John Frank Vanpelt

John Frank Vanpelt, 96, of Kannapolis, died Saturday, September 13, 2008, at Caremoor Retirement Center. Funeral services will be conducted at 4 p.m. Monday, September 15, 2008, at Bethpage Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Darryl Baker will officiate. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends Monday prior to the service from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall at Bethpage Presbyterian Church. Born August 19, 1912 in Cabarrus County, he was the son of the late Frank Eugene Van Pelt and Nancy Readling Van Pelt. A graduate of Odell School, he joined Cannon Mills in 1934, working in the cloth room. He began working in the machine shop in 1937 and became shop foreman in 1946 and overseer in 1950. He became a master mechanic in the shop and yard at Plant 16 in 1966 and retired as the shop supervisor in 1975. Mr. Vanpelt was a lifelong member of Bethpage Presbyterian Church, Kannapolis, where he was an ordained deacon and elder, trustee, and choir member. He enjoyed gardening, fishing, traveling, and machine work. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Velma Garver Vanpelt; and a brother, Clarence Van Pelt. Survivors include four sons, John Ray Vanpelt and wife, Christine of Tampa, FL, Max Lee Vanpelt and wife, Frances of Hampton, VA, David Frank Vanpelt and wife, B.J. of Fayetteville, Harry Eugene Vanpelt and wife, Sharon of Kannapolis; a sister Nina Van Pelt Gurley; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Memorials may be sent to Bethpage Presbyterian Church Building Fund, 6020 Mooresville Road, Kannapolis, NC 28081.