Robert Alexander Shellberg
Robert Alexander Shellberg, 83, passed away on Jan. 8, 2004 at Windsor Point Nursing Home after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease.
He was born on April 9, 1920 in Racine, Wis., to Marcus Peterson and Marguerite Ulbrect Shellberg. He was a beloved husband, father of five children and grandfather to four grandchildren. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps at the brink of World War II, was chosen for and graduated from OCS (Officer's Candidate School), and served as a captain supporting numerous fighter and bomber squadrons against the Japanese in the Pacific Theater for the remainder of the war. He later re-enlisted during the Korean conflict and went on to serve 27 years in the Air Force, retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 1968. He then resumed his career working for the U.S. government with NAPA, which later became EPA, retiring with more than 40 years of public service in April 1982.
During his retirement, Bob enjoyed the outdoors as an avid fisherman, gardener and woodsman. He also loved Bavarian music as a longtime member of The Little German Band and Dancers, as an original member of the dance group, and occasionally played the tuba. He enjoyed traveling abroad to visit his ancestral home and relatives in Norway and on numerous trips to Europe with the Little German Band.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Beverly Dent Shellberg of Cary, originally of East Hartford, Conn.; daughters, Jeanne S. Miller and husband Bill of Apex with grandson Tyler, and Carol S. Grow of Lexington; sons, Mark A. Shellberg of Kernersville, Kenneth Shellberg and wife Carol of Columbus, Ohio, and Steven R. Shellberg and wife Amy of Lexington with granddaughters Leah and Sara and grandson Alec; and brother, Ted Shellberg and wife Evie, and sister-in-law, Vivian Shellberg, all of Racine, Wis. Bob was predeceased by his brother, Chuck Shellberg.
A memorial service was held on Sunday afternoon, Jan. 11, at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home in Cary.
In lieu of flowers, memorials should be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Eastern NC Chapter, 400 Oberlin Road, Suite 208, Raleigh, NC 27605.
Richard Edwin Kennedy
Richard Edwin Kennedy, 90, of Star, died Jan. 1, 2004 at Western Wake Medical Center in Cary. He had lived with his daughter, Edna Cole and her husband, Charles for the past 16 months in Cary. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of nearly 60 years, Connie Spivey Kennedy, in July 1993. He was also predeceased by his parents, Daniel Alexander Kennedy and Mary Jane Spivey Kennedy, and two brothers, Garland Kennedy and Charles Kennedy.
Survivors in addition to his daughter are son, Douglas Kennedy and wife, Barbara of Star; brother, Warren Kennedy of Robbins; granddaughters, Debbie Edwards and husband, Stanley of Raleigh, Sonya Sasser of Lancaster, S.C., and Karen Hooker and husband, Rick of Star; grandson, Mark Kennedy and wife, Darla of Beale AFB, Calif.; great-grandchildren, Stacey Fowler of Rockingham, Jeremy Fowler of Jackson Springs, Courtney Sasser of Aberdeen and Emma Marie Kennedy of Beale AFB, Calif.; and stepgreat-grandchildren, Daniel Edwards of Raleigh and Jennifer Edwards of Baltimore, Md. Also surviving are nephews, Arnold Kennedy of Robbins, Wallace Spivey of Statesboro, Ga., David Kennedy of Raleigh, Farrell Kennedy of Cary and Roger Kennedy of Robbins, and niece, Brenda Kennedy Williams of Eagle Springs.
A service in celebration of his life was held at Dover Baptist Church, of which he was the oldest male member and a former deacon, on Sunday, Jan. 4, at 2 p.m., officiated by the Rev. Dr. Donald Davis, with interment
following in the church cemetery.
The family received friends at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home in Cary on Friday, Jan. 2, and at Phillips Funeral Home in Star on Saturday, Jan. 3. Those wishing to make memorial donations may do so to the Dover Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 2527 Dover Church Road, Seagrove, NC 27341, or the charity of one’s choice.
