Bainbridge Island resident and longtime Eagle Harbor Congregational Church choir director William E. “Will” Carncross, age 74, died Dec. 2 on Bainbridge Island.

He was born March 20, 1929 in New Brunswick, N.J. to John and Dorothy (Robbins) Carncross.

He attended Rutgers University from 1947-1949 and Westminster Choir College at Princeton University from 1949-1954, where he earned a master’s degree in sacred choral conducting.

This led to choir conducting jobs at various churches around the United States including Alexander City, Ala.; El Paso, Texas; Atlanta, Ga.; Seattle and Bainbridge Island.

He was choir director at Eagle Harbor Congregational Church for the past 25 years. He also worked at the University of Washington for 20 years as an equipment inventory manager.

He transformed the university’s inventory control from file cards to computerization during his time there.

Will enjoyed sailing and motorcycle trips. Every summer he would sail up to the San Juans or further up the Inside Passage.

He is survived by two former wives, Karen (Strandberg) Williamson and Anne Ballard; stepdaughter Carol Christine Binkley, of Rice, Wash.; sons Thomas Carncross, Kirkland, and Eric Carncross, Arlington; daughter Julia Roescher of Sedro Wooley; stepson Wade Barrett, Mountain View, Calif.; sister Lillian Marsh, Madison, Wisc.; 15 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

His first wife, Eunice Ingrid (Amundsen) Priebe, preceded him in death in 1996.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Dec. 13 at Eagle Harbor Congregational Church.

Arrangements are under the direction of Kass Funeral Home.