CARL EUGENE MCBRIDE JR.
Nov. 11, 1947-Aug. 14, 2015
Carl Eugene McBride Jr., Ph.D., 67, died in his West Hollywood, Calif., home Aug. 14, 2015, of complications resulting from chronic respiratory disease.
"Gene," as he was known to family and friends, was a native of Goldsboro, N.C.
The elder son of the late Carl E. McBride and Pamela Culbreth McBride, Gene is survived by his brother, Robert O. McBride of Wilmington; his nephew, Josh McBride also of Wilmington; one aunt, Mrs. Helene Culbreth; and numerous cousins.
Gene spent his childhood on Maple Street in Goldsboro, enjoying a close knit group of neighborhood children and several family dogs.
His family took many fun trips, mainly to North Carolina beaches. Family reunions at Wrightsville Beach with the Culbreth family and Thanksgivings with the McBride family were some of his happiest times.
Gene was an Eagle Scout.
Gene was a 1965 graduate of Goldsboro High School and a 1969 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He completed master's and Ph.D. degrees in chemistry from the University of Minnesota in 1975.
Gene spent his early career as a research chemist for Celanese Corp. in Corpus Christi, Texas, and later as senior research chemist at Atlantic Richfield Oil Co. in Los Angeles, Calif. He retired from BP Petroleum in 2003.
As gifted as he was as a research chemist, Gene was also an avid philatelist since his childhood days in Goldsboro, a family historian and a collector of almost anything that had to do with the city of Goldsboro, the state of North Carolina, North Carolina lighthouses and the history of eastern North Carolina barbecue.
He was an audiophile and film buff; his collections of both numbered in the thousands.
In his retirement years, Gene was deeply involved with his community in West Hollywood, and was well known locally as an outstanding organizer and party host.
While he loved his California home, North Carolina was always calling -- and he had recently developed plans to return to North Carolina permanently in September.
The family will receive friends Friday, Aug. 28, 2015, from 1 to 2 p.m. at Seymour Funeral Home, 1300 Wayne Memorial Drive, Goldsboro, N.C., followed by a brief graveside service at 2:30 p.m. in Willowdale Cemetery.
The ashes of Gene's beloved border collie "PJ" will be interred with him, in the hope and belief that they will get to roam many fields together as they once did.
While flowers are appreciated, the family also encourages your consideration of The American Lung Society or your local hospice if you wish to make contributions in Gene's memory.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.seymourfuneralhome.com.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on August 26, 2015 1:49 PM