Herbert Lemuel Peebles Jr.

Herbert L Peebles, Jr. passed away peacefully at home on March 5, 2012 following a six year battle with melanoma. Herb had been receiving care at home from Hospice of Wake County, and he passed with his wife and family by his bedside.

Herb was born in Raleigh on March 27, 1923, the son of Herbert and Minnie Crawley Peebles. He grew up in the Boylan Heights neighborhood and graduated in 1942 from Needham B Broughton High School where he was very active in the band, the photography club and the model airplane club.

Herb was a veteran of World War II where he served with distinction as a naval aviator flying torpedo, bombing and photo reconnaissance missions from several aircraft carriers in the Grumman TBF Avenger, the Grumman F4F Wildcat and the Grumman F6F Hellcat in many of the island battles of the South Pacific campaign. Herb was honorably discharged from the Navy as a Lieutenant having been awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross among numerous decorations.

Herb and his family lived in Raleigh, North Carolina, Knoxville, Tennessee, Charlotte, North Carolina, West Columbia, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia during his 30 year career with Safeco Insurance. Herb enjoyed many hobbies, among them he was a lifelong outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing and boating. He was an expert stained glass artisan, skilled woodworker and craftsman. He was an avid radio controlled airplane and sailplane pilot. Herb was also very active with Boy Scouts of America and the scouting movement in Savannah.

Herb was a deeply religious man and was active throughout his life in several churches including North Street Baptist in Raleigh, Millbrook Baptist in Raleigh, White Bluff United Methodist Church in Savannah, First Baptist Church in Raleigh and Emerald Isle Baptist Church in Emerald Isle, North Carolina.

Herb was preceded in death by his first wife of 53 years, June Watkins Peebles, his parents Herbert and Minnie Crawley Peebles and his brother, William Peebles.

Herb is survived by his wife of 15 years, Ruth Kost Ott Peebles; daughters Carolyn Biezenbos (Mike) of Savannah and Jane Clough (Gary) of Wesley Chapel, Florida; sons Rocky Peebles (Joyce) of Marble Falls, Texas, Richard Peebles (Donna) of Marietta, Georgia, Mark Peebles (Maureen) of St. Johns, Florida; stepsons William E Ott (Donna) of Cary and Lee Ott (Denise) of Raleigh; grandchildren Monica Rouse, Lindsay Mays, Julianne Peebles, Scott Biezenbos (Jodi), David Peebles (Meredith), Nicki Brewer (Josh); step-granddaughter Kathryn Ott, step-grandson Robbie Ott and step-grandson James Hart; two great granddaughters and two great grandsons; siblings Mary Louise Franks of Goldsboro, North Carolina, Robert Peebles (Carolyn) of Raleigh and John Peebles of Swansboro, North Carolina.

Herb and the family wish to thank the following people for their care, compassion and dedication during his illness, Jeff Crane, MD, Cindy Simonson, FNP and the wonderful staff at the Rex Hospital Cancer Center in Raleigh, Cornelia Settle, CNA and Pam Henderson, Case Manager / RN from Hospice of Wake County and Cindy Vestal and Elizabeth Ford, RN for care at home.

A memorial service celebrating Herb’s life will be held at 11:00AM on Saturday March 10, 2012 at the Brown-Wynne Funeral Home on Saint Mary’s Street in Raleigh, with visitation immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Boys Town National Headquarters, PO Box 6000, Boys Town, NE 68010; Emerald Isle Baptist Church, 304 Emerald Plantation Drive, Emerald Isle, NC 28594; First Baptist Church, 99 North Salisbury Street, Raleigh NC 27603; Hospice of Wake County, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27603 or a church or charity of your choice.