R.E. McCullen killed in traffic accident
By John Joyce
Published in News on February 7, 2016 1:45 AM
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R.E. McCullen
A seat belt might have saved the life of one of Wayne County's oldest and most dedicated agriculturists Friday.
Unfortunately, R.E. McCullen, 93, was not wearing his.
McCullen died at the intersection of N.C. Highway 55 and Pineview Cemetery Road at 5:50 p.m., after pulling out into oncoming traffic, N.C. State Highway Patrol Sgt. Maurice DeValle said.
"He was on Pineview Cemetery Road, pulled up to the stop sign at N.C. 55. A tractor-trailer was driving west on N.C. 55," DeValle said. "And Mr. McCullen, for whatever reason, pulled out in front of it."
McCullen was ejected from his 2007 Chrysler minivan. He died at the scene.
McCullen, a lifetime farmer born in Dobbersville in 1922, was the youngest of seven children. He graduated from Piney Grove High School.
McCullen, like so many of his generation, answered the call to fight the Axis powers during World War II. He served as a staff sergeant with the First Cavalry Division.
After the war, McCullen returned to Wayne County where he and his late wife, Julia Mae Dildy McCullen, became active in the agriculture industry.
Both McCullens were inducted in November 2015 into the Wayne County Agricultural Hall of Fame.
Mrs. McCullen died in July 2012.
The couple had one son, Randy, who is married to Dr. Sandra McCullen -- former Wayne County commissioner and interim Wayne County School Board superintendent -- and a daughter, Millicent, now deceased. McCullen also leaves behind two grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
A popular speaker about his World War II service, McCullen spoke often at schools, churches and at community agencies and clubs. He was still able to -- and would from time to time -- wear his uniform from the war.
McCullen, a member of the Wayne County Livestock Development Association, lobbied for agricultural issues all his life. He picked up the fight for all local and state agricultural agencies, participating in political forums and events up to the national level. And he served on the Wayne County Farm Bureau board of directors for 25 years.
He remained active in the Rones Chapel United Methodist Church, serving as a Sunday school superintendent for more than 50 years, and as chairman of the finance committee for more than 30 years.
DeValle said neither the weather nor any other factors contributed to the wreck that killed McCullen. The driver of the tractor trailer, Nelson Parks, 58, is not facing any charges.
"It's just an unfortunate situation," DeValle said. One that could have had a potentially different outcome.
"(McCullen) failed to yield the right of way," DeValle said. "If he had on his seat belt, it is my opinion, he would still be alive."
-- Staff writer Steve Herring contributed to this story.