Billie Ann Baker Rentel lost a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease and Acute Dementia and went to be with the Lord on November 29, 2020.  Billie went peacefully and was surrounded in love by her husband and four daughters.  

Billie was born on August 29th, 1938, in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where she met the love of her life, Llewelyn John Rentel (Lew), who she married on May 23rd, 1959. 

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Billie got her LPN degree from Lenoir Community College and worked as a scheduling nurse in the Wake Med operating room. Most importantly, she was a caring and loving wife, mother and grandmother to her husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.   Billie’s extended family includes lifelong friends from Altoona, Pennsylvania, and Cary, North Carolina.  Billie’s unbridled passion and love was unselfishly shared with her family and friends, her toy poodles, the North Carolina State Wolfpack, and a certain Wolfpack Quarter Back (#17).  Billie would never miss a game, rain or shine, win or lose, and always wore red and never blue. 

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Billie was a generous person and always went out of her way to support charitable organizations. Billie and Lew established a Charitable Remainder Trust to benefit North Carolina State Athletics, the Veterinary School, and Arts NC State.  Billie’s Pack was organized with family and friends to support the Joey O Bocce Classic – Rolling to Cure Cystic Fibrosis and the Parkinson’s Foundation. Mom was so proud to give her time and money to the Frankie Lemon Foundation and spent many fun-filled nights supporting the cause at the Triangle Wine and Food Experience. Mom fought the disease with the same determination that she would fight for anyone or anytime that needed help.  

Billie was preceded in death by her parents, Urgie and Pearlie Baker and her brother and his wife Jim and Eleanor Baker.  Billie is survived by her husband of 61 years, Llewelyn John Rentel, her brother, Jack Baker (Eloise Kulp) of Apex North Carolina, her daughters Robin Akers (Gary) of Chester, Virginia, Tracey Adams (Scott) of Holly Springs, North Carolina, Stefanie Anthony of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Erin Brady (Mike) of Gibsonville, North Carolina. Her grandchildren Dylan Akers of Richmond, Virginia, Jessica Akers Loper (Ron) of Chester, Virginia, Justin Brady of Gibsonville, North Carolina, and Mason Brady of Gibsonville, North Carolina. Her great-grandchildren, Cadence and Ron Loper, Jr. of Chester, Virginia, and many other loving family and friends. 

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A private celebration of life will be held on December 12, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. EST.  In lieu of flowers or other gifts, memorial contributions may be made to the North Carolina State University Foundation, Inc. (EIN 56-6049503), in memory of Billie Rentel, and sent to Campus Box 7474, Raleigh, NC 27695-7501 (go.ncsu.edu/BillieRentel). Memorial contributions will be used to support future students who have overcome specific challenges such as disabilities. 

Billie’s family would like to thank the staff at SearStone’s Brittany Place and the caregivers from Right at Home for becoming part of our family and caring for Billie in these last few years.