Eugene Howard Stallings, Sr., 90, began his eternal rest on Sunday, January 3, 2016. Howard, the oldest son of the late Eugene Wheless and Ruby C. Stallings was born December 6, 1925, in Franklin County where he resided until moving to Oxford in 1965.

He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 68 years Emma Leigh Strange; three sons: Howard, Jr. and wife Kay of N Myrtle Beach, SC, Eddie and wife Gay of Oxford, and Kip and wife Lounell of Oxford; grandsons: Chip and wife Haven, Walter and wife Chris, Brian, and Lance Stallings; two granddaughters: Shannon Carmack and husband Keith, and Natalie Sweeley and husband Josh; great-grandsons: Cody, Cole, and Gavin Carmack, Hogan and Noah Stallings and great-granddaughters Emma Kate Sweeley and Kenna Stallings. He is also survived by brothers M.L. and wife Annette of Roanoke Rapids, and Graham and wife Anna of Youngsville; and sisters Marie Williams and husband Walter of Greenville and Jayne Simpkins of Raleigh and many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by daughter-in-law Debbie Stallings.

He was a member of Oxford Baptist Church where he served on several committees, was a Deacon, Deacon Emeritus and taught Sunday School.

He received a BS and Masters degrees from East Carolina University. He taught and coached at W. R. Mills School, Louisburg NC five years and was principal there for eight years. He then moved to Oxford to become principal of J. F. Webb High School and later became Associate Superintendent of Granville County Schools where he remained until his retirement in 1985. In 2002, he was inducted into the East Carolina Educators Hall of Fame.

He was President of the Louisburg and Oxford Lions Clubs, President of the NC Lions Foundation, Director of the NC Eye and Human Tissue Bank, Director of Boys and Girls Home, and NC White Cane Chairman. In 1991, in Brisbane Australia, he was elected to a two-year term on the Lions International Board of Directors. For his devoted service to Lions International Howard became a Melvin Jones and Jack Stickley Fellow and a William L Woolard Partner in Service, received four International President's Awards, and the Ambassador of Goodwill (the highest award presented by Lions International).

He served as an Infantryman in the European Theater during World War II. Howard was an avid sports fan and played baseball and basketball in high school.

Friends may visit family members in the Oxford Baptist Church Family Life Center, from 9:45-10:45 a.m. prior to a memorial service, which will be held in the church sanctuary Wednesday, January 6, 2016 at 11 a.m.

Flowers accepted or memorials may be made to the following: Oxford Baptist Church Music Ministry, P.O. Box 398, Oxford NC; Oxford Lions Club, P.O. Box 327, Oxford NC; or The North Carolina Lions Foundation, P.O. Box 39, Sherrill Fords, NC 28673.

A private interment will be held at a later date. Funeral arrangements by Gentry-Newell and Vaughan, Oxford NC.

Paid obituary