When William "Bill" Jennings Dancy was born on 1 December 1911, in Wilkes, North Carolina, United States, his father, Charles Hampton Dancy, was 26 and his mother, Melvina Jennings, was 22. He married Kathryn Hulette Lea on 1 June 1940, in Forsyth, North Carolina, United States. He lived in North Wilkesboro, Wilkes, North Carolina, United States in 1930. He registered for military service in 1944. He died on 6 February 1969, in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, United States, at the age of 57, and was buried in Willamette National Cemetery, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, United States.