On January 12, 2010, the Lord called home his faithful servant, Charles Franklin "Frank" Dupree, Jr. He was born February 03, 1927 in Edgecombe County to the late Charles Franklin Dupree, Sr. and Octavia Stallings Dupree. He was also preceded in death by an infant brother, Charles F. Dupree, Jr., sister, Julia Dupree Cherry, and daughter-in-law, Debbie Braswell Dupree.
He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Julia Williams Dupree, two sons, Phillip Stephen Dupree and Charles Kirby Dupree; daughter-in-law, Barbara Jones Dupree; grandchildren, Stacey Nicole Dupree and Charles Stephen Dupree; and step-grandson, Jonathan Daniel Evans and wife Kim. He is also survived by step great-granddaughters, Anna Danielle Evans and Jenna Nicole Evans; sister, Virginia Ruth "Jenny" Harvey; his "special sister" Beth Reason Fowler, all of Rocky Mount; and several nieces and nephews.
Frank graduated from West Edgecombe High School in 1943 and attended NC State College briefly, before leaving to join the United States Navy in the summer of 1944. He was especially proud of his service as a member of UDT #3 Naval Underwater Demolition Team serving in the Pacific.
He returned to Edgecombe County after World War II and along with helping to run the "family farm", he worked in various agriculture related jobs, including crop damage adjuster with Nationwide Insurance Co., Farmers Tobacco Warehouse, Baugh Fertilizer Co., and Kerr-McGee Chemical Co.
From 1973 - 1978, he was employed with the N.C. State Baptist Childrens Home at the Kennedy Home in Kinston N.C. where he enjoyed working with the resident youth in maintaining the grounds and landscaping of the Kennedy Home campus.
Frank was active in his church and community. He was a long time member of West Edgecombe Baptist Church where he served as a Deacon, as chairman of the Board of Deacons, Sunday School teacher, Sunday School Director, member of the church Choir and numerous committees. His "Church Family" was especially precious to him and was a large part of his life.
He was a long time member and past president of the West Edgecombe Ruritan Club, Member of the American Legion, and coached a Saturday league basketball team for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade boys at West Edgecombe. As a youth, he played football for West Edgecombe High School and N.C. State where he became a lifelong "Wolfpack" fan.
Some of the things he enjoyed over the years were learning to fly and getting his Private Pilot license, tent camping with family and friends up and down the Blue Ridge Parkway and at the beach, and weekends with the family swimming at Wiggins Lake. He had a deep appreciation and enjoyment of all of God's creations, both plants and animals, loved to plant something and watch it grow and care for it, and really enjoyed the companionship of his various animals over the years. He will be truly missed.
The family will receive friends and relatives 7-8:30pm Friday, January 15, 2010 at Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home. A funeral service to celebrate his life will be held at 11:00am Saturday, January 16, 2010 at West Edgecombe Baptist Church with Rev. Harry Fowler, Rev. Everett Marion, and Rev. Harry Kahn officiating. Burial will follow at Jenkins Killebrew Family Cemetery.
The family would like to express their gratitude for the kindness and care shown by Edgecombe County Hospice and Home Health, and the staff of Guardian Care of Rocky Mount, and especially for the care, concern and help of Dr. Matthew Chamberlain.
Arrangements by Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount NC. On-line condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.wheelerandwoodlief.com.
Visitation
Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services
1130 N. Winstead Ave.
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
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Friday 1/15, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Service
West Edgecombe Baptist Church
13821 NC Highway 43 N
Rocky Mount, NC 27801
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Saturday 1/16, 11:00 am
Please accept our deepest condolences for your family’s loss.