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Henry Choate, 82 of Salisbury, North Carolina passed away on Tuesday, May 19, 2015 at Wake Forest Baptist University Medical Center. Henry was born on September 8, 1932 in Washington D.C., and was the son of the late Lawrence and Mary Irish Choate.
Henry attended Sidwell Friends School in Washington D.C., was a graduate of Christ Church High School in Christ Church, VA, and a 1956 graduate of the University of Maryland. Henry worked for AAA for 24 years, and was based the last 20 in Orlando and Lake Mary, Florida.
Henry was a veteran of the United States Navy and the Korean War. He served on the USS Stribling DD-867 from 1952 to 1954. He was a member of the Veteran’s group that meets at the Frontier Coffee Shoppe in Thelma’s Restaurant in Salisbury.
Henry was a member of Christ Church in Longwood, FL, was a past member of Kiwanis, a member of the National Corvette Restorer Society, and Classic Corvettes of Orlando. Henry enjoyed restoring classic cars and working in his shop. He loved traveling with his wife and friends and participating in Corvette Road Tours in his beloved 1962 Corvette, “Big Red.” Together they had traveled to 48 states and several provinces in Canada. Henry was an avid NASCAR fan and he had not missed a Daytona 500 in 49 years.
In addition to his parents, Henry is preceded in death by his brother, Rev. Alexander “Sandy” Choate and sister, Margaret Louise Hawkins.
Henry is survived by his wife, Patricia “Poopsie” Oden Choate; son, Alan Choate and wife Teri; daughters, Mary Ann Choate Chastain and Pamela Choate. Grandchildren, Elizabeth Wade Choate Miller, Amanda Marie Lewis, Kelsey Lee Ness, Nathanael Chastain, Lara Ann Choate, Carren Ann Choate, Carrie Lee Choate,and Jennifer Leann Choate; great grandchildren, Grant Allan Lewis, Clarabeth Jane Lewis and Matthew Joseph Skipper. Daughter-in-law, Susan Bostic Choate; and numerous nieces and nephews.
There will be a Memorial Service at Salisbury National Cemetery on Friday, May 29, 2015 at 11:00 AM, conducted by Rev. Ralph Robinette. Military graveside rites will be provided by the Rowan County Honor Guard and the National Guard.
Henry was a gentle soul who was loved by many. He will be dearly missed by his friends, neighbors and family.
Carolina Cremation is honored to serve the Choate family. Online condolences may be made at www.carolinacremation.com.
Mary Jean Ellsworth says
On the other side of the continent I looked forward to and was inspired by Henry’s up dates in recent months. What a wonderful role model in coping with life’s little U turns. I will cherish the US Postal bank that he was so kind to send me. Hang in there Patti, one day at a time. Love you. Jeanne
Patti Choate (Poopsie) says
Henry is the Love of my Life and my heart is shattered and the pain of losing my husband is unbearable
I will love you Forever and a Day
Your Poopsie forever
Patti
Joe and Jewel Symmes says
Henry was a most interesting and well respected gentleman. We were glad to have been able to call him our friend. He will be sorely missed. Our thoughts and well wishes go to Patti and his family.
Janet Zachary (Ferguson) says
Patti I was so sorry to hear of your loss. Please know that you will be in my prayers
Euell & Dona Stallings says
Patti, there are no words to describe what you are going through right now, just trust in God he will get you through the days ahead and just know your friends are here for you so just yell and we will be there. We will miss Henry so very much he was a good man and his faith was unbelievable, rest assured he is with our Lord and Savior and in a better place than we are. He will be there to welcome you with arms wide open. Henry was a role model for all of us to follow be proud of the man you loved and remember all the Great Memories you have and the time you had together.
Love You
Euell and Dona
Don Littlefield says
I was so sorry to learn of Henry’s passing, Patti. Linda and I extend our deepest condolences to you and all of his family.
It was a privilege to have worked with Henry for so many years and see him patiently and skillfully assisting our AAA members through auto mechanics issues of every kind. He was an all around good guy that – I swear – had motor oil running in his veins!
So sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Judy Thompson says
Patti,
I know exactly how you are feeling right now. Everyday you are in my thoughts and prayers. May you find comfort knowing Henry is at peace and he’ll always be with you in spirit.
