Arthur (Art) Sanford Childers
Wake Forest
Arthur (Art) Sanford Childers passed away peacefully after a long illness on July 18, 2019. He was born in Ellendale, North Dakota on July 28, 1929. At age 1½, he was adopted by his loving parents, Theron and Goldie Childers of Marmarth North Dakota.
Art grew up in Marmarth and attended Marmarth Public School and Marmarth High School where he won several oratorical contests, played on the varsity basketball team and played baseball all four years as a pitcher, including one no-hitter game. He also played City League basketball, including one losing game against the Harlem Globetrotters.
He enjoyed fishing with his mother and hunting with his father and his best friend Carlyle Clark. He also hunted rattlesnakes for bounty with his cousin and great friend, “Zook” Childers. He had a lot of fun with all his cousins while growing up in Marmarth and always attributed his toughness to his North Dakota upbringing. While in high school he pumped gas at the one gas station in town for 10 cents a day and all the Pepsi he could drink. He tried to follow in his father’s footsteps working for the railroad, but soon decided that was too much like hard work and decided a college education would serve him better.
Art went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, graduating in 1951. He received a degree in naval architecture from the University of California, along with an associate degree in engineering management. He worked at the San Francisco Naval Shipyard where he met his future wife, Rachel Munoz. They married in Milbrae, California in 1953 and had one daughter, Nancy.
Art and Rachel moved to Falls Church, Virginia in 1955, where they made their home until Rachel’s death in 2016. Art worked for the U.S. Navy Department in many different capacities over the years. He worked on projects to build a “Man amplifier.” This technology is currently being used to help stroke victims and others who have limited ability to use their arms or legs. He also worked on a “flying saucer” which became a building block for the current drones that are so popular. Art helped develop an automated warehouse system which is now being used to transport people and cargo around warehouses. He was also instrumental in helping develop long-term cold storage of fresh fruits and vegetables for those serving long stretches on submarines. This is now used in the transportation of produce throughout the country to all our neighborhood grocery stores. But his favorite job by far was training and mentoring future leaders in the Commander’s Development Program. Many of his “students” have kept in touch over the years, expressing their gratitude for the things he was able to teach them.
After retiring from the Navy in 1986, he spent 11 years doing his next favorite thing, driving cars. He was a driver for Enterprise. He kept telling everyone it was fun, but he wasn’t doing it for the money. He left that job in order to care for his ailing wife after her stroke and was her primary caregiver for over four years.
After Rachel’s death, Art moved to Wake Forest to live close to Nancy and her husband, John Clevenger, longtime residents of Wake Forest. He enjoyed the senior community he lived in until he was unable to care for himself after numerous hospitalizations. He then moved to assisted living.
Love people, use things. This is the motto he reiterated to everyone and the legacy he wants to leave behind. The family held a private memorial. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the charity of your choice.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 405 South Main Street, Wake Forest. (919) 556-5811
James R. Adkins
Henderson
James R. Adkins of Henderson passed away July 19, 2019 at his daughter’s home. He was born April 5, 1940 in, Cranes Nest, Virginia, a son of the late Maxi Romans Adkins and George Adkins. He is predeceased by his brother, Elmer, and sisters, Gin, Kathryn, Ada, and Delsie.
James worked at IBM for 26 years. He resided in Raleigh for 20 years until he retired to Kerr Lake. He enjoyed fishing, bluegrass shows, and RVing.
James leaves behind his wife, Hazel Adkins; his children, Denise Watson and husband, Travis, Danny Adkins and wife, Phyllis, Don Adkins and wife, Martha, and step-son, Michael Blevins; grandchildren, Amanda, Justin, Kaylie, Melissa, and Christopher, Rodney, Reanna, and Rusty; his sister, Gay Moore; and many great-grand kids, nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was held at 3 p.m. Monday, July 22, 2019, in the Chapel of Bright Funeral Home.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 405 South Main Street, Wake Forest. (919) 556-5811
Timothy Erwin McNamara
Raleigh
Timothy Erwin McNamara Jr., 84, of Raleigh passed away on Wednesday, July 17, 2019 in Raleigh. He was born June 25, 1935 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a son of the late Timothy Erwin McNamara Sr. and Anne (Keating) McNamara.
Tim was a high school chemistry teacher at Penncrest High for 37 years. He retired at age 63. He was a devoted husband and father of five children. He loved to vacation on the Cape with his wife and kids, and later enjoyed relaxing with his wife Joan and their adult children and grandchildren at Pawleys Island, South Carolina. He had a passion for reading war books, primarily WWII books, and history books. He loved watching sports and was an avid Philadelphia Eagles fan and Philadelphia Phillies fan. He took such pride in looking smashing – always a pressed collared shirt and khakis and loafers. He adored spending time with his grandchildren and watching his grandchildren participating in their sports. Tim enjoyed giving donations to over 15 charities and it became a fun and fulfilling hobby for him. In addition to his giving nature, he was especially a generous giver of love and time to his family and loved ones.
Tim is survived by his wife of 60 years, Joan McNamara; his children, Kathy DiGregory, Lynne Davis (Bob), Tim McNamara III (Allison), John McNamara (Debbie) and Kevin McNamara; grandchildren, James Davis (Catherine), Megan, Sarah and Evan DiGregory, Alexandra and Dabney McNamara, Nicholas, Ethan and Sean McNamara, and Rebecca and Conner McNamara; siblings, Kay Lafferty (the late Jerry), Tom, MaryJoe (Bud) Montgomery, and Patty (the late John ) Donahue.