Elsie Seagroves Truelove
Elsie Seagroves Truelove, 79, of Cary died Saturday morning, Jan. 10, 2004 at Central Carolina Hospital in Sanford. She was an accomplished baker. She had an enviable reputation, having been contracted to decorate cakes for such notable functions as parties held by the governor of North Carolina.
A service celebrating her life and homegoing was held Tuesday morning, Jan. 13, in the Apex Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Lalon Barnes officiating. Burial was in the Apex Cemetery. Her husband, William Cary Seagroves, preceded Elsie in death in 1992.
Surviving are two sons, Terry G. Seagroves and wife Amy, and Ralph W. (Bill) Seagroves and wife Margaret, all of Apex. Surviving grandchildren are Tina Seagroves of Apex, Michelle Seagroves of Cary and Sgt. 1st Class Ronnie Branton of Fort Bragg. Also surviving are a sister, Virginia Stephens of Apex, a brother, Eddie Gooch and wife Ebby of Asheville, and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family received friends Monday evening Jan. 12, at the Apex Funeral Home. The Seagroves family wishes to express its sincere appreciation to Dr. Mark Graham and his staff at Cary Oncology, and to Elsie's brothers and sisters, particularly Steven Andrew, at Faith Baptist Church in Apex for their concern, love and attention during her illness.
Bleeker Duncan
Miss Bleeker Duncan, 83, a former and longtime resident of Cary, went to be with the Lord, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2004 at The Laurels of Forest Glenn in Garner.
Bleeker was a retired nurse (LPN) of 35 years with Mary Elizabeth Hospital in Raleigh and Raleigh Community Hospital. She devoted her life to caring for others and continued to do so even in her last days. She was born on a farm in Johnston County near Clayton on Nov. 28, 1920 to the late Jesmond and Irene Duncan.
Bleeker moved to Cary in 1948 when she began as a nurse's aid at old Rex Hospital.
Following five years of work, she attended the Raleigh School of Practical Nursing, where she graduated in 1954. She first served as a licensed practical nurse at Mary Elizabeth Hospital in Raleigh for 23 and a half years until it closed. She went on to serve at Raleigh Community Hospital until her retirement.
In August 1982, she received the Dr. Frist Humanitarian Award at age 61. It was the first time a nurse had earned the employee-of-the-year award from Raleigh Community Hospital. It was one of the highlights of her life.
She was a member of First Baptist Church of Cary for many years and was a devoted member of the TEL Sunday school class. She was an active member until she moved to the Laurels of Forest Glenn in 1998. First Baptist Church and its members were so special to her.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her two brothers, J.C. and David Earl Duncan.
Bleeker is survived by her sister-in-law, Mozelle Duncan of Garner; her three nieces, Frances D. Creech and her husband Randy of Garner, Kathy Duncan and her husband Johnny of Angier, and Geneva McLamb of Benson; and her two nephews, James Duncan of Clayton and Claude Duncan of New Bern.
A visitation was held at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home in Cary. A funeral service was conducted at the Cary Chapel of Brown-Wynne on Jan. 9 with the Rev. Dr. Harvey Duke officiating. Interment
followed at Montlawn Memorial Park.
Leslie Allen Taylor
Leslie Allen Taylor, 77, died Friday, Jan. 16, 2004.
He was born June 27, 1926 in Dover, to the late Leslie and Lilla Bell Rhodes Taylor. He graduated from Dover High School, and then served as a carpentry and masonry apprentice for his father while tending the family farm. He later became a construction superintendent for E.N. Richards in Raleigh and enjoyed a long-standing relationship with North Hills Inc., building homes and commercial properties throughout North Carolina and Virginia. After an association with Merrimac Construction Co. in Chapel Hill, he became a partner in West Wake Builders in Cary. In 1968, he founded L. A. Taylor Building Company, building single-family homes, apartments and commercial properties. Land development was his forte and led to the creation of several local subdivisions.
