William Mann

William Victor “Dick” Mann, 82, widower of Helen Burris Mann, died Sunday, August 16, 2009, at Forsyth Medical Center. He was born June 24, 1927 in Albemarle to Charlie B. and Cora Davis Mann. During World War II, he joined the U.S. Maritime Service at age sixteen. He served on hospital ships in the European Theater, and after the war, he continued to serve in the merchant marine on freighters throughout Africa, Europe and the Americas. A determined student, he constantly studied and advanced until he had attained the rank of Lieutenant in the U.S. Maritime Service. After marrying and starting his family, he left the sea in 1949 and worked as a welder in the Newport News, Va. shipyard while studying engineering at night. In the late 1950’s he joined the growing Krispy Kreme company in Winston-Salem. During the following decades, he was an integral part of the team that conceived and developed the innovative automated doughnut-making equipment that is still used today. He retired from Krispy Kreme as Vice-President of Vice-President of Engineering and Equipment. He is survived by two daughters, Vicky Humphrey of Kernersville, North Carolina and Linda Harrell(Nelson) of Sumter, South Carolina, two granddaughters, and four great-grandsons. In addition, he is survived by one brother, Ralph (Evelyn) Mann of Niceville, Florida and three special sisters-in-law: Hazel Clontz, Karla (Paul) Wilhoit, and Joyce (Robert) Roland, all of Albemarle. He was loved by numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife of forty-seven years, he was predeceased by an infant son, Gerald Steven Mann, two brothers, Leonard Mann and Ned Mann, and one sister, Georgie Mann Spivey Archer. The family will receive friends on Wednesday evening, August 19 from 6-8 pm at Hartsell Funeral Home in Albemarle, North Carolina. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home at 2:00 pm on Thursday, August 20, followed by burial at Fairview Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to Cancer Services, 3175 Maplewood Avenue, Winston Salem, NC 27103-3903.