Willie Paul (Bill) Deaton

Obituary: Kannapolis, NC- Willie Paul Deaton (Bill), age 86, died Wednesday, August 12, 2009 at Liberty Commons Nursing Center, Salisbury, NC where he had lived for the past two years after suffering from a short illness. He was born May 9, 1923 in Moore County, NC, the son of the late George Samuel Deaton and Martha Elizabeth Wallace Deaton. He was employed with the former Cannon Mills Company, Plt.#1 Finishing Dept. for many years until his retirement. He was a member of the Baptist faith and a former deacon when he attended Mt. Olive Freewill Baptist Church in Kannapolis, NC. He was a singer and musician, playing guitar, and traveling to various churches singing gospel music with his family. He traveled around the U.S. & had played with the legendary J.E. Mainer and the Mountaineers old-time bluegrass group. He had also been a resident of the Kannapolis area since 1955. In addition to his parents he is preceded in death by his wife, Mary Edna Herbert Deaton on February 1, 1980 and a son, Glen Aaron Deaton. The funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 15, 2009 at Whitley's Funeral Home Main Chapel, Kannapolis, NC officiated by Rev. Ronnie Cooper, Rev. A.L. Hensley, and Rev. Loran Walker. Burial will follow at Carolina Memorial Park, Kannapolis, NC. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Friday, August 14, 2009 at Whitley's Funeral Home Annex Chapel. Survivors include his son, Lester Paul Deaton of China Grove, NC; four daughters, Martha Ann Hensley of Rock Hill, SC, Janice L. Walker of Salisbury, NC, Kathy Delane Tucker of Kannapolis, NC, and Melissa Jane Honeycutt of China Grove, NC; fourteen grandchildren; twenty great-grandchildren. The love of his family was only secondary to his love for the Lord. On-line condolences may be left at www.whitleysfuneralhome.com.
Visitation: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Friday, August, 14, 2009, at Whitley's Funeral Home Annex Chapel

Service: 11:00 pm Saturday, August 15, 2009, at Whitley's Funeral Home Main Chapel

Interment: Carolina Memorial Park