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BELMONT - Clyde Jackson Deitz, 99, passed away Oct. 15, 2012, at his home.
He was born in Jackson County on Aug. 1, 1913, son of the late Fannie Bell Deitz and M. V. Higdon.
Clyde is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Betty Jean Higgins Deitz of the home; daughter, Ellen Deitz Tucker and husband David of Monterey, Calif.; son, Daniel Clyde Deitz and wife Teri of Fletcher; grandchildren, Nathan Tucker and Sarah Tucker.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Donna Jean Deitz.
Clyde moved to Belmont in 1917, migrating with family members who sought work in the piedmont's growing textile industry. After two years' study at UNC Chapel Hill, Clyde joined this industry in 1931, working for Belmont Hosiery Mill. At first assigned to track inventory and improve efficiency, he eventually managed the entire plant. He finished his career as an executive at Belmont Heritage Company.
Clyde gave community service in many capacities. In the 1950s he served as foreman of the Gaston County Grand Jury, which he led in conducting an assessment of the county's school facilities. The report they produced laid the groundwork for consolidating the county's schools into a unified system, which occurred in the 1960s. He was President of the local Chamber of Commerce in the early 60s and was long a member of the Kiwanis Club. He served First United Methodist Church in a variety of lay leadership roles. In 1964, Clyde worked with Grier Stowe to form Belmont's Human Relations Committee, an unofficial group who worked to peaceably integrate Belmont's industry, commercial businesses, and schools. Elected to Belmont's City Council in 1968, Clyde served there for 21 years, devoting much time to the improvement of the city's water and sewers infrastructure.
The family will receive friends from 4 until 6 p.m. Saturday in the Carpenter Hall of First United Methodist Church, Belmont.
The funeral service, officiated by the Rev. Chuck Baker, will be held 3 p.m. Sunday at the church.
Interment will follow in Greenwood Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials in Clyde's name be made to either the Building Fund at First United Methodist Church, 807 South Point Rd., Belmont, NC 28012, The Glaucoma Research Association, www.glaucoma.org, or to The Nature Conservancy, NC Chapter, 4705 Uni-versity Drive, Ste 290, Durham, NC 27707.
Share condolences with the family by visiting www.mcleanfuneral.com.
McLean Funeral Directors of Belmont is caring for the Deitz family.
Published in Gaston Gazette on October 19, 2012
