Clyde Watts Auman, 84, died September 17, 2023, at home in West End. Born in Pinehurst on December 10, 1938, he was the son of T. Clyde and Sally Watts Auman.
He finished West End High School in 1957 and majored in economics at Davidson College, Class of 1961.
Commissioned as an Army lieutenant, he was stationed at Fort Lee, Va., and then Fort Bragg. He served as a quartermaster in the 18th Airborne Corps attached to the 82nd Airborne and made over 70 jumps as a paratrooper. Following discharge as a captain in 1963, he continued to serve in the Army Reserves until 1968.
He returned to the family farm where he grew peaches and grapes, raised beef cattle and broilers, and planted longleaf pines. He was president of the national and state peach councils. He served on Gov. Jim Hunt’s advisory committee on agriculture, forestry and seafood and on the Federal Reserve of Richmond’s advisory board for agriculture and small business.
Watts served on the boards of the Moore County Library and Moore County Historical Association. He was active in the county Democratic Party and a candidate for the county board of commissioners.
He enjoyed traveling across the United States and five continents.
A lifelong member of West End Presbyterian Church, he chaired the board of deacons and served on the session.
A quiet, unassuming hero to family and friends, Watts shared his love of farming, forestry and conservation and inspired multiple generations. He will be remembered for his gracious, accepting manner, interest in others, and commitment to conservation and stewardship.
Watts is survived by his dear friend, Ruth Bondurant, Seven Lakes; brother, Robert M. Auman (Agnes Marshall), Raleigh; sisters, Nancy Cunningham (Charles), Pinehurst, and Laura Pitts (Robert), West End; nieces, Laura Cunningham (Scott Ramsey), Arlington, Va., and Kelly Cunningham, Abigail Scheer (Matthew), and Cameron Graham (Damien), Raleigh; nephew, Graham Pitts (Sarah Mink), Memphis, and great nieces and nephews, Will and Virginia Ramsey, Margaret and Grant Scheer, Georgia and Watts Graham, and Caroline Cunningham. He cherished his many cousins in the Auman, Graham, and Watts families.
The family is grateful to caregivers from Aging Outreach Services.
His body was left to Duke University Medical Center where he was enrolled in the Bryan Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Autopsy and Brain Donation Program.
Visitation will be at the Auman packinghouse, on Friday, September 29, 2023, from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. A memorial service, conducted by his pastor, the Rev. Natasha Blackwood, will be September 30, 2023, 11:00 a.m., at West End Presbyterian Church. The family will greet friends following the service in the Crawford Center. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made to the church, Box 13, West End 27376; The First Health Foundation, designated for Rock Steady Boxing Program (Parkinson’s Disease Therapy), Box 3000, Pinehurst 28374; Moore Free Clinic, 211 Trimble Plant Rd., Southern Pines 28387; or The Fund for Davidson, Box 5000, Davidson, NC 28035.