Marine dive bomber pilot in South Pacific in WWII
BLACKSBURG – Columbus C. Moorhead, 82, of 302 Holly Grove Rd., died Saturday, June 21, 2003, at his home.
A lifelong resident of Blacksburg, he attended Blacksburg High School and Davidson College, where he played football and was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity.
Mr. Moorhead was an elder in the Association Reformed Presbyterian Church, where he taught an adult Sunday School class for many years and later a senior high Sunday School class. He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the South Pacific as a Marine dive bomber pilot. He remained in the Reserves and was attached to a Marine squadron based in Atlanta. He retired as a major.
Mr. Moorhead farmed in Cherokee County and in Gaston County, N.C. He was a board member of the Farm Bureau for many years and was elected for several terms as a commissioner of the Cherokee Soil and Water Conservation District, where he was a commissioner emeritus at the time of his death.
Mr. Moorhead was a member of the South Carolina Pork Board and a South Carolina delegate to the National Pork Board for several terms.
Surviving are his wife, Margaret; two sons, Robert C. Moorhead of Gaffney and Richard D. “Dickie” Moorhead of Blacksburg; a sister, Margaret Moorhead McNutt of Columbus, Miss.; and six grandchildren.
Mr. Moorhead was preceded in death by a daughter, Carol Moorhead Wilkins.
Services were held Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, conducted by the Rev. David Rowe. Burial was in Mountain View Cemetery. The family will receive friends tonight from 6-8 at Holly Grove Catering.
Pallbearers were Bryan Henderson, Kenneth Henderson, Joe Ross, Bud Killian, Henry Moorhead, Clint Wilkins, Patrick Moorhead and Richard Moorhead.
Memorials may be made to Interim Hospice, 775 Spartan Blvd., Suite 101, Spartanburg, S.C. 29301; or to A.R. Presbyterian Church, 108 S. Chester St., Blacksburg, S.C. 29702.
Arrangements by White Columns-Blacksburg.