Wartha Delano Alley Obituary (1921 - 2017)

MADISON Mr. Wartha Delano Alley, 96, of Madison, NC, died on Thursday, August 31, 2017 at Brian Center in Eden. Wartha was born March 29, 1921, in Rockingham County, to the late Robert Ernest Alley and Lillie Jane Case Alley. Wartha attended Madison High School. He then worked for Washington Mills in Mayodan until 1954, when he became an insurance agent for Metropolitan Life, retiring in 1982. Wartha was very active in his church, First Baptist of Mayodan, where he was the oldest male member at the time of his death. He led the Royal Ambassadors with his wife, Caudell. He taught Sunday School in the Young Peoples Department for 49 years. He served many years on the board of deacons, which he chaired several times. He also was a member of the Mayodan Rotary Club for several years, serving one term as its president. Music played a very special part in his life. He lent his beautiful Irish tenor voice to the church choir, of which he was a member for over 60 years. When he made his rounds to collect insurance premiums for MetLife, he often would stay an extra few minutes and play the piano in the homes of his customers, much to their delight. As a child, he enjoyed playing duets with his mother on the piano. In later years, he loved to play the piano at home, performing duets with his daughter, Michele, their specialty being "Chopsticks." Wartha also enjoyed playing the autoharp and guitar. In his later years, he was known to call friends and family and sing hymns for them. At age 83, he made a recording of some of his very favorite hymns and "The Lord's Prayer," being accompanied by local music teacher, Mrs. Hilda Purgason. Wartha inherited his love of the outdoors from his parents. He took great pride in the appearance of his lawn. Many of his neighbors told him how much they enjoyed looking at the yard as they drove by the house. He was always willing to share vegetables from his garden with family and friends. Wartha's only grandchild, Will Bynum, was his pride and joy. He and Caudell would "borrow" Will for a weekend or for a few days when he was a little boy, taking him to the park to play, out for ice cream, and watching him swim in the baby pool they kept at their home. He was extremely proud of Will throughout his school years and as he has begun his banking career. Besides his parents, Wartha was preceded in death by his wife, Caudell Mitchell Alley; brothers, Woodrow, Warner, and Leo Winfred Alley. He is survived by his daughter, Michele Alley Bynum and husband Bill of Richmond, VA; grandson William A. Bynum of Richmond; brother, Orell Alley (Carrie Belle) of Stokesdale; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Berkley and Hilda Mitchell of Madison; sister-in-law, Rosemary Mitchell of Madison; several nieces and nephews. A 2:00 P.M. graveside service is planned in Mayodan Municipal Cemetery on Sunday, September 3, 2017. Rev. Randy Jessup will officiate. Wartha's nephew, Berkley Mitchell, Jr., will deliver the eulogy. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Cancer Society, 4-A Oak Branch Drive, Greensboro, NC 27407 in Warthas memory. The family wishes to express their gratitude to the staff at North Pointe in Mayodan, where Wartha had lived for seven years, and to the staff at Brian Center for their efforts to assist Wartha in his final weeks. The family will receive visitors following the graveside service Sunday at the Mayodan First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall. Colonial Funeral Home of Madison is serving the family.