Bobby J. Berryhill

Bobby J. Berryhill, Sr., 75, of Morganton, answered the calling of the Lord on Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at the Burke Hospice Palliative Care Center. Mr. Berryhill was born in McDowell County on November 8, 1934 to the late Joseph Roy Berryhill and Hettie Davis Berryhill. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by four brothers and four sisters. The Berryhill family has attended and been involved with El Bethel Baptist Church for many years.Bob proudly served for four years in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War and loved to share stories of his adventures while serving in France and Germany during that time. His public service continued into civilian life as a law enforcement officer, first with the City of Morganton, and then with Western Carolina Center. Bob completed his career at Broughton Hospital as the chief of police with thirty years of service.Bob was a member of the Catawba Valley Masonic Lodge #217 and of the Burke County Shrine Club.He was a dedicated family man and took every opportunity to support his family at concerts, ballgames, reunions, school events, graduations, and all sorts of competitions. Bob truly relished the weekly Sunday family dinners. To those who knew and loved him, he was the BEST carp fisherman around and never revealed the contents of that secret bait!!Mr. Berryhill is survived by his wife of 55 years, Arvella Fender Berryhill; son, Bobby Joe Berryhill, Jr. and wife, Rita, of Morganton; daughter, Carolyn Berryhill Leonhardt and husband, Alan, of Morganton; grandchildren, Kyle Joseph Berryhill of Kannapolis, Kaleb Riley Berryhill of Morganton, Leslie Edwards and husband, Chris, of Morganton, A. David Leonhardt of Savanah, GA and Lindsay Leonhardt of Morganton; great-grandchildren, Kayden Rose Berryhill, C. J. Edwards and Makenna Elizabeth Edwards; a brother, Lawrence Berryhill and wife, Lois of Morganton; and sisters, Betty Newton of Morganton and Katherine Ledbetter and husband, Ernest, of Sumter, SC.A celebration of Mr. Berryhill’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, October 15, 2010 at El Bethel Baptist Church with Reverends Ron Cooper and Justin Cunningham officiating. Burial will follow at Burke Memorial Park. The family will receive friends Thursday from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Sossoman Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 4-A Oak Branch Dr., Greensboro, NC 27407 or to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 1721 Enon Rd. Valdese, NC 28690.