John William Briles, Jr.

Mr. John William “Buck” Briles, Jr., age 92 of Buck Briles Road, Thomasville passed from this life to his new one in heaven on Monday, October 12 at Hinkle Hospice House. Funeral service for Mr. Briles is scheduled for 4:00 pm Thursday, October 15 at Briggs Funeral Home Memorial Chapel with Rev. Hugh Biggers officiating. Burial will follow in the Mt. Tabor Memorial Chapel Cemetery in the Jackson Creek Community with military graveside rites by the Randolph County Honor Guard. Mr. Briles was born September 17, 1917 in Randolph County to the late John William Briles, Sr. and Lena Hargrave Briles of Jackson Creek. He served his country in World War II. He was a Sergeant in the U. S. Army’s 69th Armored Artillery Batallion, serving in Europe. In earlier years, he was employed at Hill Motor Company in Denton, Thompson Ford in Thomasville and then at Baptist Children’s Home in Thomasville. For approximately 30 years he owned his own auto repair shop in Thomasville. He retired in 1995 due to poor health. He believed in hard work and honesty. He was an avid and superior fisherman. He also loved baseball. On December 24, 1951, he married Myrtle Fitzgerald who preceded him in death in 1992. He was also preceded in death by two brothers, Harvey Briles and Gilbert Briles and four sisters, Emily Briles, Edith Nance, Betty Hulin and Esther Yates. Mr. Briles is survived by his daughter, Bonnie Briles Henry of the home, son George Briles of High Point, step-daughter Gail S. Beck and husband Bill of Thomasville, step-grandson, Eric Beck and wife Teri of Thomasville and step-granddaughter, Stephanie. He is also survived by his special World War II friend, Sammy Overby of Mt. Airy. The family will receive friends from 3 to 4 pm Thursday, prior to the service, at Briggs Funeral Home in Denton. The family would like to say a special thank you to the staffs of Thomasville Medical Center and Hinkle Hospice House. In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to Foundation for Fighting Blindness, P. O. Box 17279, Baltimore, MD 21297-0495, to Disabled American Veterans, P. O. Box 145447, Cincinnati, OH 45250-5447 and to Hospice of Davidson County, 200 Hospice Way, Lexington, NC 27292.