Onlan Morrow

Mr. Morrow was born July 20, 1927, in Davidson. He was a son of the late Beulah Christenbury Morrow and John Mack Morrow. He was preceded in death by infant daughter, Penny Gail Morrow. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Helen S. Morrow of Mooresville; son and daughter-in-law John M. Morrow and Jean M. Morrow of Mooresville; and daughter and partner, Dr. Deana F. Morrow and Frances E. Tack, of Charlotte.

Mr. Morrow is also survived by his brother, Kenneth Morrow, and was preceded in death by brothers Luther B. Morrow, Harold S. Morrow, and Larry W. Morrow.

Mr. Morrow was a proud veteran of World War II. He originally entered the Merchant Marines at age 17 and, upon turning 18, joined the Navy and served as a Seaman First Class in support of the war effort in the Pacific. He received an honorable discharge in 1946. Mr. Morrow was a Gunner’s Mate aboard the USS Atlanta during the battle of Okinawa and the bombardment of the Japanese mainland. He served on Admiral William F. (Bull) Halsey’s Task Force in the Battle of Leyte Gulf in the Philippines. From aboard the Atlanta, Mr. Morrow witnessed the mushroom clouds of the Atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, and he was among the initial U.S. occupying forces to enter mainland Japan after the Japanese surrender.

After the war, Mr. and Mrs. Morrow made their home on Shinnville Road in Mooresville. Mr. Morrow worked as a loom fixer in textiles for over 30 years. He and Helen also managed their own poultry farm until retiring at the age of 70. Mr. Morrow was a founding member of the Shepherd Volunteer Fire Department, and served his community as a volunteer fire fighter for more than 30 years. He was a 32nd degree Mason, a longtime member of Mooresville Masonic Lodge No. 496 AF & AM, and a member of the Oasis Shriners. He also faithfully served Centre Presbyterian Church as a Deacon and an Elder.

Visitation will be at Cavin-Cook Funeral Home from 6:00-8:00 PM on Monday, June 25 and the funeral service will be held at Centre Presbyterian Church at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, June 26 with Rev. Dr. Robert Howard officiating. Burial will follow the service with full military honors in the church cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Hospice & Palliative Care of Iredell County, 2347 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625 and/or Centre Presbyterian Church, 129 Centre Church Road, Mooresville, NC 28117.

Cavin-Cook Funeral Home, Mooresville, is serving the Morrow family. Condolences may be made to the family at www.cavin-cook.com.