Obituary for Fred Tatum Jr.
Mr. Fred Tatum, Jr., was born in Iredell County on September 9, 1929, and was the son of the late Fred Allen Tatum and Mary Alice Reid Tatum. He departed this life on Wednesday, March 4, 2020, at Autumn Care of Statesville following an extended illness.
He graduated from Unity High School and received his Bachelor’s of Agriculture from North Carolina A&T State University. He was a member of Calvary Presbyterian Church where he served as an elder, member of the Men's Council and played the bass for the choir. He was a U.S. Army veteran who served during the Korean War. He was an Agricultural Extension Agent and prior to retirement was employed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as a Manager.
He was united in marriage to Mrs. Vada Dean Coulter Tatum, for over sixty-four years. She preceded him in death on December 16, 2019. In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by five brothers, Clayton Tatum, John Tatum, Leroy Tatum, Leander Tatum and Thomas Tatum.
He leaves to cherish the memory of his life, a daughter, Melba Tatum of San Francisco, California; three grandchildren, Kary Bowser, Jr. of Charlotte, Aja Bowser of San Antonio, Texas and Jennifer (William) Parridgen of Hickory; three sisters-in-law, Annie Tatum and Bessie Tatum, both of Statesville and Evelyn Ellis of Newton; four great grandchildren, Ayanna, Amiya, Carter and Cayson; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, The Calvary Presbyterian Church family, neighbors and friends.
Celebration of Life Services will be conducted Tuesday, March 10, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. at Calvary Presbyterian Church. Reverend Timothy Bates will officiate and burial will follow in the Zion Wesley AME Zion Church Cemetery in Troutman with Military Rites. Mr. Tatum will remain at Rutledge and Bigham Funeral Home until taken to the church to lie in state at 12:00 noon. Members of the family will receive friends at the church from 12:30 p.m. until 1:00 p.m., but will assemble at the residence at other times.
Visit the Book of Memories for Mr. Tatum at www.rutledgeandbigham.com. Rutledge and Bigham Funeral Home is serving the family of Mr. Fred Tatum.
He graduated from Unity High School and received his Bachelor’s of Agriculture from North Carolina A&T State University. He was a member of Calvary Presbyterian Church where he served as an elder, member of the Men's Council and played the bass for the choir. He was a U.S. Army veteran who served during the Korean War. He was an Agricultural Extension Agent and prior to retirement was employed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as a Manager.
He was united in marriage to Mrs. Vada Dean Coulter Tatum, for over sixty-four years. She preceded him in death on December 16, 2019. In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by five brothers, Clayton Tatum, John Tatum, Leroy Tatum, Leander Tatum and Thomas Tatum.
He leaves to cherish the memory of his life, a daughter, Melba Tatum of San Francisco, California; three grandchildren, Kary Bowser, Jr. of Charlotte, Aja Bowser of San Antonio, Texas and Jennifer (William) Parridgen of Hickory; three sisters-in-law, Annie Tatum and Bessie Tatum, both of Statesville and Evelyn Ellis of Newton; four great grandchildren, Ayanna, Amiya, Carter and Cayson; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, The Calvary Presbyterian Church family, neighbors and friends.
Celebration of Life Services will be conducted Tuesday, March 10, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. at Calvary Presbyterian Church. Reverend Timothy Bates will officiate and burial will follow in the Zion Wesley AME Zion Church Cemetery in Troutman with Military Rites. Mr. Tatum will remain at Rutledge and Bigham Funeral Home until taken to the church to lie in state at 12:00 noon. Members of the family will receive friends at the church from 12:30 p.m. until 1:00 p.m., but will assemble at the residence at other times.
Visit the Book of Memories for Mr. Tatum at www.rutledgeandbigham.com. Rutledge and Bigham Funeral Home is serving the family of Mr. Fred Tatum.