DATE: Tuesday, September 30, 1997           TAG: 9709300184

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B6   EDITION: FINAL 

DATELINE: BRANCHVILLE                       LENGTH:   43 lines

HAROLD P. FUTRELL SR.

Harold Preston Futrell Sr., 72, a retired Southampton County farmer, died Monday, Sept. 29, 1997, at his home.

A native of Creeksville, N.C., he was the son of the late Claude K. and Lucy Aycock Futrell. He graduated from Severn High School in 1943, attended Campbell College from 1947-1948 and N.C. State University from 1948-1950. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps at the start of World War II and served with distinction in the Pacific Island campaigns against Japan. He received Battle Stars for participating in amphibious landing and combat operations on the Marianas, Western Caroline Islands, Okinawa, Luzon, Iwo Jima and Battle of Leyte Gulf. As a 20mm anti-aircraft gunner aboard the U.S.S. Wasp, he received a Captain's Commendatory Mast Award for destroying six Japanese torpedo planes during attacks between Oct. 12-15, 1944. He was in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve during the Korean Conflict.

He was active throughout his life in a variety of civic, community, and church affairs. He had served as mayor of Branchville and on the Branchville Town Council for many years. He was past president of Branchville Ruritan Club, a member of the Meherrin Valley Hunt Club, the American Legion Post No. 276, Boykins, and had served as a volunteer fireman with Branchville Volunteer Fire Department. He had served as teacher and choir member at Branchville Baptist Church for many years and had sung in the choir of Boykins United Methodist Church. He was a member of Boykins Masonic Lodge No. 287, AF&AM and was a stockholder of Southampton Farm Supply.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Belle Purviance Futrell; a daughter, Sarah Belle White, and her husband, James R. of Simpson, N.C.; a son, H. Preston Futrell Jr., and his wife, Shelley of Branchville; three grandchildren, Micah Nowell Futrell, Bekah Eden Futrell and Noah Preston Futrell; two sisters, Hortense F. Foster and Evangeline F. Futrell, both of Rocky Mount, N.C.; four brothers, Berder T. Futrell of Courtland, Royster S. Futrell of Apex, N.C., Terry F. Futrell and Basil L. Futrell, both of Graham, N.C.

A graveside service with military rites will be held in Beechwood Cemetery, Boykins, at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 2. The family will receive friends at Purviance Funeral Home, Boykins, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. Memorial donations may be made to Branchville Volunteer Fire Department or the Boykins Volunteer Fire and Rescue Squad. KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY

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