Edgar William Bullard

Edgar William Bullard
GASTONIA -- Mr. Bullard, 95, of 1351 Robinwood Road, died Wednesday, September 27, 2006 at Gaston Memorial Hospital. He was a native of Bladen County and was a son of the late William Abner Bullard and Sarah Virginia Jordan Bullard. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, September 29, 2006, First United Methodist Church, Belmont, Reverend Mark Andrews and Dr. Kavin Rowe officiating. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery with Full Military Honors performed by Gaston County Last Man Club. Family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., prior to the service in the church fellowship hall.
Born April 20, 1911, Mr. Bullard graduated from Gastonia High School in 1933 where he was active in athletics, especially baseball. He then graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he was elected Captain of the Freshman Basketball Team. He also played Varsity Baseball during all of his Carolina years and served as Captain of the Varsity Baseball Team his senior year. Upon graduation from Carolina, Mr. Bullard taught and coached football, basketball, and baseball at Belmont High School. Upon the outbreak of World War II, Mr. Bullard enlisted in the United States Navy as a Second Lieutenant. At the conclusion of the war, he returned to Belmont where he served as Postmaster until the beginning of the Korean War, at which time he again served in the United States Navy. He retired as a United States Navy Lieutenant Commander on January 1, 1957. Upon his subsequent return to Belmont, Mr. Bullard continued his military involvement, serving as Commander of the Belmont American Legion and as commander of the Belmont Veterans of Foreign Wars. In Belmont, he also began his career as a real estate broker, a builder, and a developer. During that time he was elected President of the Gaston County Board of Realtors and President of the Gaston County Realtors Multi-Listing Service. He also served as President of the Belmont Kiwanis Club. Additionally, Mr. Bullard was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Belmont and a member of the Gaston Country Club. He was a Trustee of the Gaston County Public Library and a Lifetime Member of the University of North Carolina Gerneral Alumni Association. He was also active in numerous other civic and church activities.
Survivors are his loving wife of sixty-five years, Mrs. Clara Kale Bullard, whom he married on June 12, 1941, of Covenant Village; two daughters, Betty Bullard and husband Dr. Thomas Rowe of Greensboro and Peggy Bullard Horsley of Madison, NJ. The Bullards have three grandchildren, Dr. Christopher Kavin Rowe and his wife Gabrielle Lee Rowe of Durham, Claire Horsley and husband Jesse Oak Taylor of Madison, WI and William McKenzie Horsley of Charleston, SC; one great grandson, William Isaac Rowe; niece, Kay McCraw of Gastonia; and great-niece, Lou Van McCraw of Atlanta, GA; and several other nieces and nephews.
Memorials are requested to First United Methodist Church, 807 South Point Road, Belmont, NC 28012 or to Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, Orchid Conservatory, 6500 S. New Hope Rd., Belmont, NC 28012.
Condolences may be sent online at www.McLeanFuneral.com.
McLean Funeral Directors, Belmont is assisting the Bullard Family.