William Lawrence Upchurch, Jr., of Winterville, N.C. passed away peacefully on October 13, 2018 following a lengthy battle of renal failure. A “Celebration of Life” will be held at 2:00 p.m. at the Crumpler Funeral Home Chapel, 131 Harris Avenue, Raeford, N. C. on Wednesday, October 17, 2018, with the Dr. Ray Harris officiating. The family will receive friends at 1:00 p.m. prior to the Service at the funeral home.
Mr. Upchurch, better known as “Larry” was a native of Hoke County. He was born on October 11, 1942 and was the eldest child of the late William “Bill” Lawrence Upchurch, Sr. and Martha Barrington Upchurch. Mr. Upchurch and his only sister, Martha Alice, were inseparable from an early age and remained so as adults.
In 1968, Larry married Joy Langdon and together they had two sons, Bill and Bart whom he dearly loved. Prior to re-locating from Raeford, Larry was a member of Raeford Methodist Church and First Presbyterian Church singing in both choirs. Prior to his illness, he was an avid hunter, fisherman, crop-sprayer of 40 years and later owned and operated Upchurch Trucking Company.
He was a graduate of Hoke County High School and a scholarship recipient to Elon University where he played football. During his high school years, he was an East-West Football selection and was known as “Twinkle Toes” for rarely missing extra points. He later joined the National Guard as a Specialist 4 and served from 1966 to 1970.
Larry was quite the “All Round Athlete” and “Outdoorsman”. He enjoyed boating trips with friends and family with a special love for Bogue Sound. He “Blessed” many friends with “Delicious Collard Greens” and his “Homemade Blueberry Cheesecake” often accompanied with his over-sized Gerber daises and garden vegetables.
He loved his Lord and during his final days, he even prepared his sister and family for his upcoming “Departure”. He faced his illness with dignity and courage, never wanting to alter his family’s lifestyle to care for him and was the epitome of “Independence”. Mr. Upchurch is survived by sons, Brian Bartlett ”Bart” Upchurch, William Lawrence “Bill” Upchurch III, and his wife Beaman, grandson Jackson and granddaughter, Camryn, all of Winterville, N. C. A sister, Martha Alice Phillips and brother-in-law and “Best Friend”, Larry Phillips, nephew Brad and family and niece, Brooke, who preceded him in death in 1998.
The family is most appreciative to Vidant Hospice Care given to Mr. Upchurch and to his “Life Long Friend”, Joy Shelton for adopting and caring for his Beloved Dog ” Breleigh” at the moment of his illness. Memorials may be made to Vidant Hospice Care, 920 Wellness Drive, Greenville, N. C. 27834 or the Asheboro City Schools Educational Scholarship Foundation in memory of Brooke Upchurch Phillips, PO Box 1103, Asheboro, N. C. 27204. This scholarship is presented each year to help a student further their education.
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