Robert Pittman Hines Sr.

WINTERVILLE - Mr. Robert Pittman "Pitt" Hines Sr., 92, died peacefully at Vidant Medical Center on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016, after a courageous battle with heart and liver disease.
He was the eighth of 16 children born to Edward Clinton and Minnie Leona Nobles Hines of Winterville; grandson of the Rev. Walter B. and Lela Tripp Nobles and David and Margaret Moye Hines. Pitt lived his entire life in Winterville. He was a member of Winterville Free Will Baptist Church, where he served as Sunday School superintendent, SS secretary and treasurer for 25 years, teacher, choir member and deacon. He was a founding member of the Gospel Chargers, a Southern Gospel quartet/trio that sang across eastern North Carolina for 17 years.
Active in the community, Pitt joined the Winterville Volunteer Fire Department in the early 1950s and served for more than 30 years. He served on the Planning and Zoning board for 19 years.
Pitt was a WWII veteran, having served in the U.S. Army in the European Theater in France, Germany and Belgium from 1944-46. Upon returning home, he took a temporary job as a school bus mechanic for Pitt County Schools that turned into 36 years of service. He retired as shop foreman in 1982. While working as a bus mechanic, he met the love of his life, Louise White, Chicod School secretary.
He is preceded in death by his parents; grandparents; brothers, EC, JD, Morris, Clyde, Connie and Melvin Hines; and sisters, Maggie Lee Hines Clayton, Lillian Hines, Elma Hines Beddard, Verna Hines McLawhorn and Ginevra Hines Hardee.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Louise White Hines; daughter, Debby Hines Gray and husband, Bruce, of Ayden; sons, Robert P. (Bob) Hines Jr. and wife, Lunette, of San Antonio, Texas, and Erwin Clement Hines and wife, Angela (Ree), of Winterville; grandchildren, Leslie Gray Bunch and husband, Jason, of Greenville; Daniel Erwin Hines and wife, Blair, of Greenville; Elliot Moore Hines of Winterville; Robbie Bridges and wife, Anne, of San Antonio; and Kimberly Bridges-Merenda and husband, Ryan, of Wilmington; great-grandchildren, Seth, Sean, Audrey and Andrea Bunch; Josiah and Levi Bridges; and Luna and Jude Merenda; brothers, Dean and Alton Ray Hines; sisters, Gladys Hines Corbett Avery and Barbara Hines Joyner.
Visitation will be at Wilkerson Funeral Home on Monday from 6-8 pm. The funeral service will be conducted by Dr. John Hill and the Rev. Harold Jones on Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Winterville Free Will Baptist Church with burial following in Pinewood Memorial Park in Greenville. Flowers are appreciated, and contributions may be made to the Winterville FWB Church Roof Fund, 489 Cooper St., Winterville, NC 28590.
Online condolences at www.wilkersonfuneralhome.com