Donald E. “Don” Skinner

Published 8:49 pm Sunday, October 2, 2016

Donald E. “Don” Skinner, 64, passed away on Friday, September 30, 2016.

The funeral service will be conducted Monday at 1:30 pm in the Wilkerson Funeral Chapel.

Burial will follow at 4 pm on Monday at Rocky Mount Memorial Park.

Don was a native of Rocky Mount and attended the Rocky Mount City Schools. He spent many years working in the textile and manufacturing industry where he worked as an electrical engineer and plant manager. Upon retirement from manufacturing, Don worked for various filtration companies, retiring from Camfil Corporation in 2014. He was a member of Gorham Swamp Pentecostal Free Will Baptist Church.

Don will be fondly remembered for many qualities but mostly for his kind and gentle nature.

He loved his family and also had a great love for string music. He played the guitar, banjo, mandolin and Dobro, as well as a lap steel. He was a founding member of the Beaufort County Traditional Music Association and was a member of the Lonesome Creek Bluegrass Gospel Band. Of special mention was his greatest joy in life being able to play music with his son, Jesse, and being a part of the Skinner family band with Jessie and wife, Judy.

The loss of Don will be felt by many as he truly loved people. He was a loving son, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, friend and uncle.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse and Bessie Vick Skinner, a brother, Glen Elton Skinner; and great-nephew, Sean McNulty Jr.

Don is survived by his wife of four years, Judy Smith Skinner; son, Jesse Skinner; daughter, Brandy Williams and husband, John, all of Washington; stepsons, Justin Smith and wife, Jessica, of Aurora, CO, Philip Cartwright and Lauren Cale, of Greenville, and Lyn Cartwright and wife, Ashley, of Farmville; granddaughter, Cheyenne Herring, of Washington; brother, Jackie Skinner and wife, Brenda; nephew, Steven Skinner and wife, Terry; niece, Susie McNulty and husband, Sean, all of Gloucester, VA; and numerous great nieces and nephews.

The family received friends Sunday from 4 to 6 pm at Wilkerson Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to the Beaufort County Traditional Music Association (BCTMA).

Online condolences at www.wilkersonfuneralhome.com.