Herbert "Hank" Avery

Herbert "Hank" Avery, 85, of Riverside Court, Morganton, NC, died Friday, December 1, 2006 at Grace Hospital. Born in Daytona Beach, FL on May 30, 1921, he was the son of the late Walton Avery, Sr. and Ruth Houk Avery Vaughn. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Marjorie Causby Avery, who died May 11, 2001; a brother, Walton Avery, Jr.; paternal grandparents, Isiac Thomas Avery, Sr. and Lilliam Burr Avery; and maternal grandparents, Herbert Osgoode Houk, Sr. and Lura Lackey Houk.

Hank graduated high school in Decatur, GA. After high school he attended Lenoir-Rhyne College where he was in the Civilian Pilot Training Program at the Hickory Airport. He entered the Navy in the Naval Flight Program. After graduation he transferred to the US Marine Corps, where he was commissioned as a captain and served in the south pacific theatre of WWII as a pilot. After the war, he came back to Morganton where he and his father-in-law started A.P. Causby Concrete & Stone Company. Hank was a member of the Sabre Society, the Carolina’s Wing of the Confederate Air Force, Aircraft Owner Pilot Association, War Birds of America, Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association, and the National Bi-plane Association. Mr. Avery was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Morganton where he and his father-in-law, Mr. A.P. Causby donated the stone for the present-day church.

Hank and his family were instrumental in bring First Citizen’s Bank and Trust Company to Morganton in 1975. He served on the original board of directors for the bank until his retirement.

Hank is survived by his extended family, Peggy Connelly; his god-son, Jonathan Whalen; a sister-in-law, Aileen Avery; a niece Ruth Anne Acuff; nephews, Stanley Avery and Tom Avery; and the special people who took care of him during his later years, Mary Walker, Marge Reep, Joann King, Brenda Bailey, and Kim Bolick.

A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 5, 2006 at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Dr. Sydnor Thompson, III officiating. Burial will follow in Forest Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service. Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 200 N. King Street, Morganton, NC 28655. Sossoman Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.