A funeral mass was held at 11 a.m. Monday, July 22, 2019, at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church. Interment followed at Pine Forest Memorial Garden.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to one of Tim’s favorite charities: American Cancer Society, Operation Homefront, Project Hope or the Humane Society International.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 405 South Main Street, Wake Forest. (919) 556-5811
Dorothy Matthews
Wake Forest
Dorothy Matthews, 88, passed away July 19, 2019 in Statesville. She was born January 6, 1931 in Edgecombe County. Dorothy was the daughter of the late Sam A. Bell and Josephine Hyde Bell. She was predeceased by her brother, Lee Bell; sons, Paul and Brian Matthews; and grandson, Eric Hoyle.
Left to cherish her memory is her husband of 69 years, Gerald Matthews. They resided in Rolesville until their health required them to be in assisted living at Brookdale Peachtree, Statesville, near their daughter.
Along with her husband, Gerald, she is survived by her daughter, Aleta Hoyle and husband, Carroll; grandson, Jason Hoyle and wife Jessica; granddaughter, Caroline Thomas; great-grandchildren, Noah and Michaela; sister, Daisy Welch; aunt, Artie Hamm; sister-in-law, Collette Naso; and several nieces and nephews.
In her precious life, Dorothy was employed by WakeMed as a food buyer and retired after 25 years. She was a member, deacon, and Sunday school teacher of Rolesville Baptist Church, which she dearly loved. Dorothy enjoyed writing, especially poetry, cooking, sewing, knitting, gardening, reading, serving meals on wheels, family vacations and being with friends and family. Dorothy enjoyed serving meals on wheels. She especially enjoyed getaways with her husband.
A funeral service was held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, July 23, 2019 at Rolesville Baptist Church 203 E Young St, Rolesville. Interment followed at the church cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Rolesville Baptist Church.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 405 South Main Street, Wake Forest. (919) 556-5811
Susan Walker Ingling
Wake Forest
Susan Walker Ingling passed away July 20, 2019 in Wake Forest, surrounded by her family. She was born November 14, 1945 to William and Mary Walker in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was a graduate of Virginia Beach High School.
Susan spent her life living on the east coast from New Jersey to most recently North Carolina. She lived in Virginia Beach for many years and considered that her home. She never wanted to be too far from the beach.
Susan retired from GEICO in Virginia Beach in 2010 and JCP&L in New Jersey in 1995.
Susan was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her brother, William T. Walker Jr. of Virginia Beach; her children, Kelly Ingling Wallace of Aubrey, Texas and Amy Ingling Garrity and her husband, Mark Garrity of Wake Forest. She was Nana to five grandchildren, Presley and Ryan Wallace and Mark, Luke and Jake Garrity.
Susan loved all animals but none more than her beloved dog, Barney. She had many friends that she shared her love of beach music, good times and shagging in Myrtle Beach.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, July 27, 2019, at Altmeyer Funeral Home 1801 Baltic Ave. Virginia Beach, VA. 23451.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 405 South Main Street, Wake Forest. (919) 556-5811
Herman Wayne Blackley
Wake Forest
Herman Wayne Blackley passed away peacefully at Rex Hospital on July 21, 2019 surrounded by his wife, children, grandchildren, a great-grandchild and other family after battling cancer.
He was the son of the late Herman “Eddie” and Mary Ercille Blackley of Wake County where he was born September 16, 1940 and remained on the family farm throughout his life.
He worked at Parker-Hannifin in Wake Forest until his retirement as an electro mechanic. He was one of the last employees at the Wake Forest location until it closed. In retirement he found his second career at Bright Funeral Home in Wake Forest, where he continued to serve and comfort families in the community he loved so much.
During his 58-year marriage to his wife, Linda, they enjoyed travelling to Pigeon Forge for car shows and touring the coast viewing the lighthouses. He was an avid golfer, winning many trophies and tournaments, and achieving one hole-in-one at Pachall Golf Club. He was a Duke Blue Devil fan who enjoyed nothing more than watching them play basketball, even though his wife always pulled against them as a true Tarheel.
The word “servant” best describes him and he expressed this through faithful service at Beulah Christian Baptist Church and throughout the community. He was a deacon and chairman of the building committee during his years at Beulah. He loved telling stories, classic cars, and spoiling his grandchildren.
Most of all, he loved his wife, Linda; his daughter Karen and husband, Ken Best; his son Phillip and wife, Celine Blackley; his seven grandchildren, Kyle and Elizabeth Elliott, Nicole and Jeremy Pace, Kevin Blackley, Julia Frederick, and Kaili Best; his great-grandson, Owen Elliott; and was excited about his coming great-granddaughter.
He is preceded by his brothers, James and Bobby Blackley, and sister, Lorene Horton, and survived by his brothers and sisters, Doris Johnson, Carolyn and Paul Brown, Glen and Robert Woodard, Sue Lancaster, Deborah Massey, Larry and Shirley Blackley, and Tony and Reba Blackley, and a host of nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends Wednesday, July 24, 2019, from 1 to 1:45 p.m. at Beulah Christian Baptist Church on Mitchell Mill Road.
The funeral celebrating the life of Wayne will be held on Wednesday, July 24, 2019, at 2 p.m. by Pastors Ronnie Sneed, Shannon Scott and Phillip Blackley at Beulah Christian Baptist Church.
We extend heartfelt gratitude to his caregiving family at UNC Health and Rex Hospital, including the doctors and nurses who became like family through their loving care.
Also, a special gratitude to Bright Funeral Home for making him a part of their family for many years, and the loving care they provided him and our entire family throughout this time.
Memorial donations may be made to the Beulah Christian Baptist Church Cemetery Fund.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 405 South Main Street, Wake Forest. (919) 556-5811