He was a member of the Wake County chapter of the National Home Builders Association and received the Decade of Excellence Award from the Home Owners' Warranty Corporation. Mr. Taylor served on the Cary Planning Board and on the Wake County Housing Authority. He was president of the Cary Chamber of Commerce in 1974 and was named its 1979 Businessman of the Year. He became a member of Cary First United Methodist Church in 1955.
Mr. Taylor built a home at the coast in Pine Knoll Shores in the late 1970s and was happiest when entertaining family, neighbors and friends there. He played golf and loved everything that nature and the Bogue Sound offered, including net fishing, digging clams and watching his grandchildren cavort in the water around the pier he built.
Les valued close friendships, many of which were formed through church membership, business associations and "The Brotherhood of the Bush," one of the social groups formed in celebration of Cary's Centennial.
Les was known not only for his generosity and his equal respect for fellow human beings, but for his uncanny ability to conduct a multitude of tasks simultaneously. He savored life, loved to talk, loved to laugh, loved to dance and valued spring above all seasons because it represented renewal of life.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Lola Griffin Taylor; his son, Bill Taylor and wife, Joy, and his daughter, Angela T. Pace and husband Bob, all of Cary; his grandson, Jason Taylor of Athens, Ga.; and his granddaughters Morgan Taylor of Berkeley, Calif., Alexandra Kelly and husband, Jimmy, and Alicia Pace, all of Austin, Texas. His younger daughter, Donna Grace Taylor predeceased him in June 2003. He leaves behind caregivers Estella Guzman and Leon and Aurora Hernandez.
A service of celebration of his life was conducted by the Rev. Dr. William Green. It was held Monday afternoon, Jan. 19, at Cary First United Methodist Church. The family received friends after the service in the church Fellowship Hall. A graveside service was held Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 20, at the Griffin Family Cemetery in Kinston with the Rev. Green officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one's choice.
Rose Marino Hess
Rose Marino Hess, 93, passed away Sunday, Jan. 18, 2004 at Western Wake Medical Center. Rose was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1910 to John and Felicia Marino.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Hess, and siblings Mary DeCesare, Catherine Rafanello, Jack and Joseph Marino. Rose resided most of her life in Point Pleasant and Bradley Beach, N.J. She is survived by her daughter, Phyllis Aiken and husband John of Cary; grandchildren, Kirk Tilton of Blakeslee, Penn., John Tilton and wife Kristin of Annapolis, Md., and Christina Hoefer of Cary; and great-grandchildren Meghan and Kathleen Tilton.
Rose was a lifelong devout Catholic. A memorial service celebrating her life was held Wednesday, Jan. 21, at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Cary. Arrangements were handled by Apex Funeral Directors.
Joe E. Austin
Mr. Joe E. Austin, 64, of Monroe died Friday, Jan. 16, 2004 at his residence.
Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon, Jan. 18, at First Presbyterian Church in Monroe, with Dr. Donald Mitchell officiating. Interment
followed at Lakeland Memorial Park.
Mr. Austin was born May 17, 1939 in Union County, son of the late Wade Hampton Austin and Mary Braswell Austin. He was the founder and former owner of Austin Realty Inc. in Monroe. He also was a former president of the Rotary Club of Monroe and a Paul Harris Fellow, and received the distinguished Service above Self Award.
Survivors include his wife, Myra Williams Austin of Monroe; a son, Joe E. Austin Jr. and wife, Whitley of Cary; three sisters, Sybil Steele of Surfside Beach, S.C., Rebecca Ball of Oak Ridge, Tenn., and Ferry Lane Lowder of Lexington; and two grandchildren, Joseph Gordon Austin and Mary Preston Austin.
Pallbearers for the service were John Tarleton, James Kerr, Robert Stewart, John Tice, Charles Norwood and Arnold Mills. Monroe Rotarians served as honorary pallbearers.
The family received friends Saturday evening, Jan. 17, at the residence.
Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 302 E. Windsor St., Monroe, NC 28112; or to Wingate University, Office of Development, Campus Box 3071, Wingate, NC 28174.
Davis Funeral Home of Monroe handled arrangements.
