Robert Oakley Obituary, Death – Robert Carson Oakley, Sr., 95, died Friday, May 19, 2023, at UNC Health Care and Nursing Center.
Next Wednesday (May 31st) at 10:00 am, Spray United Methodist Church, 803 Morgan Road, will host a funeral with military honors at Ridgeview Memorial Gardens.
Before the service, Carson requested a breakfast in the fellowship hall from 8:30-9:45am. Robert Carson Oakley, Sr., known as Carson, was born in Danville, VA, on November 6, 1927, to Robert M. and Bessie Hardway Oakley.
He attended Cobb Memorial High School and Lees McRae College in Banner Elk, NC. From 1947 to 1950, Dan River Mill Sheeting Supervisor. Fieldcrest Mills, Eden, NC, employed him from February 1950 through May 1, 1990.
Carson served in the 43rd MP Co from October 1950 to October 1952 before being released as Staff Sergeant. Carson returned to NC and served as Department Heads, including 20 years as Superintendent of Dyeing and Finishing in the blanket division before retiring.
Mr. Oakley loved bird hunting, golfing, woodworking, and volunteering. He led many flood-repair efforts. He took teams to Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Kentucky as needed.
He was active in the Cherokee Council Boy Scouts and Spray United Methodist Church, where he was a Lay Leader and chaired various committees.
He was a Western NC Methodist Conference Certified Lay Speaker and taught Sunday School for years. Several Northeast United Methodist District Committees included him. He was active in Hispanic church and community.
Carson was on the Danville, VA “Upper Room Dan River Emmaus Community” Stearing Committee. He also participated in Virginia Kairos prison outreach, preaching the Gospel to detainees at the State Prison.
Mr. Oakley believed Matthew 25 and attempted to follow Jesus Christ. The “Cross Man” crafted almost 6,000 little walnut crosses. This witness for Jesus Christ sent these crosses worldwide.
Three sons, Robert (Sue) C Oakley, Jr., William (Nancy), and Thomas (Reena) Oakley; daughter Sharon Ann (Ed) Price; grandchildren, Heather (Kevin) Barker, Grady (Patricia) Price, III, Will Price; great-grandchildren, Cody Barker, Levi Barker, Grady Price, IV, Maggie Price; and numerous nieces and nephews.
His wife Jo Ann Ballard Oakley and brother Louie Oakley predeceased him.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Spray United Methodist Church, PO Box 690, Eden, NC 27289, Lees McRae College, 191 Main Street, Banner Elk, NC 28604, Kairos Prison, Buckingham Correctional, VA-20, Dillwyn, VA 23936.