Love,
Judy
Shirley Stallings says
Patti, if you need me–just call. We will always have the DOC in our hearts. Just remember what his buddy, Bobby said! Never Forget!
Neil Seitz says
Henry was one of the most gentle people I had the pleasure of knowing. His wit and sense of humor was something so unique that could never be replicated by anyone. Henry will always be a dear friend to our family and I will always be “Big Deal Neil” because of Henry. We will miss you Henry and thank you for all the memories. The “Tribe” will miss it’s leader dearly. Love – Big Deal Neil
Don & Penny Seitz says
The Angels broke the mold after the Lord made Henry.
We guess he wanted Henry to be as awesome as his beloved ’62 Vette (“Big Red,) so dear to Henry’s heart. We are also sure Henry and Bobby(Little Red) are working to restore and fix heavenly chariots.
Henry’s unquestioning friendship, for so many years, will be dearly missed along with his wit and humor
Henry, know we will love you and Patti forever. Don and Penny
Coy and Joyce Wilhelm says
Our sincere condolences to you Patti for your loss. We lost a great friend of 30 years. We will always remember his witty humor and especially his unique philosophy — “more is better” — whether it is grease on the axel or chocolate syrup on the ice cream! You are in our thoughts and prayers. May the Lord be with you and give you peace. Love, Joyce and Coy
Chuck & Sonia Kisamore says
Patti, we know this is so overwhelming for you. Our hearts go out to you. Our thoughts and prayers have been with you. You were so blest to have had Henry in your life so many years. That makes it even harder. The Lord is with you. He knows what you are going through. He’s only a prayer away. He loves you , and we do too.
Chuck and I miss him so much. He was an awesome guy and a very dear friend . Our lives will never be the same without Henry . We have never met anyone like Henry before . He was one in a million.
Love , Chuck & Sonia
Nelson B. Johnson says
Something had been eating at me all weekend. Yesterday, it became especially noticeable but it was more a sense of loss than pain. Was planning to call you both after my Prosthetic appointment this morning but you phoned me first with the sad news of Henry passing. Strange, how the brains of life-long friends sometimes connect when it appears there is no special need to connect and share a similar but vague disquiet that may be happening at a given time. That same day, I had received a letter from Henry telling me he was about to undergo chemo & x-ray therapy. He sounded very upbeat too.
That is all I could account for my vague sense of concern for an unspecified sense of loss. Your call, Patti, gave my vague sense of loss substance. I had lost an old friend of over 60 years standing because my thoughts were of Henry and the note I had just received. We did have some great experiences while riding on weekends in a small 1930’s Austin ‘two seater’ convertible or on our bikes out either in the Virginia or Maryland countryside. What great fun we had.
I also wanted to touch on our long friendship which started at Sidwell Friends School in the seventh grade when we were about 12 or 13 years old in the fall of 1946. We were in different classrooms but we met on the playing field during recess periods. At first we played on opposite scratch soccer teams. Later we started playing on the same team and our friendship grew. As we both biked to school, we would either go to my home, or his, after school. On weekends we would take long bike rides into the country – out west in Arlington or Fairfax or North beyond Bethesda and Rockville. Country was truly country in those days – very few houses – mostly farms and lots of country-side to poke around in. Although we were split up after the eighth grade going to different schools, we still saw a lot of each other; mostly during summer vacations. Over the years we would get together to exchange experiences and catch up. Although these became less common as time went on, we would find ourselves back in ‘the neighborhood’ so to speak and pick up where we had left off. Patti, your husband and I were good long lasting friends. I want to let you and Henry’s family know that I too will miss him every day.
Claire Jean-Baptiste says
I hope that in due time you receive God’s peace that excels all thought, so that it will guard your hearts and your mental powers by means of Christ Jesus. As you know, God is called the Father of tender mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation. Rest assured that he cares for all his creatures and he would never bring us suffering. A soothing scripture is Psalm 34:18 which reads: “Jehovah is near to those that are broken at heart, and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.” Sincerely.
Pamela says
I love and miss my Dad.
Phil Peters says
Patricia:
I am sorry, that it took so long for me to respond but I did not know of Henry’s passing. I was hired by Henry in 1983 for the St. Petersburg’s position. He was a mentor to me and we were Corvette buddies. I had the deepest respect for “Uncle Hen” but if you asked him what time it was…..he would build you a watch!
RIP……..Uncle Hen!