Charles Spruill

NEW BERN - Charles "Chuck" Spruill, 81, of New Bern, passed away on January 4, 2018, at CarolinaEast Medical Center.
He was predeceased by his parents Jack Spruill of Vanceboro, and Mary Alice Sirmons of New Bern, and his sister Joyce Bridges, of New Bern. He is survived by his children Captain Joe Spruill, U.S. Navy (Ret.) of Washington, DC, and Mary Spruill Chason, of New Bern, his brother Richard Sirmons (Bobbie) of St. Petersburg, FL, grandchildren Jay Spruill, Elizabeth Spruill, and Jamey Spruill, and a nephew, David Bridges of Bastrop, LA
Chuck led a very full and exciting life. Born September 8, 1936, he grew up in a family of tobacco farmers in Spruill Town, near Vanceboro, NC. He was a member of the Farm Life High School class of 1954.
After graduation he joined the U.S. Air Force and served in Washington, DC and on the Pacific Island of Eniwetok as part of a Special Weapons Task Force conducting nuclear weapons testing. He followed his active duty time with a stint in the U.S. Navy Reserve, and eventually joined the North Carolina National Guard. He began his Guard service with the 690th Artillery Battalion in 1960 and retired in 1996 as a Sergeant First Class in the 694th Maintenance Battalion in New Bern.
In addition to the military, Chuck served his country as a civilian worker for the Department of the Navy, at the Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point. Starting in Navy Supply, he eventually worked his way up to shop foreman at the Naval Aviation Depot, retiring from civil service in 1993.
Chuck believed in a life of supporting others, belonging to many service organizations such as the Elks, VFW and American Legion. He was also a Mason. Raised to the Sublime degree of a Master Mason in 1971, he maintained membership in his home lodge Vanceboro #433. He was also a York Rite Mason, and a Sudan Temple Shriner.
His passions included cars, travel, genealogy – he was very proud of his Scottish heritage – and golf. Most often he could be found at Quaker Neck golf club running events and chasing that ever elusive perfect game. After the clubs became a little harder to swing, he settled into a routine hanging out with his friends, shuttling cars, supervising Craven County voting sites, and regularly meeting his cousins for breakfast at Vera's diner in Vanceboro.
Chuck's funeral will be held Saturday January 13, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. Services will be held at Cotten Funeral Home, 2201 Neuse Boulevard, New Bern. The service will include Masonic Rites and military honors. The family will receive friends for viewing and visitation from 6:00-8:00 p.m, Friday January 12th also at Cotten Funeral Home. Inurnment will occur at the Spruill family cemetery at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be sent to the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford, 600 College Street, Oxford, NC 27565.
Arrangements are by Cotten Funeral Home & Crematory. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.cottenfuneralhome.com.