Gates County Index

Dec. 12, 2001

Eldred V. Rountree Sr.
ZEBULON--- Eldred Vincent Rountree Sr., died Dec 3, 2001, at Wake Medical Center.

A funeral was conducted Thursday at Zebulon Baptist Church. Burial was in the Massey family cemetery. Massey Funeral Home, Zebulon, was in charge.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Zebulon Baptist Church, P.O. Box 366, Zebulon, NC 27597 or to the Rotary Foundation of Zebulon Endowment Fund, P.O. Box 342, Zebulon, NC 27597.

Survivors include a daughter, Sadie Elizabeth "Betsy" Rountree; a son, Eldred Vincent Rountree Jr.; a sister, Edna Earl Blyth of Corapeake; and two grandsons.

Robert A. Spruill
GATES--- Robert Alvin "Cowboy" Spruill, 63, a native of Beaufort County, died December 4, 2001.

A private funeral was held Thursday. Harrell Funeral Home, Gatesville, was in charge.

Spruill was retired fro Lipton Tea, a member of the First Pentecostal Church and a member of No. 141 Moose Lodge in Suffolk.

Survivors include his wife, Bonnie Patty Spruill; seven daughters, Jessica, Shannon and Tracy Spruill, all of the home, Paulette Atkinson of Arrowhead Beach, Nonie Searcy of Fredericksburg, Va., Pam White of Hertford and Christine Bright of Elizabeth City; six sons, Ryan Patty of the home, Timothy Keown of Tyner, Chris Searcy of Raleigh, Larry Spruill of Louisville, Ky.; four stepchildren, Debbie Keown of Tyner, Susan Melton of Hertford, Roger Keown of Virginia Beach and Robert Keown of Gloucester; two sisters, Ann Barrett of Bellhaven and Gloria Tyndell of New Bern; a brother, Rueben Braddy of Bath; and 19 grandchildren.

Alice R. Eason
SUNBURY---Alice Riddick Eason, 92, a native of Gates County, died December 7, 2001 at Louise Obici Hospital, Suffolk. She was the widow of W.A. "Buster" Eason.

A funeral was conducted Monday at Sandy Cross Baptist Church by the Rev. E. Vernon Gilmer Jr. and Rev. Michael Brinkley.

Burial was in Damascus Church Cemetery, Sunbury. Miller Funeral Home was in charge.. Memorial contributions may be made to either the Gates County Rescue Squad, or Nansemond Suffolk Rescue Squad.

Mrs. Eason was a homemaker, a member of Sandy Cross Baptist Church, its WMU and Senior Adults Sunday School class.

Survivors include three daughters, Beryl Hale and Florence Byrd, both of Suffolk and Nell M. Eason of Sunbury; seven grandchildren; and 10 great grandchildren.

Kenneth Gillespie Sr.
AHOSKIE--- Kenneth Claude Gillespie Sr., 73, a native of Rockingham County, died December 5, 2001, at Pitt County memorial Hospital.
A graveside service will be conducted at Holly Lawn Cemetery, Suffolk, Va., by the Rev. Rodney Holloman with Military honors. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at Garrett Funeral Home, Ahoskie.

Gillespie was retired from John Deere and had worked the past eight years for Wal-Mart as a greeter. He was a US Navy veteran of WWII.

Survivors include his wife, Gracie Jones Gillespie; two daughters, Donna Milteer of west Palm Beach, Fla., and Cheryl Adams of Windsor; two sons, Kenneth C. Gillespie Jr. of Oklahoma and Howard M. Gillespie of Ahoskie; three sisters, Joann Santie of St. Petersburg, Geraldine Wall of South Carolina and Brenda Jones of Clearwater; a brother, Tony Gillespie of Reidsville; 10 grandchildren; three step grandchildren; and six great grandchildren.