William Watson Regen died unexpectedly on Sunday, February 15, surrounded, as he had been throughout his life, by people who loved him.
Born December 27, 1966, to the late Barbara Lucas Regen and Jon Watson Regen, William’s earliest years were spent in Davidson, North Carolina where he established the roots that were to feed his entire life. When his father chose to attend seminary, the Regens left Davidson for Virginia, soon settling in Martinsville, the home of Jon’s first pastorship at First Presbyterian Church. There, William met, at age seven, the love of his life and wife of 32 years, Harriet Mauck. William cherished the years in Martinsville, building friendships to last a lifetime, and he and Harriet were married in the church of their childhood in 1995.
William’s academic years were enormously important, as much (if not more) for the relationships he cultivated as for the knowledge he gained. He graduated from Woodberry Forest School, and then followed his grandfather, father, and brother Kelsey to Davidson College. At Davidson, he, like Kelsey, was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. “Boogs” was a beloved brother and friend to all: loyal, fun-loving, and humble. William graduated in the Class of 1989.
William earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree from the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, and within a few years returned to Davidson to pursue his career and raise his family. He bought All Creatures Pet Hospital in Stanley, North Carolina, in 2004. His clinic grew to be a place that mirrored his life, with community, compassion, and conversation at the heart. He cared for animals and their people equally; an appointment with “Doc” always involved stories – stories of roadside purchases, motor vehicle repairs, memorable concerts, family recipes, his client’s or his own children, and the next adventure on the horizon.
William lived life full throttle and wide open. His son Jon said, “Dad had so many interests. He was astonishingly good at a few of them, and really enthusiastic about all the others.” Among William’s many interests were: old Toyotas, cooking, hiking, camping, boating, blackjack, DIY projects, his guitar, and all music, of course, from the Grateful Dead to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. He loved Murrell’s Inlet, Sunset Beach, and Chautauqua, any roadtrip, any playlist, and any diner, drive-in or dive.
William never met a stranger, nor did he ever have mere acquaintances. He engaged every person who crossed his path. He was the friend you would call when you needed help, or more likely, the friend who would reach out before you even knew you needed it.
William’s children, Mary Lang and Jon, were the source of his greatest pride and his deepest joy. He lives on in them.
He is survived by his wife Harriet Mauck Regen, his beloved children, daughter Mary Langhorne Regen and her fiancee Kendall Cage, and son Jon Watson Regen. He is also survived by his brother Kelsey (Katie) and sister Suzanne Grzeszczak (Rob), sister-in-law Louise Rawls (Tim), brother-in-law Hutch Mauck (Tracey), eleven nieces and nephews whom he adored, and friends too numerous to count.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at 2 p.m. at Davidson College Presbyterian Church. A reception will follow in the Congregation House.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Humane Society of Charlotte. humanesocietyofcharlotte.org
