Quinton Q. Qualls, 96, of Littleton, NC passed away on March 31, 2024.
Quinton was born at his family home in Hollister, NC to Tracy Carlton Qualls, Sr. and Ethel Harris Qualls.
Quinton was the second of five children born to the family, and the first of four brothers.
There are many wonderful stories of the four Qualls brothers and the mischief they made growing up together.
Quinton spent his early years in Hollister doing chores on the family farm and working with his father in their general store.
He attended Hollister Elementary School, where he arrived early every morning to build the fires for each classroom.
Later Quinton attended John Graham High School in Warrenton, NC where he enjoyed playing football, basketball, and baseball.
He was proudly a member of the only undefeated football team in the history of John Graham High School.
That football team met every year after graduation to retell stories and relive their glory days!
After high school, Quinton attended the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, and played baseball on their freshman team. He was an enthusiastic Tarheel fan for the rest of his life, and he shared that love of Tarheel sports with his children and grandchildren.
Some of his favorite past times were watching UNC basketball games and enjoying Tarheel football games in The Blue Zone.
After leaving Carolina, Quinton enlisted in the Air Force, during the Korean War.
He went through basic training in San Antonio and Wichita Falls, Texas. He was stationed in Roswell, New Mexico, where he met his future wife, Betty Matthews.
They shared their lives together for 71 years.
Not long after they were married in 1952, Quinton was sent to the Marshall Islands.
He lived on the island of Kwajalein while troops from all branches of service convened to test the first hydrogen bomb during Operation Ivy.
In 1971, Quinton witnessed the launch of Apollo 15, one of six missions that landed men on the moon.
He did so largely at the urging of one of his children, but he never forgot that moment.
Quinton worked in retail with Sears, where he would spend 20 years of his life moving his family to six different southern states.
He later returned to North Carolina where he and Betty owned and operated Western Auto in Littleton until his retirement.
Quinton was a member of the Littleton Lions club for 50 years and served as president for 5 different terms.
He was a member of the American Legion Post 308 in Littleton for 50 years as well and served as commander for 4 different terms.
Quinton served as a Halifax County Commissioner for 12 years. Three of those years he was the Chairman of the Board.
Quinton led a long life of community service that included serving on the five-county housing authority, the mental health board for 5 years, the Halifax Regional Hospital board for 9 years, and the board of directors for BB&T bank for 20 years. He was also the first president of the Twin County Rural Health Center. Quinton was a man of faith, and always very involved in church. He served as a deacon, an elder, and even a song leader in the Church of Christ.
Quinton was predeceased by his father and mother, daughter Debbie Etheridge, sister Margaret Hagwood (Mahlon), brothers Carlton Qualls and Phil Qualls (Kathy), and many beloved friends.
Quinton is survived by his wife of 71 years, Betty; his brother Jimmy Qualls (LuFaye), two sons Quinton Qualls, Jr. (Sheree), Jeff Qualls (Laura), daughter Kimberly Morrow (Chance), and son-in-law Richard Etheridge. He is blessed to have many grandchildren Nick Etheridge, Noah Etheridge (Erin), Adam Etheridge, Quint Qualls, Caroline Long (Sam), Zachary Qualls, Jett Morrow, Coral Morrow, Carmen Morrow, Sage Morrow, and great grandchildren Grayson Etheridge, Kate Etheridge, Ethan Etheridge, Oliver Etheridge, and Harry Etheridge. He is also survived by a host of in-laws, nephews, nieces, and cousins.
The Qualls family would like to thank Carolyn Allen, Quinton’s next-door neighbor who became like a daughter to him and assisted him in numerous ways over the past few years, as well as Patrice Lynch, Quinton’s caretaker and friend. Words can not express our gratitude for the love and care you showed our father.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 12th at 11:00 am at Faith Tabernacle Church (formerly Harris Chapel) in Hollister, NC with burial to follow in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be held at Wrenn Funeral Home in Roanoke Rapids on Thursday, April 11th from 6:00-8:00 pm.
Online condolences may be made at www.wrennfh.com