William "Bill" Tolbert

William "Bill" Tolbert, 80, of Morganton passed away Monday, December 13, 2010 at Burke Hospice and Palliative Care Center in Valdese following a brief illness. Born July 23, 1930 in Burke County, Bill was a son of the late Woodrow Tolbert, Sr. and Nellie Isaacs Tolbert. He was a member of Zion Baptist Church, and a US Navy veteran. Bill worked at several of the local textile manufacturing plants in Burke County, and then retired from Hanes/Sara Lee Textile Mill. He loved to hunt and fish.Bill is survived by his wife of 61 years, Lois Stephens Tolbert of the home; a son, Mark Tolbert and wife, Danah of Morganton; a daughter, Kimberly Collins and husband, Ed of Morganton; grandchildren, Zachary, Makayla, and Ben Tolbert, Brandon Collins and wife, Alisha, and Stephen Collins and wife, Sharon; two great-grandsons; a brother, Woodrow "Woody" Tolbert, Jr. and wife, Suzan of Morganton; and several nieces and nephews.In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by a daughter, Susan Dawn Tolbert; and a brother, Larry Joe Tolbert.Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, December 16, 2010 at Zion Baptist Church with Rev. Steve Parker officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends Wednesday from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. at Sossoman Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care Center, Inc., 1721 Enon Rd., Valdese, NC 28690, or to Zion Baptist Church, c/o the Life Enrichment Building Fund, 3396 Pea Ridge Rd., Morganton, NC 28655.