William "Bill" Thompson Sloan, 81, died Wednesday, June 7, 2000, at his home. The graveside service will be Friday at 10 a.m. at Maple Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Rick Johnson officiating.

Laughlin Service Funeral Home is in charge of burial.

Mr. Sloan was a World War II Army veteran having served five years with the 151st Engineer Band, 414th Army Service Band and the 279th Signal Battalion in Fort Hood, Texas. He was a graduate of Murray State University and the University of Louisville. Mr. Sloan taught band at Huntsville High School and served as both vice president and president of the Alabama Bandmasters Association. He was selected as Distinguished Band Director of America and was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Troy. He was a member of the Elks, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Eagles, Phi Mu Alpha and Phi Beta Mu fraternities and First Baptist Church of Huntsville.

Survivors include his wife, Harriette Weaver Sloan; three daughters, Carolyn Able of Knoxville, Camille Velvet of Madison and Rebecca Valentine of Huntsville; four sons, Jim Sloan and Mike Sloan, both of Madison, and Chuck Sloan and Pat Sloan, both of Huntsville; one sister, Mary Weaver of Huntsville; and 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Visitation will be today from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorial donations may be made to Southern Care Hospice, 3322 S. Memorial Parkway Suite 12, Huntsville 35801.