Obituary: Frank Hunter Hollowell Sr. | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Mr. Frank Hunter Hollowell Sr., age 78, a resident of the Long Acre community, died Monday, July 18, 2011.

    A funeral service will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, July 22, 2011, at the chapel of Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington officiated by Joe Hickman and Frank Hollowell Jr. Burial will follow in Oakdale Cemetery. Members of American Legion Post 249, Eddie Squires, Bruce Bowen, Jack Dunbar, Gerald Nixon, Frank Allen, Hubert Watson and J.E. Copeland will serve as pallbearers.

    Frank was born in Aurora, (Gum Swamp), N.C., on the 22nd of May, 1933, to the late Frank Dulus Hollowell and the late Eva Harris. As a young boy, he moved to Long Acre in Beaufort County and was lovingly raised by his Uncle Henry Harris and his wife Modie Cutler Harris. Frank was a graduate of Pantego High School in 1951, he then actively served his country as an MP in the United States Army from 1953-1955 in the Panama Canal Zone with an additional five years of reserve duty.

    On Aug. 6, 1954, Frank married high school sweetheart, Virginia Dare Respess of Pike Road. Born to this union were four children, three daughters, Virginia Ann (Ginger) of Terra Ceia and husband Richard Stoop, Nikki Lorie of Alabama and husband Dennis Gwin and Wendi Ellen who preceded him in death in 1982; a son, Frank Hunter Jr. (Bubba) of Fuquay Varina and wife Lisa Halbrook.

    Frank is survived by seven grandchildren, Bradrick Marshall Stoop and wife Ashley, Chad Hunter Stoop and wife Leigh, Crystal Holloway Malone and husband Adam, Ellen Holloway Matthews and husband Marquette, Tabitha Jade Hollowell, Frank Hunter Hollowell III and Lillian Eva Hollowell; six great-grandchildren, Reagan Stoop, Anna Stoop, Sid Stoop, Hunter Holloway, Chloe Malone, and Autumn Malone; cousins, Barbara Hollowell Lyon of Wake Forest, Mary Lou Hollowell Stephens of Wake Forest, Lois Hollowell Chenault of Washington, Bernard Hollowell of Bayboro and Betsy Bonner Hall of Alexandria, Va. He is preceded in death by both parents and his sister, Ann Elizabeth Hollowell.

    Although he was a farmer at heart, he also worked and retired from Weyerhaeuser in Plymouth after 32 years. When tending the farm became too much, he still continued to satisfy his love of the earth by growing, harvesting, and cooking or freezing his garden produce which was always enough to supply fresh food for supper that night and also enough to store for winter months.

    Frank was a strong believer that the way to serve his Creator was by serving his fellow man, his community, his country and his God. Some of the ways he did this were by caring for his Uncle Henry, for his Aunt Modie, and for his sister Ann, in their final days of need and also, his brother-in-law Travis Webster Respess of Caswell Center in Kinston; by helping his elderly neighbors with doctor trips, home repairs and handyman work, and grocery shopping or financial loans; by sharing his home to foster children: Johnny Godley, who lived as a part of the family for many years. His sister Peggy Godley also spent many summers in the home. Randy Tetterton, who was like another son, shared many father/son experiences. One in particular was a fishing trip where on their return they complained of being SO exhausted from catching ALL those fish; and by participating and serving on many local organizations, the American Legion Post 249, Belhaven, Pantego Academy Museum Board President 2005-2008, Beaufort County Planning Board 2003-2011, Republican Men’s Club 2002-2011 and West Haven Church of Christ, Plymouth, founding member 1965-2011.

    Preservation of his heritage was a favorite pastime. His own home is the lone existing house from Broad Acre Ranch Company formerly located on Windley Canal Road. His Uncle Henry’s smokehouse was rescued from deterioration and lovingly preserved. The “Green House,” which is around 100 years old and built by a cousin, was moved closer to protect it. He built a log cabin on his property from 100-year-old logs from a local log tobacco barn. The family Ford tractor was his favorite restoration project along with several other tractors.

    While president of the Board, he salvaged windows from the Winsteadville schoolhouse to fill the gaping holes in the upstairs of the Pantego Academy Museum doing all the work himself. The museum wall had pulled away and separated from the other walls leaving gaps in the flooring. To replace the floor joists, the wall had to be jacked up and then moved back into place when the work was completed. Frank pulled up each floorboard, numbered and replaced them, including locating additional flooring to match the original floor. The belfry at the museum was leaking and the bell itself had to be taken down. The work was hired out, but Frank is the one who actually removed the bell. He was also responsible for the plan to rescue the Pantego Jail from deterioration and demolition and to get it taken to the museum site.

    Frank’s life is exemplified by these two verses: Matthew 25:40 “Truly I say unto you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of mine, even the least of them, you did it to me.” Hebrews 13:2 “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.”

    The family will receive friends from 4:30 p.m. Friday until the funeral hour at Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington.

    In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Pungo Christian Academy, 983 W. Main St., Belhaven, NC 27810 or to your favorite local charity.

    Condolences may be offered by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.

    Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Hollowell family.