William C Barbee Sr.

ROCKY MOUNT – William “Bill” Cromwell Barbee moved to eternal life on Wednesday, February 20, 2018, with his family at his side. Bill was born on a Lee County, NC farm on February 4, 1926 to Clem Shaw and Ethel Land Barbee. He was one of ten siblings. His family moved to Spring Hope in Nash County during the depression and he attended and graduated from Spring Hope High School before and after his return from the war.
Bill joined the U.S. Navy at 17 and served on the destroyer USS Price in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters during the Second World War. He fought in the Mediterranean Sea and was involved in naval activities during D-Day. Upon the victory in Europe, he was sent to the Pacific front and was in Okinawa, preparing for the invasion of Japan when the war ended.
Bill returned to Spring Hope where he played minor league baseball for the Boston Red Sox and ran a grocery store with his brother Robie. In 1950 he married Anna Downes Scott of Cape Charles, VA and joined the Atlantic Coastline Railroad as a dispatcher. He spent 39 years with the ACL, Seaboard Coastline and CSX before his retirement in 1989.
He will be forever known for being a tremendous father and grandfather, a friend to many and for his sense of humor. He was famous for his gag gifts at the annual Barbee Christmas Dinner. Bill could also hit a baseball a mile.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife, Anna, also known as Scottie, sisters Ruth, Edith, Geraldine and Yvonne and his brothers Marvin, Harold, Robie and Frederick.
Bill is survived by his wife of 40 years, Jeanette Holmes Barbee of the home, and her daughter Nancy Quincy McDermott (Dave) of Alexandria, VA, his children: William C. (Butch) Barbee, Jr. (Lea) of Sims, NC, F. Nelson Barbee (Jane) of Olive Branch MS., Dianna D. Barbee of Wilson, NC,, Jonathan S. Barbee (Tami) of Lucama, NC and Doretha B. Wethington (Eric) of Selma, NC and his beloved Holly.
He is also survived by a brother, Karl Barbee of Garner and sisters- in-law Mary G. Buck of Cape Charles, VA, Emily J. Seawell of Winston Salem, NC and Jessie N. LeMoyne of Ormond Beach, FL., ten grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. He was loved by many, many nieces and nephews and their families.
A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, February 24, 2018 at 1:00 PM in the Chapel of Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services with Pastor Greg O’Neal officiating. Burial will follow the service at Rocky Mount Memorial Park. Visitation with the family will be from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM prior to the service in the Atrium of Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home.
The family would like to thank his caregivers, Brentwood Home Health Care of Wilson NC, and Nash Hospice and Palliative Care for their care of Daddy.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to North Carolina Baptists on Mission, P.O. Box 1107, Cary, NC 27512, or Nash Hospice and Palliative Care, 2460 Curtis Ellis Drive, Rocky Mount, NC 27804.
Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com.