Don Pardue

Mr. Don Carson Pardue, age 91 of Wilkesboro passed away Sunday, April 10, 2022 at his home.

Celebration of Life Service will be held 2:00 PM Friday April 15, 2022 at First United Methodist Church North Wilkesboro with Reverend Jim Sanders officiating. The family will receive after the service in the Faith Center.

Don was born August 27, 1930 in Wilkes County to Eugene Forrest and Ever Prevette Pardue. At an early age Don developed a great love for nature and the outdoors which he carried with him throughout his lifetime. Agriculture became more than a passion for him when at the age of 12 his father enlisted in the U.S. Navy soon after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1942 and went on to join the war effort in the South Pacific. Don and his 5 siblings quickly learned the value of hard work in an effort keep the farm going while their father was away. Don attended high school in Wilkesboro where he played football for the undefeated Ramblers team of 1947. After graduation, Don followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the US Naval reserves while also attending Berea College in Kentucky. He served 3 years in the Navy and then an additional 2 years in the Marine Corp. While at Berea College he obtained a degree in Agriculture and it was there he met Carol Henderson who would became his lifelong companion of almost 70 years.

Don and Carol were married on June 2, 1952 in Berea Kentucky, and Don began his career by working in Kentucky and then several western North Carolina counties as a county agent. During that time in addition to Berea they lived in Graham, Yancy, and Buncombe Counties. In 1965 the family moved to Cary, NC when Don took a position at NC State University working in the departments of Economics and Dairy Science. While at NC State he received his Master’s Degree in Economics, and was instrumental in North Carolina becoming one of the first states to computerize the state’s dairy records. After a 20-year career with the state of North Carolina he retired in 1975 to return home to Wilkes County. Back in Wilkes he began his next career at Northwestern Bank in the commercial loan department. He held several positions with the bank until his retirement at the age of 65.

During his retirement Don pursued his love of the outdoors by farming, raising cattle and traveling to many of the National Parks. He cherished the time spent with family during holiday gatherings, annual beach trips, and being active in the lives of his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Don is a member of the First United Methodist Church of North Wilkesboro, and was a member of the Tory Oak Twirler’s Square Dance Club.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by a sister, Eloise Church.

He is survived by his wife Carol Henderson Pardue of the home; one daughter, Donna Pardue Noble of Wilkesboro; three sons, Forrest Pardue (Jennifer) of Lenoir City, TN; Lawrence Pardue (Susan) of Charlotte; and Daniel Pardue (Wanda) of Wilkesboro, seven grandchildren, Mary Olson (Steve), Phillip Pardue, Rebecca Pardue, Stephen Pardue, Joseph Pardue ( Emily), Charles Noble (Anna), and Michelle Noble, four great grandchildren; Kaylee Olson, Hunter Olson, Carson Pardue and Caroline Pardue, one sister; June Canter of Wilkesboro, three  brothers Carlos Pardue (Betty) of Wilkesboro: Fred Pardue (Jane) of Clemson, SC; and Tommy Pardue (Diane) of Boydton, VA.

Flowers will be accepted or memorials can be made to First United Methodist Church North Wilkesboro, PO Box 1145, North Wilkesboro, NC  28659, or to the Charity of the donor’s choice.

Online condolences may be made to www.reinssturdivant.com

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