Colon R. McPhee Sr.

Colon R. McPhee Sr. GRANDY - Colon R. McPhee Sr., 87, died April 23, 2010 at his home. Colon was born in Colington Sept. 14, 1922. Colon was the son of the late Arthur Edward and Cora Lee McPhee of Colington. He was preceded in death by his first wife of 48 years, Marie W. McPhee; sister, Elsie Johnson; brother, Byron E. McPhee; and his grandson, Arthur "Bud" McPhee, all of Colington. He is survived by his caring and loving second wife of 19 years, Adelia McPhee of the home; two daughters, Joyce Arthur of Virginia Beach and Carolyn and husband Roy Grubb of New Bern; and son, Colon McPhee Jr. and wife Catherine of Grandy. Colon leaves behind seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Colon served his country in the U.S. Navy from 1941 to 1945 as a radioman on the USS Ranger and USS Card. Upon leaving active duty, he served in the Naval Reserve and worked for the Navy in aviation electronics at the Naval Air Station in Norfolk until 1969. Colon transferred from NAS to the Stumpy Point Navy Test Range Tracking Facility in 1969 as the civilian supervisor under the direction of the Oceana Air Group in Virginia Beach. He retired in 1973 after serving the Navy in various capacities for more than 32 years. Colon found great pleasure in his early years building boats and creating detailed wood carvings in his spare time. He enjoyed telling stories of his days growing up in Colington to anyone who had time to listen. With a smile, and just a few hours prior to passing away, he shared his last four stories with his son about a goose hunt off of Rhodoms Point in Colington at age 12, working for 25 cents a day helping to build a house in Kitty Hawk, a job with the Civilian Conservation Corps in the Smokey Mountains, and fond memories of friends and school days spent in Colington and Kitty Hawk. He was a past member of the Colington United Methodist Church. Family and friends will gather at the Hilltop Cemetery in Colington on Saturday, May 1, at 11 a.m. for a graveside service. The service will be presented by the Rev. Robert Pitsch of Kill Devil Hills. Family and friends will be received at the home in Grandy following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be forwarded to the Colington United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 3425, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948. Condolences may be expressed via the online register at www.gallopfuneralservices.com.