Obituary of Harold Preston Futrell Sr. HAROLD PRESTON FUTRELL Virginian-Pilot, The (Norfolk, VA) - September 30, 1997 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. Edition: FINAL Page: B6 Copyright (c) 1997 The Virginian-Pilot ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ––– Narrative Summary of the Obituary ––– Harold Preston Futrell Sr., 72, of Branchville, Virginia, died on 29 Sep 1997. A native of Creeksville, North Carolina, he was a retired farmer and World War II Marine Corps veteran who served in the Pacific. A graveside service with military rites was held on 2 Oct 1997 at Beechwood Cemetery in Boykins, Virginia. ––– Transcript ––– HAROLD PRESTON FUTRELL Harold Preston Futrell Sr., 72, a retired Southampton County farmer, died Monday, 29 September 1997, at his home. A native of Creeksville, North Carolina, 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 to 1948 and North Carolina State University from 1948 to 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 the 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 12–15 October 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, North Carolina; 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, North Carolina; four brothers, Berder T. Futrell of Courtland, Royster S. Futrell of Apex, North Carolina, Terry F. Futrell and Basil L. Futrell, both of Graham, North Carolina. A graveside service with military rites was held in Beechwood Cemetery, Boykins, at 11 a.m. Thursday, 2 October 1997. The family received 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. ––– Vital Statistics ––– |-------------------------------------------------------| | Field | Value | | Name | Harold Preston Futrell Sr. | | Age | 72 years | | Birth | 1925 (estimated); Creeksville, North Carolina | | Death | 29 September 1997; Branchville, Virginia | |-------------------------------------------------------| ––– Table of Relationships ––– |--------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Name | Relationship | Residence | | Harold Preston Futrell Sr. | Decedent | Branchville, Virginia | | Mary Belle Purviance Futrell | Wife | Branchville, Virginia | | Sarah Belle White | Daughter | Simpson, North Carolina | | James R. White | Son-in-law | Simpson, North Carolina | | H. Preston Futrell Jr. | Son | Branchville, Virginia | | Shelley Futrell | Daughter-in-law | Branchville, Virginia | | Micah Nowell Futrell | Grandchild | Not stated | | Bekah Eden Futrell | Grandchild | Not stated | | Noah Preston Futrell | Grandchild | Not stated | | Hortense F. Foster | Sister | Rocky Mount, North Carolina | | Evangeline F. Futrell | Sister | Rocky Mount, North Carolina | | Berder T. Futrell | Brother | Courtland, Virginia | | Royster S. Futrell | Brother | Apex, North Carolina | | Terry F. Futrell | Brother | Graham, North Carolina | | Basil L. Futrell | Brother | Graham, North Carolina | | Claude K. Futrell | Father (deceased) | Not stated | | Lucy Aycock Futrell | Mother (deceased) | Not stated | |--------------------------------------------------------------------------------| ––– Publication Details ––– |--------------------------------| | Field | Value | | Location | Norfolk, Virginia | | Name | The Virginian-Pilot | | Date | 30 September 1997 | | Edition | Final | | Page | B6 | |--------------------------------| ––– Other Relevant Information ––– • Retired Southampton County farmer • Served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and the Korean Conflict • Participated in multiple Pacific Island campaigns • Received Battle Stars and a Captain’s Commendatory Mast Award aboard the U.S.S. Wasp • Former mayor of Branchville and member of the Branchville Town Council • Past president of Branchville Ruritan Club • Member of Meherrin Valley Hunt Club, American Legion Post 276 (Boykins), and Boykins Masonic Lodge No. 287, AF&AM • Branchville Volunteer Fire Department fireman • Choir member and teacher at Branchville Baptist Church; choir member at Boykins United Methodist Church • Spouse’s birth name was Mary Belle Purviance [Contributed by Bruce Saunders, bs4403@verizon.net] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may have contributed to the creation of this text. Please verify critical information, as AI-generated content can include errors.] [This file is https://go-stp.com/BruceObituaries/ShowText.html?Futrell, Harold Preston.txt]