, Tal. He rarely walked out of the house without turning to say, “I love you.” An extended family that will miss Will’s presence in their lives includes a grandmother, Betty Denton of Brevard, N.C.; a great-aunt Betty Debnam Hunt of Raleigh; and aunts and uncles, David and Lyn Kirby of Raleigh; Chris and Julie Gross of Austin, Texas; Mark and Dr. Betsy Burrows of Brevard, N.C.; and Dr. Eric Denton and Sylke Keding of Berlin, Germany; his beloved cousins, Emily Kirby (Paul Esformes), James Kirby (Elizabeth), Winston Kirby, John Burrows, Brooke Burrows, Effi Denton, Jackie Gross, Shelby Gross, and Hayden Gross; and other beloved members of the Denton and Debnam families. He was preceded in death by the grandfathers he was named in honor of, Dr. William “Bill” Debnam and Hadley Denton; a grandmother Judy Thompson Debnam; an uncle, Billy Debnam; and his great-uncle Col. Richard M. Hunt. Family and friends will celebrate Will’s life during a service at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, at Hayes Barton United Methodist Church in Raleigh. A visitation in the church fellowship hall will follow. A private burial will be later at Blue Ridge Memorial Park in Lenoir. His fraternity and fellow students in Health Policy and Administration are planning a vigil for Will at Old Main on Penn State’s campus. In lieu of flowers, Will’s family asks those who wish to honor his memory to make a memorial gift to THON. Memorial gifts can be made at thon.donordrive.com or by mail to THON, Attn: Finance, 227D HUB, University Park, PA, 16802.