John Randolph Wiley

John Randolph Wiley of Raleigh passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, December 31, 2011 surrounded by his family. His last few months were filled with a deep peace from his trust in Christ and many special moments with his wife, children and grandchildren.

John was born January 2, 1938 in Clarksville, Virginia in the home of his paternal grandparents, Dallas Washington Wiley and Minnie Lee Humphries. He is the son of the late Russell Sage Wiley and Edna Earl Adams Wiley. At an early age his parents moved to Washington, North Carolina where he grew up. He graduated from Washington High School. He attended and graduated from North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina where he earned his bachelor’s degree in industrial management. He served in the North Carolina National Guard and spent many years in the reserves after active service.

He joined Pine State Creamery Company in 1963 and worked there his entire career of 35 years. He served many years as Vice-President of Production and retired as President of the Company. During his career, he served as President of, as well as received the Distinguished Service Award from, the North Carolina-Virginia Dairy Products Association. He also served as President of the North Carolina Dairy Foundation and President of the Dairy Tech Society. He was a past member of West Raleigh Rotary Club, The NC State University Wolfpack Club and the Terpsichorean Club.

John’s Christian faith was a very important part of his life. He was a member of White Memorial Presbyterian Church where he served as a Stephen Minister. In 2005 he went on a mission trip to Russia with a group from the church. He was also a small group leader in Bible Study Fellowship for several years and enjoyed other bible studies at his church and with his sons.

He is survived by his wife, Susan Carrington Kilgore Wiley, daughter of the late James Dinwiddie Kilgore and Margaret McLean Edmundson Kilgore; three children and seven grandchildren, Bettie Carrington Wiley Olson and her husband, Steven Robert Olson and their children: Christina Adams Olson, Caroline Carrington Olson, and Michael Ruggeri Olson all of Greensboro, NC; John Randolph Wiley, Jr. and his wife, Kathy Dawson Wiley and their son John Randolph Wiley, III “Jack” of Wake Forest, NC; James Kilgore Wiley and his wife, Sharon Blackwood Wiley and their children: James Kilgore Wiley, II, David Blackwood Wiley, and Elizabeth Adams Wiley all of Raleigh, NC.

John loved being with family and friends, especially at his home at Gum Point on the Pamlico River just east of Bath, North Carolina. He passed that love of the Pamlico River on to his children and grandchildren by teaching them to boat, fish, and appreciate the wildlife in the area. He called Gum Point “The Wild Kingdom.”

He is survived by two brothers and two sisters: William Russell Wiley and his wife, Sally; Steven Sage Wiley and his wife, Pat, all of Washington, North Carolina; Kathy Wiley Lassiter and her husband, Doug of Fletcher, North Carolina, and Gayle Wiley Morgan of Washington, North Carolina. He has a number of nieces, nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews whom he loved.

A graveside service will be held Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at 12noon at Historic Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh.

A memorial service will follow the graveside at 2pm, Wednesday, at White Memorial Presbyterian Church, 1704 Oberlin Rd., Raleigh. The family will receive friends following the service in the Jane Bell Gathering Space at White Memorial.

The family would like to thank Dr. Olajide and the entire staff of Rex Cancer Center for their care and support over the past five years through John’s four battles with cancer. The family also deeply appreciates the care and support of Hospice of Wake County during the past few months.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to White Memorial Presbyterian Church, 1704 Oberlin Road, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27608; to Hospice of Wake County, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27607; or the charity of your choice.

Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary’s Street, Raleigh, NC.