ROYCE RAY WARWICK
NEWTON GROVE -- Royce Ray Warwick, 89, died Sunday, April 6, 2008, at Sampson Regional Medical Center. A celebration of life will be held at 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 8, at Saint Paul Original Free Will Baptist Church in Newton Grove. Officiating the service will be Dr. Burkette Raper and the Rev. Roger Hill.
He was a native of Sampson County and the son of the late M.A. Warwick Sr. and Vennie Baggett Warwick. He was preceded in death by his parents; and brothers, Hosea, Allen, Howard, Hubert, Herbert, Clayton and M.A. Warwick Jr.
He is survived by his wife, Mae Ellen Warren Warwick of the home; and the following nieces and nephews, Jaxie Warwick Thornton Cavender of Wallace, Libby Warwick Jackson of Newton Grove, Thelton Lee Warwick of Newton Grove, Patsy Warwick Twiddy of Greer, S.C., M.A. Warwick III of Denver, Colo., Bonnie Warwick Griggs, of Reno, Nev.; and several great-nieces and nephews of whom he was very proud.
He graduated from Newton Grove High School in 1937 and pursued his education at Kings Business College, where he received a degree in business education.
After serving four years in the U.S. Army during World War II, he traveled as a sales representative for the Bioscope Manufacturing Company in Tulsa, Okla., for many years. He built the original Holiday Inn Motel in Goldsboro, which he owned and operated for 16 years. He was active in the North Carolina Hotel-Motel Association and served as president.
He was an active member of the Goldsboro Kiwanis during his Holiday Inn tenure. He also served on the board of directors for First Citizen Bank of Goldsboro during that time. He was a member of the board of directors for Mount Olive College for 12 years and enjoyed supporting the college in many ways.
He was noted for his generosity to his family and community. During his active years, he was honored by the Vann's Crossroads Fire Department for his contribution of the land on which the building was built.
He was honored at Chimney Rock, N.C., for assistance in saving the one-lane bridge, which is located next to the Chimney Rock Park Bridge.
He was a member of Mill Creek Masonic Lodge No. 125 in Newton Grove and was a York Rite Shriner. He was a long time member of the Newton Grove Chapter No. 267, Order of the Eastern Star. He served as Worthy Patron during the years 1967-1968 and was honored with his 50-year membership pin in 2002. He was a member of Saint Paul Original Free Will Baptist Church where he served as Sunday school superintendent and deacon for many years.
His main hobbies were traveling and entertaining his family, friends and high school classmates. His travels took him to all 50 states and over 100 of the free countries. In 1953 he traveled to England for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth.
The family would like to thank Katina Crumpler, Ashley Wynn, Trell Stewart and Virginia Wynn for their caring service to Ray as his sitters during his extended illness. Special thanks go to Dr. Lawerence Watts and the second floor staff of Sampson Regional for their attentive care.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Saint Paul Free Will Baptist Church, c/o Ann Hope, Sec., 661 Seven Mile Church Road, Newton Grove, N.C. 28366, Newton Grove Chapter No. 267 Order of the Eastern Star, c/o Annette Weaver, Sec., 904 S. Bentonville Road, Four Oaks, N.C. 27524 or the Alzheimer's Association, 400 Oberlin Road, Raleigh, N.C. 27605.
The family will receive friends in the church fellowship hall following the service and at other times in the home.
Interment will be Wednesday, April 9, at 11 a.m., in the Warren-Oak Grove Church Cemetery.
Condolences may be made to the family at www.westanddunn.com.
A service of West and Dunn Funeral Home, Newton Grove.
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Published in Obituaries on April 8, 2008 2:37 PM