Mitchell Dale Venable, Jr.
Dale Venable was 21 years old when he died from complications due to a congenital heart defect. He was at the time a student at Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, NC, waiting to attend the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
He was a 2003 graduate of East Surry High School in Pilot Mountain, NC, and a graduate of Surry Community College. Dale’s wish was to attend UNC-W and he had been accepted in the spring of 2005. He was unable to attend because of health reasons and was waiting to reenter in the spring of 2006, when he died.
Dale was a member of Blackwater United Methodist Church, where he was a member of the youth group and on the Board of Trustees. He was also a member of a Christian pop band called Epiphany. Dale was the lead singer and also was one of the original members, naming the band after riding around one day and coming up with, as he said, an epiphany, thus naming the band.
Dale was also involved in many activities at school. He was a member of the Future Business Leaders of America, the Photography Club, and the Spanish Club. He could not play sports because of his health, but he never missed a chance to root for the Cardinals and be there for his friends.
He was voted most friendly and sweetest by the senior class. These honors were given to him because, as we were told, he never met anyone he didn’t like. Dale also won the William H. Danforth I Dare you Award for leadership and was nominated for Boy’s State.
Dale had many more interests outside of school. He walked every year, as long as his health let him, in the Cancer Relay for Life. He also volunteered at the Eldora Handi Camp, playing games and just hanging out with the campers. His band played each summer at the camp, to the enjoyment of all the campers.
Dale’s life was short, but one big thing he did was to become an organ donor, at the age of 16. We had not discussed the issue with him. When he came home after getting his license, I asked to see it. When I saw the heart, I knew what he had done. When I asked him about it, he just smiled and said that he wanted to donate. He believed that was what you were supposed to do.
It was said at his funeral, that if he knew even through his parents’ grief and his friends missing him, being a donor would give someone a better life, he would have been happy. He is happy. Not only is he with his Lord, but he has given two people a better life through his eyes. As his parents, we feel a sense of pride because we know someone, somewhere is seeing each new day because of our son. He was only with us for a little while, but he lives on in others. We thank God every day that he gave us this wonderful young man, if only for a little while.
Mitchell and Leigh Venable
William Charles (Pap) Vest
July 12, 1944 – September 18, 2006
Loving husband for 40 years to Linda, father of three children, Brian, Sherri and Todd, grandfather to three special grandsons, William, Evan and Jerry Charles and friend to all who knew him. Retired from Duke Power after 38 years of service. After retirement, employed by Harris Teeter:
Will was a teacher:
To the children: Willie taught through his many tales and stories – some included a few ya’s just to make them a little more interesting.
To the older kids: Willie taught the fine art of treasure hunting – right in his own backyard (which happened to be very rich in treasures – “the city dump”).
To the rest of us: Willie taught the fine art of joke telling, no matter how corny or long and drawn out they were, making us laugh, either with him or at him (he did not care which). His skill at casting a rod and reel that only Bill Dance could compete with, and the refined art of nap taking, though he never was able to quite master this one while on a barstool.
Willie taught us many things – if we had only paid a little closer attention. How to be a real friend, not only to those he had just met, but especially to anyone he had known for any length of time. This word friend included doing most anything you needed, most of the time whether you asked him or not. It only took him knowing about what you needed and he was there.
Willie mainly taught us how to be givers rather than takers. He really gave his all to anyone of us who could use it. Many times his giving was simple little things like softly whistling or singing an old hymn – maybe when he thought we were feeling a little down, right up to giving his time or work or possessions if he knew you could use it.
Willie taught us how to be loving husbands and dads.
To hear the stories, I know that Daddy was a good old country boy. I have had people tell me how good my Dad was, but to know Daddy like I did, you know that he is truly a great man. I mean this in the nicest way, but people don’t have to tell me what kind of man Daddy is. He is the kind of man that when I have to make a decision, whether about my family, my work, or just about life, I ask myself “Is this what Daddy taught me?” I didn’t realize until my wife and I had children of our own, that Dad loved to put a smile on, not just children, but everybody’s face. He also taught me that it’s not what life deals you but how you deal with life.
Brian
I never knew what love meant to me until I had a child of my own and I know this is how my Daddy loved me. He was the one person that I could always go to and talk to because he understood and loved me and always wanted me to be happy in life.
Sherry
The World’s Greatest Father
Strong hands ready to catch us if we fall
A quiet strength we know we can always depend on
A gentle heart encouraging us to grow
Someone to always look up to, to be proud of and love
Will, known as Pawpaw Charles to his grandsons, enjoyed spending time with them telling stories and taking adventurous trips to the park riding bikes and playing. His favorite pastime, other than his grandchildren, was traveling to Las Vegas, Tunica and Cherokee with his extended family members.
