Mr. Donald Evert Vestal, 88, a resident of Greensboro, passed away on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. He was born April 30, 1930 in Cumberland County, NC, a son to the late Elizabeth Griffin Sharpe of Hertford County, NC and Oscar Everett Vestal of Yadkin County, NC.
He was a graduate of the 1948 class of Graham High School in Graham, NC and later earned the designation of Certified Life Underwriter from the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors on October 30, 1981. Don was an accomplished musician and played the baritone saxophone with the Jimmy Perkins Orchestra out of the Greensboro local for 15 years.
He proudly served his country in the United States Army, spending 21 months on Okinawa during the Korean War as a Supply Sgt. of Battery A of the 85th AAA Battalion.
Don retired from Jefferson-Pilot Life Insurance Company after 39 years of service, beginning as an agent, then serving as a staff manager, district manager, and then Regional Vice President. Thirteen of those years were spent as District Manager in Rocky Mount, NC and 10 years as District Manager in Greensboro, NC. After retirement, Don taught license certification and continuing education.
Don was a 32nd degree Mason with the Queen City Lodge 602 A.F & A.M. in Rocky Mount, NC for many years and served as secretary of the lodge for nine years.
He was a member of Jamestown Methodist Church since 1981 where he was also member of the Chancel Choir and the Austin P. Fortney Sunday School Class.
On April 21, 1951 Don was married to the former Leone Williams who preceded him in death on January 27, 2018. He was also preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Richard Lee Vestal, Sr.
Don is survived by a daughter, Donna Vestal Church; son-in-law, Barry Dale Church of Greensboro; two grandsons, Kevin Taylor Church and his wife Sara of Kernersville and Trevor Allen Church, a student at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday at the Hanes-Lineberry Funeral Home Sedgefield Chapel conducted by the Reverend Jim Watford. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday from 1:00 p.m. until service time. Entombment will follow in Guilford Memorial Park Mausoleum.
Serving as pallbearers will be grandsons, Kevin Church, Trevor Church and nephews, Kirk Vestal, Kyle Vestal, Dan A. Holt and Sammy Holt.
Memorials may be made in Don’s memory to Jamestown United Methodist Church, 403 East Main St. Jamestown, NC 27282
PALLBEARERS
Kevin Church
Trevor Church
Rick Vestal
Kirk Vestal
Dan A. Holt
Sammy Holt
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