Dever D. DeBrule

Dever D. DeBrule, age 93, of Greenbriar Lane, Forest City, NC, died Sunday, October 8, 2017 at the Hospice House in Forest City. Born October 13, 1923 in Rutherford County, he was a son of the late H.V. DeBrule and Martha Godfrey DeBrule. Dever was a graduate of Tri-High School and Shelby Business School. He also attended NC State University. Dever served in the U.S. Army and was a veteran of World War II. He had the honor of serving under General George S. Patton. He began his career at the Alexander Mill and during that time played for the original Forest City Owls Baseball team as a pitcher. Dever was a "natural born" leader, which led him to becoming the Superintendent (Plant Manager) for Hadley-Peoples Mill in Siler City, NC and later was a consultant to the textile industry before his retirement. He also served as president of the Siler City Chamber of Commerce, the Lions Club and held a position on the local Hospital Board. He was a faithful member of the First Wesleyan Church in Forest City, where he was S.S. Superintendent, president of the Men's Fellowship, a choir member and an assistant Men's Sunday School teacher. He also wrote and directed the church's Easter and Christmas dramas for many years. He was truly a man of faith and honor. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Virginia Harris and Betty Neal and two brothers, Bob DeBrule and Howard "Josh" DeBrule. Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of seventy-five years, Dorothy Hardin DeBrule; daughter, Teresa D. Gunther of Orlando; son, Larry D. DeBrule of Spanish Fort, Alabama; sister, Nancy Daniel and husband, Curtis of Chesnee, SC; four grandchildren, Scott Blackmon and wife, Yanzhu Zaia of Orlando, Damon Andrew DeBrule of Robertsdale, Alabama, Lisa B. Strickland of Orlando, Nikki Chason and husband, Wesley of Daphne, Alabama; eight great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. The funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 12, 2017 at the First Wesleyan Church of Forest City with Reverend Eric Yelton and Reverend Curtis Daniel officiating. Interment will follow in Cool Springs Cemetery with military honors being accorded by the Rutherford County Honor Guard. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service time at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are respectfully requested to the First Wesleyan Church, 700 S. Church Street, Forest City, NC 28043 or to Hospice of Rutherford County, PO Box 336, Forest City, NC 28043.