RED OAK, NC - Jack Washington Price, Jr., age 79, unexpectedly passed away on Monday, November 15, 2021. Born in Nash County, NC on October 12, 1942, he was the son of the late Jack Washington Price and Christine Vester Price. Jack said that he was fortunate to have been reared in the Red Oak Community and by parents who were dedicated to values placement and to help, as possible, those less fortunate.
Jack had a thoughtful, caring nature and was an avid reader from childhood. Even as a young boy he could be found on the front porch of the next-door neighbor, Mr. Henry Capps, who was totally blind, reading one of his Hardy Boys books aloud for Mr. Capps' enjoyment.
Upon graduation from Red Oak High School in 1960 he became a member of the first class at NC Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount. He was president of the Day Students' Council, Vice President of the Student Government Association and was voted King of Wesleyan's first Spring Formal by his classmates. In order to study classes not yet available at NC Wesleyan, he transferred to UNC Chapel Hill in 1963 and graduated in 1965 with a BS degree in Industrial Relations. He joined Piper Aircraft Corporation, Human Resources Department, in Vero Beach, FL, the following year and in the mid-eighties was promoted to Vice President of Human Resources.
One of Jack's most personally rewarding duties was to direct the "Baby Run" program for Piper. Because Vero Beach was a small town without a neonatal ICU, Piper flew women with premature babies and ill newborns to Shands Teaching Hospital in Gainesville, FL. When physicians called indicating someone needed to fly to Shands, Jack found a qualified pilot and helped prepare the airplane. The patient and nurse specialist would be transported from the hospital to the airport where the nurse, pilot, and Jack loaded the single engine airplane. Many flights departed in the midnight to dawn period. Always the protector of people who needed him, he would remain by the departure runway and watch as the airplane with its precious cargo gently rose into the black Florida night and listened until the airplane's engine noise disappeared. Jack never had a Piper pilot decline a "Baby Run" request and said the pilots were the real heroes. There are adults in Vero Beach who do not remember their first flight because it occurred just before or after their birth.
Jack was a tireless civic worker who served on the United Way Board of Directors as Chairman of the Budget and Admissions Committee. A former Boy Scout himself, he ran the Piper Aviation Post which was dedicated to exposing high school students to potential vocations. Explorer Scouts learned about engineering, management, and various mechanical skills. In their study of aerodynamics and air thermals, he led field trips to Daytona 500 automobile races and to an Orlando airfield. Jack was awarded the Book of Golden Deeds by the Vero Beach Exchange Club in recognition of his service to The United Way of Indian River County and Explorers Scouting.
In 1995, Jack joined a large French manufacturing firm, Dassault Falcon Jet Corporation, at their facility in Little Rock, AR, as Director of Human Resources. On September 11, 2001, the 1,500 Dassault employees learned their country had been attacked in New York. Employee anger, apprehension and frustration grew. Jack convinced facility management to have a blood drive to assist in the emergency and to help their employees express their patriotism in a positive way. Jack organized a blood drive with the Arkansas Blood Banks for the next day. When employees arrived at work, 15 blood reception stations had been set up with qualified technicians at the ready. Many employees had never given blood, but stood in lines with sleeves rolled up, ready to donate. The program was a great success. Jack was invited to attend and be recognized, at a Blood Bank Executives Banquet later in 2001. One executive commented that Jack's quick action should be recognized as the "Action of the Decade" because aside from the blood donated, his actions gave his company's employees the opportunity to feel they were helping when their country was at risk.
After his retirement from Dassault, Jack moved back to North Carolina. He spent many happy hours and days tending his father's US Patented Pecan Tree (1990) groves at the Price homeplace in Nash County. Jack was a good steward of the property and enjoyed family gatherings at the house built by his paternal great-grandfather, Samuel Willis Thomas Price, located on the Dortches-Red Oak Township line.
He considered his most valuable gift as an adult to be his daughters, Monica and Jennifer. Jack was thrilled by grandchildren: Chad and Faith Ryder, and Sarah Price Schmid. "Papa" could be counted upon to drive to Atlanta for each of their birthday parties. Every Easter, he made the same trip to play Easter Bunny for their annual Egg Hunt. Jack's hiding places were so creative that sometimes plastic eggs were found months later. In elementary school, grandson Chad, completed a class assignment which was to identify a person he considered to be a hero. Chad's paper on the subject identified Papa as his hero. Jack's smile lasted for months.
Jack was a lifelong member of Red Oak Baptist Church, a member of the Red Oak High School Alumni Association and the Red Oak Area Historic Preservation Society.
Jack is survived by his two daughters, Monica Price Schmid (Mark) of Atlanta, GA and Jennifer Kay Ryder (Lewis) of Nolensville, TN; his grandchildren, Sarah Price Schmid, Chad Lewis, and Faith Elizabeth Ryder; his sister, Dr. Diane Price Fleming of Louisburg and Red Oak; his niece, Susannah Fleming Hughes (Michael); his great-niece and nephew, Emma Price Hughes and Michael Robert Hughes, all of Raleigh; and his cousin, Pat Radford (Joan) of Dortches.
A Funeral Service to celebrate Jack's life was held on Tuesday, November 23, 2021 at 11:30 a.m. at Red Oak Baptist Church, 5515 Red Oak Road, Red Oak, NC 27868 with Pastor Chris Fowler officiating. Burial followed the service at Red Oak Baptist Church Cemetery, in the family plot. A visitation with the family was 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. prior to the service in the Sanctuary of Red Oak Baptist Church.
Pallbearers include friends and family: Lindsey Boone, Wayne Griffin, Lennie Hargrove, Chad Ryder, Hubert Vester, Mark Schmid, Lewis Ryder, and Pat Radford.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the family requested the need for wearing of masks due to health concerns faced around our nation at this time.
Memorials may be made in Jack's memory to Red Oak Area Historic Preservation Society, PO Box 61, Red Oak, NC 27868.
Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com.
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