Thomas Ezekiel Witty

Summerfield: Thomas Ezekiel Witty, Jr., 77, of 13863 US 158 died Monday, February 9, 2009 at Morehead Hospital, Eden. A funeral service will be held 1:00PM Thursday, February 12, 2009 at Glencoe United Methodist Church with the Rev. Daniel Gaddy officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery with military honors. The body will lie in state 2 hours before the service. Tom was born in Thomasville, NC May 11, 1931 to the late Mary Bell and T.E. Witty, Sr. He proudly served his country in the US Army during the Korean War. As a 17 year old, he joined the North Carolina National Guard. While attending Phieffer College his Guard Unit was mobilized to Korea. Following his army career, he attended the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill before accepting a position with Pilot Life Insurance Co., Group Dept. in Greensboro, NC. He later joined Insurnational Insurance Agency in Dallas, TX. In 1976 he and his family moved back to NC into the family home place in Rockingham County, where he resided until his death. Tom was active in the Rockingham County Republican Party, having served as party chairman. He was also a member of the Bethany Volunteer Fire Dept. until retirement. Tom was a member of Glencoe UM Church where over the years he served on the Administrative Board, various church committees and taught the Men’s Bible Class at the church. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Peggy Coggins Witty of the home; sons, Thomas E. Witty, III and wife, Ginger of Tupelo, MS, Jim Witty and wife, Deb of Dallas TX, Sam Witty and wife, Donnell of Reidsville; brother, Bill Witty and wife, Michelle of Nashville, TN; grandchildren, Stacey Witty Loye and husband, Brian, Katie Witty, Taylor Witty, Kyle Witty, Kelsey Witty, Zeke Witty, Zoe Witty and Eric Johnson; great-granddaughter, Kyleigh Ligon. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins. The Witty family will receive friends in the fellowship hall following the service. Memorial contributions may be made in Tom’s memory to Glencoe United Methodist Church, 601 Glencoe Church Loop, Summerfield, NC 27358.