Bill Essick

William Franklin “Bill” Essick Sr, 89, a resident of Welcome, died Saturday December 1st, at Forsyth Memorial Hospital. A memorial service will be held in his honor at 7:00 PM Monday, December 3rd at Bethesda United Methodist Church in Welcome, by the Rev. Dennis Marshall. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 5:00 until 6:30 PM in the family life center. Mr. Essick was born December 2nd, 1922 in Davidson County to Arlie L. Essick and Girla K. Essick. He retired from Western Electric after 35 years of service. He was a veteran of the Army Air Corps and served in the South Pacific during World War II. He was a lifelong member of Bethesda United Methodist, where he served on the church board and as a young adult's Sunday School teacher. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three sisters, Agnes Adkins, Arwilda Everhart, and Mintie Everhart, and four brothers, Arlie ( A.L.) Jr, Winfred, Rueben, and Ralph Essick. On July 24th, 1948, he married Frances Bryant, who survives of the home. He is also survived by one son, William (Frank) F. Essick, Jr and wife Diane, one daughter Sharon Essick Bele and a special grandson, Anthony J. Bele III of Raleigh. He is also survived by one sister, Freda Shoaf and husband Glen, one sister-in-law Evelyn Essick, and a number of nieces and nephews. The family respectfully requests, in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to Bethesda United Methodist Church, 2922 Bethesda Rd., Lexington, NC, 27295 or the charity of your choice.