Fayetteville- W.E. Bethune of Fayetteville died November 1, 2017.

He was born March 3, 1942 to Willie (Babe) Bethune Sr. and Alice Byrd Bethune of Bunnlevel, NC.

W.E. graduated from Lillington High School and then attended Campbell College. He later graduated from Methodist College with a degree in Business Administration. After graduation he served for 6 months in the Army Reserves, and then worked for Nations Bank and United Carolina Bank for 12 years. After banking, he became a sales representative for Sanford Brick Corporation, and then as a sales engineer with Comtech, Inc.

W.E. was an active member of Snyder Memorial Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and taught Sunday School. He was active with the youth group at Snyder as a chaperone for many events. He worked with Interfaith Hospitability House as a host coordinator. At Operation In As Much, he helped with carpentry/woodworking and photography.

Hobbies included photography, wood working, and writing poetry. At one time he took flight lessons and purchased an airplane with a friend. He enjoyed mowing the grass at the country home in Clinton on his tractor, a Kubota. Above all else, he enjoyed his family. W.E. achieved the title of Chancellor Commander of the Knights of Pythias Cumberland Lodge #5, Grand Chancellor of North Carolina, and Trustee for Cumberland Lodge #5. He received the Knight of the Year, the Golden Spur award.

W.E. was predeceased by his parents, Willie (Babe) Bethune, Sr. and Alice Byrd Bethune.

He is survived by his wife, Carol McCullen Bethune; his daughter Summer Bethune Berry and husband ,Scott; his son, Patrick Bethune and wife, Alicia of Garner ; his brother, Tim Bethune and wife, Donna of Bunnlevel; and his precious granddaughter, Savannah Summer Berry.

The family will receive friends at Snyder Memorial Baptist Church on Saturday, November 4, 2017 in the gathering hall from 12:30 -2:00 prior to the funeral service and at other times in the home. The funeral will be held at 2:00 in the sanctuary at Snyder Memorial Baptist Church. Grave side services will be held at 5:00 at Grandview Memorial Garden in Clinton, NC.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Snyder.