Fred Eaton, Jr., 83, of Columbus, N.C., died Monday, January 22, 2018 after a brief stay at Holly Springs Nursing Home in Rutherfordton, N.C.

Born in Spartanburg, S.C., Fred was the son of the late Fred Luther and Irene Foster Eaton. He was predeceased by a great granddaughter, Haley Castator, in 2000 and was the widower of Barbara Patton Eaton who died in 2005.

Fred graduated from Green Creek High School in 1953 and was a veteran of the United States Air Force.   After serving his country, he became a commercial truck driver for DeHart Motor Lines and then Carolina Freight Carriers where he worked for over 30 years. Fred spent countless hours volunteering for the Greater Jacksonville Christian School in Jacksonville, Fla. and after retirement, he volunteered with the Polk County Democratic Party and was a member of the Columbus Lion’s Club.

Fred was a founding member and an elder at the Lakeside Church of Christ in Orange Park, Fla. and an active member of the Tryon Church of Christ after retiring back to Polk County, N.C. Fred never met a stranger and enjoyed visiting with anyone and everyone he came in contact with. He was very giving of his time and money to help a friend, or even a stranger. Fred was a wonderful husband, loving father and treasured PaPaw.

Surviving are his wife, Marvetta Stott of Columbus, N.C.; two sons, Arnie Eaton (Lynn) of Hamilton, Ohio and Gary Eaton (Miriam) of Jacksonville, Fla.; a daughter, Connie Garner (Andy) of Little Rock, Arkansas; two brothers, Billy Eaton of Shelby, N.C., and Jerry Eaton of Spring Hill, Fla. Also surviving are eight grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, January 26, 2018 in McFarland Funeral Chapel.

The family will receive friends from 6 – 7:30 p.m., Thursday, January 25, 2018 in McFarland Funeral Chapel.

Burial will be in Polk Memorial Gardens, Columbus, N.C., with Military Rites by the Polk County Veteran Memorial Honor Guard.

An online guest register is available at www.mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com.

McFarland Funeral Chapel & Crematory
Tryon, N.C.