Fred Herbert Wessel

REIDSVILLE: Mr. Fred Herbert Wessel, 94, formerly of Reidsville and Andrews, SC, died on Wednesday, February 11th, 2015, at Open Arms Hospice in Simpsonville, SC. A private funeral service will be held at Wilkerson Funeral Home, with the Rev. Morris Brown officiating. The family will receive friends at the home of Judy and Steve Gilliam, 2109 Belmont Drive. A native of Andrews, SC, he was born November 29, 1920, the son of Henry Jacob and Flora Amanda Byrd Wessel. He was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army and served as a medical assistant during the Pacific campaign. He was retired from Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Corporation. He is survived by daughter, Judith Wessel Gilliam and husband Steve of Reidsville; son, Fred Donald Wessel and wife Linda of Laurens, SC; granddaughter, Mary Judith Wessel of Greenville, SC; grandsons, Brian D. Wessel and Roland N. Wessel, both of Greenville, SC, and Christopher S. Gilliam and wife Jessica of Denver, CO; great grandsons, Matthew J. Gilliam and Benjamin J. Gilliam of Denver, CO; and sister, Flora Jordan of Columbia, SC. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Dorothy Neil Wessel; his sister, Annie Mae Glover; and his brothers, Eugene, George, James, Robert and Thomas Wessel. Fred was an avid golfer, fisherman and gardener, and was a member of the Reidsville Men's Garden Club. He was a member of both the First Baptist Church of Reidsville and Andrews, SC Baptist Church. He was a graduate of Andrews High School, where he was a star athlete, lettering in football, basketball and baseball. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Hospice of Rockingham County, PO Box 281, Wentworth, NC 27375; or Open Arms Hospice at the McCall Hospice House of Greenville, 1836 West Georgia Road, Simpsonville, SC 29680. Wilkerson Funeral Home is assisting the family and condolences may be made to the family at www.wilkersonfuneral.com.