CHIEF MASTER SGT. GAITHER SPEAKS SR.
Died Jan. 2, 2008
LEXINGTON -- Services for Retired USAF Chief Master Sgt. Gaither A. Speaks Sr., 88, will be held at 3 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 5, 2008, in the chapel of Thompson Funeral Home of Lexington, burial will follow at Woodridge Memorial Park with military honors. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday evening at the funeral home.
Mr. Speaks, widower of Athenee Ellen Speaks, passed away on Wednesday. Born in Ashe County, N.C., he was the son of the late William Freil and Della McNeil Speaks. He has been an area resident for the past seven years, formerly of Goldsboro, N.C. He enjoyed travel and attended his military reunions whenever possible. He had a passion for all animals and nature, loved bird watching and was an amateur radio operator. Mr. Speaks joined the Civilian Conservation Corps at age 16 and served for three years in various locations. Mr. Speaks was a veteran of WWII having served in North Africa as well as the Pacific Theater. He served with the 511th AC & W during the Korean conflict and was stationed in U Tapao in Thailand during the Vietnam War. After retiring with 30 years of service from the Air Force, Mr. Speaks worked for the U.S. Postal Service until his retirement in 1989. He was a member of Air Force Sergeants Association, Air Force Association, 2nd Bombardment Group, 511th AC & W Association, CCC Alumni Association and the Speaks Family Association.
Surviving are his daughters, Maria Speaks and Jackie Speaks, both of Lexington; son and daughter-in-law, Gaither Speaks Jr. and his wife, Judy, of Lexington; grandchildren, Spencer Daniel O'Brien, Andrew Stephen O'Brien, Christopher Speaks and Amanda Speaks; great-grandchildren, Anna O'Brien, Justin Ori, Crispen O'Brien and Cody Loos; brother, William B. Speaks of Crumpler, N.C. Mr. Speaks was preceded in death by his sisters, Hazel Houck, Lorine Rose, Flora Morrison; and a brother, David Speaks.
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Published in Obituaries on January 4, 2008 2:51 PM