There will be a celebration of the life well lived for William K. Philpot, Jr., of Kannapolis, NC, who joined the Church Triumphant on March 22, 2015. In November 2013, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He had cancerbut it never had him. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 pm Sunday, March 29, 2015, at First Reformed Church, 210 Central Avenue, Landis, NC. Rev. David Franks will officiate. The family will receive friends Sunday after the service at the church. Billy was the first child of Dr. William K. Philpot and Mae Bowles Philpot, born on their wedding anniversary, July 9, 1933, in Augusta, Georgia. After graduation from Richmond Academy in Augusta and to his father’s delight, he chose to attend The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina in Charleston, SC. He wears The Ring as a proud member of the Class of ’55. As a first-class (senior) cadet he was a member of the Summerall Guards, a precision drill platoon. Becoming a member of the Guards is considered one of the highest achievements for a cadet at The Citadel. “The Series” has never been written down, performed to a silent count and has remained virtually unchanged since 1932. Upon graduating from The Citadel, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the USAF serving four years active duty as a navigator in Strategic Air Command. He completed that commitment with the rank of Captain. After discharge from military service, he began his professional career in banking at The Georgia Railroad Bank in Augusta. His banking career spanned 33 years in various positions of marketing, business development, correspondent banking, commercial and mortgage lending in Augusta as well as Gastonia, Shelby and Cabarrus County in North Carolina. While living in Augusta, he enjoyed membership in the Jaycees where he served as club President and earned Augusta’s Distinguished Service Award. He was named Augusta’s Outstanding Young Man of the Year for 1967, and that same year won the Georgia S&L League Speaking Contest and was one of the eight finalists in the National competition in San Francisco, CA. In 1984 Billy moved to Cabarrus County as President and CEO of Cabarrus County Savings and Loan. During his tenure, Cabarrus Savings Bank, Inc. made history becoming the first North Carolina savings and loan to receive permission from the North Carolina Banking Commission to convert to a commercial bank. He promoted people helping people because he believed in it. His contributions in Cabarrus County were with the Salvation Army board, Rotary Club in Concord and Kannapolis, Old Courthouse Theater, Healthy Cabarrus and The Cabarrus Partnership for Children. He was the recipient of Boss of the Year Award presented by the Concord Business and Professional Women’s Club. It was a natural transition from banking into leadership as vice-president of Cabarrus County operations of the United Way of the Central Carolinas. From 1994 to 2002, he was responsible for staffing the annual campaign in Cabarrus County which raised approximately $14 million in eight years. Never content in retirement, Billy worked on the initial capital campaign for Hospice and Palliative Care of Cabarrus County as well as education and development in the faith communities of Cabarrus County. Having spent 56 years in the work place, he felt without a doubt that the work he was privileged to do with hospice was the most fulfilling. His Christian service was of the utmost importance to him having served as a deacon and an elder in the Presbyterian Church, Sunday school teacher and member of the Board of Trustees First Presbyterian Church in Augusta. He was also the founding Board Chair of Westminister Schools of Augusta and Board member of the Gaston Christian School in Gastonia. He was most recently an active member of First Reformed Church of Landis. Billy was an avid runner for 40 years with his greatest achievement being the Charlotte Marathon in 1984. He loved the South Carolina low-country, especially Edisto Beach, and was never happier than when he was showing a grandchild how to catch a crab in Store Creek with a turkey neck on a string or casting a shrimp net. He enjoyed yard work and reading. He taught us by example his ideals of honor, integrity, loyalty, self-discipline and patriotism. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, William “Trip” K. Philpot, III. Left to cherish his memory is his splendid, blended and extended family which includes his wife, Wren Philpot of the home; two daughters, Sally Drennan and husband, Jerry, of Gastonia and Maria Wilson and husband, Eric, of Kannapolis; son, John Allen and wife Sheena of Kannapolis; five grandchildren, Allison Drennan, Michael, Laura Kate and Emily Wilson and Ava Allen; sister, Marguerite Thompson of Asheville; brother, Michael Philpot and wife Gaye of Irwington, GA; three nieces; and one nephew. Memorials can be made to The Citadel Foundation, 171 Moultrie Street, Charleston, SC 29409 or Hospice and Palliative Care of Cabarrus County, 5003 Hospice Lane, Kannapolis, NC 28081. Remembrances may be sent to the family at www.ladysfuneralhome.com. Lady’s Funeral Home & Crematory is assisting the family of Mr. Philpot.
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