Dwight Russell Wilhelm

Dwight Russell Wilhelm was born on February 25, 1927, in Rowan County to the late Vastine and Emma Wilhelm.  He is preceded in death by a son, David Gray Wilhelm; four brothers; John Johnson, Everett Wilhelm, James Wilhelm, Carl Wilhelm; and seven sisters; Grace Johnson, Lucey Albright, Maude Menius, Ruth Goodson, Virginia Yost, Beatrice Jordan, and Jennie Barrier.  Surviving is his wife, Betty Gray Wilhelm; and three sons; Russell Wilhelm of the home, Bryan Wilhelm and his wife Jennie of Aldie, Virginia, and Patrick Wilhelm and his wife Allison of Cornelius, N.C.; and two granddaughters, