By Jessie Burchette
jburchette@salisburypost.com
CHINA GROVE ó Town leaders and veterans organization officials are praising Don Webb for his dedication to his community and veterans.
Webb, 71, of South Main Street, died Monday at Carolinas Medical Center NorthEast in Concord.
Mayor Don Bringle called for a moment of silence Tuesday night at the Board of Aldermen meeting.
“He was a dedicated husband, grandfather, a public servant for 22 years on the board,” Bringle said, adding, “He was always visible in the downtown, listening and talking with people. We will miss him.”
Webb had hoped for another term on the board, filing last month as a candidate. In his filing statement he cited a need to lower water and sewer rates.
A U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War and Desert Storm, Webb was a leader and fixture in local veterans organizations including the VFW and American Legion.
He was the current president of the Rowan Veterans Council and served on the Veterans Honor Guard honoring fallen veterans at funerals.
On Sunday, Webb participated in military rites for Ralph Williams.
Rodney Cress, a veterans activist, said he had seen Webb provide military rites at two or three funerals in one day.
“It was hot Sunday and I hope it had no bearing on him passing away the next day,” Cress said. “If so, then Don would have been proud to know that he was able to serve one more veteran before he passed away himself. He was very much an advocate for veterans.”
Marvin “Buddy” Kyles was a longtime friend who served with Webb in various veterans organizations.
“Don was the kind of guy you liked him or you didn’t. He was a good guy,” Kyles said. “He always took an interest in what he was doing.
“He was a good guy. He loved to talk. It crushed me when I found out he passed,” Kyles said.
Funeral services for Webb will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Landis Baptist Church with interment to follow at Westlawn Memorial Park.
Visitation will be Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. at Linn-Honeycutt Funeral Home in China Grove.