Robert Gilleland

Robert (Bob) Wayne Gilleland, 73, of 161 Branchwood Road, Statesville, died peacefully Monday, June 30, 2008, at the Gordon Hospice House. Born on Oct. 4, 1934, in Catawba County, he was the son of the late Joseph Vance Gilleland and Anther Gertrude Brown Gilleland. He was a graduate of Sherrill's Ford High School and was in their last graduating class of 1954. On June 5, 1954, he was married to Winnie Lee Beatty Gilleland, who survives. Mr. Gilleland was a self-employed contractor and was a member of Yadkin Baptist Church. He enjoyed playing the piano, working and building things and growing flowers. He loved his family and was "Paw-paw" to his grandchildren. In addition to his wife of 54 years, Mr. Gilleland is survived by three daughters, Barbara G. Harris and husband, Eddie, of Stony Point; Kim G. Fox and husband, Jamie, of Statesville; and Amy G. Stobbe, of Statesville; a son, Joseph Reid Gilleland and wife, Robin, of Stony Point; nine grandchildren, Shannon Jordan and wife, Erica, of Statesville, Jamison Fox Presnell and husband, Jon, of Taylorsville, Jayson Fox and wife, Brandy, of Statesville, Jakin Fox of Statesville, Dylan Stobbe, Morgan Stobbe of Statesville, Melissa G. Collins and husband, Mark, of Statesville, Amanda Gilleland and Alex Gilleland of Stony Point. Also surviving are four great-grandchildren, Abby Jordan, Emma Jordan, Evan Presnell and Averie Presnell, along with two brothers, Glenn Gilleland of Statesville, Claude Gilleland of El Paso, Texas, and three sisters, Virginia G. Matthews of Statesville, Lena G. Eades and Josephine (Tince) G. Martin of Catawba. A service to celebrate the life of Mr. Gilleland will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday at Mountain Road Baptist Church with the Rev. Jamie Fox, the Rev. Ruel Fox and the Rev. Rick Safriet officiating. Burial will follow in the Iredell Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be grandsons Shannon Jordan, Jon Presnell, Jayson Fox, Jakin Fox, Mark Collins and Alex Gilleland. The family will be assembled at the residence but will visit with friends from 6:30-8:30 p.m. today at Nicholson Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Gordon Hospice House, 2341 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625 or to Mountain Road Baptist Church, 132 Compton Park Road, Statesville, NC 28677. Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the family of Mr. Gilleland.