By Staff
GREENVILLE, NC — Linwood Moninger Respess, 96, of Belhaven, North Carolina, died Tuesday, March 17, 2009, at Pitt County Memorial Hospital, Greenville, North Carolina.
Born March 14, 1913, in Pinetown, North Carolina, to Hattie and Asa Respess, he grew up in Pinetown, Roanoke Rapids, and Greenville, graduated from high school in Bath, and, following a career in the U.S. Navy and civil service, retired to his home on the Pungo River in 1973. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Lin and Tucker Respess of Charlottesville, Virginia; three sisters, Eula Gueft of Scarsdale, New York, Doris Carrow of Ayden, and Edna Woolard of Washington; and many nieces and nephews in succeeding generations. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Lucile Boyd and Esther Burch, and six brothers, George, Armistead, James, Guy, Carlton, and Larry. His marriage to Naomi Jefferson Respess of the Free Union community ended in divorce.
Mr. Respess joined the navy in 1934, qualified for duty aboard submarines the following year, and served for almost 25 years, completing 11 combat patrols in the Pacific theater during World War II. Following his naval service, he worked as a quality control officer at the naval air station in Norfolk, Virginia, for 15 years.
In retirement, Mr. Respess enjoyed 35 years of fishing and gardening, while actively participating in community affairs. He was a founding member of the Pungo River chapter of the Pamlico-Tar River Foundation, an officer in the Ruritans Club, and an active member in various charitable events through the decades. He was a member of St. Clair’s Church of Christ throughout his retirement. Wishing to serve even posthumously, he directed that his body be sent for use in the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill.
He would have, and his son and daughter-in-law wish to thank for his fine care, the staff at Carolina House of Greenville and at PCMH, particularly doctors Susan Schmidt and Nick Patel.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 9, 2009, at 2 p.m., at St. Clair’s Church of Christ, 9814 NC 99 Highway, Bath, North Carolina, conducted by the Rev. Craig Hagan. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Pamlico-Tar River Foundation, PO Box 1854, Washington, N.C.; www.ptrf.org.
Paid Obituary