Thomas Ezekiel Witty Jr.

SUMMERFIELD — Thomas Ezekiel Witty, Jr., 77, of 13863 US 158, died Monday, February 9, 2009, at Morehead Hospital, Eden.

A funeral service will be held 1 p.m. Thursday, February 12, at Glencoe United Methodist Church with the Rev. Daniel Gaddy officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery with military honors.

Tom was born in Thomasville, N.C., May 11, 1931, to the late Mary Bell and T.E. Witty, Sr. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. As a 17 year old, he joined the North Carolina National Guard. While attending Phieffer College his Guard Unit was mobilized to Korea. Following his army career, he attended the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill before accepting a position with Pilot Life Insurance Co., Group Dept. in Greensboro, N.C. He later joined Insurnational Agency in Dallas, Texas. In 1976, he and his family moved back to North Carolina into the family home place in Rockingham County, where he resided until his death.

Tom was active in the Rockingham County Republican Party, having served as party chairman. He was also a member of the Bethany Volunteer Fire Dept. until retirement. Tom was a member of Glencoe UM Church where over the years he served on the Administrative Board, various church committees and taught the Men's Bible Class at the church.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Peggy Coggins Witty of the home; sons, Thomas E. Witty, III and wife, Ginger of Tupelo, Miss., Jim Witty and wife, Deb of Dallas Texas, Sam Witty and wife, Donnell of Reidsville; brother, Bill Witty and wife, Michelle of Nashville, Tenn.; grandchildren, Stacey Witty Loye and husband, Brian, Katie Witty, Taylor Witty, Kyle Witty, Kelsey Witty, Zeke Witty, Zoe Witty and Eric Johnson; great-granddaughter, Kyleigh Ligon. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins.

The body will lie in state two hours before the service.

The Witty family will receive friends in the fellowship hall following the service.

Memorial contributions may be made in Tom's memory to Glencoe United Methodist Church, 601 Glencoe Church Loop, Summerfield, NC 27358.

Condolences may be sent to wfh_@bellsouth.net