Alton Gray Parnell
April 25, 1928 - March 11, 2010Pikeville – Alton Gray Parnell, 81, went to be with his Lord on Thursday morning at Wayne Memorial Hospital surrounded by his family.
Alton was born in Wayne County on April 25, 1928 to the late Tom Parnell and Effie Brown Parnell. He was married to Pat J. Parnell who preceded him in death. Alton was an active member of Pleasant Grove Original Free Will Baptist Church and was a charter member of the Belfast Volunteer Fire Department. He was instrumental in several civic programs in the Belfast and Pikeville Communities and was a member of the Pikeville Cotton Museum. Alton’s business career included 35 years of service at Dewey Brothers and most recently had a successful career at Carolina Door and Hardware. He had been an active member of the Charles B. Aycock Booster Club. Alton got great pleasure in flying airplanes and in his later years he enjoyed researching his genealogy.
Funeral services will be held Saturday at 3:00 p.m. at Pleasant Grove Free Will Baptist Church with Rev. Barry Stallings and Rev. Frank Purvis officiating. Burial will follow in Pikeville Cemetery.
He is survived by his son, Dennis Parnell and wife Kathryne of Pikeville; his daughters, Becky Glover and husband David Glover of Pikeville and Renee Futrelle and husband the Rev. George Futrelle of Grantham; his grandchildren, Kelly Finch and husband Edwin of Pikeville, Mindy Lane and husband Will of Pikeville, Samantha Futrelle of Grantham, Meredith Futrelle of Grantham, Michael Parnell and wife Jenny of Pikeville and Susan Harts and husband Derek of Wilmington; and seven great-grandchildren, Aaron Parnell, Lyndsey Parnell, Cassie Parnell, Kristen Parnell, Elizabeth Harts, Chloe Harts and Lucas Finch; and his sisters-in-law, Maxine Parnell and Cornell Smith.
Flowers are welcome or memorials may be made to Pikeville Cotton Museum, 101 Smith Street, Pikeville, NC 27863.
The family will receive friends Friday at Seymour Funeral Home from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. and other times at his home.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.seymourfuneralhome.com.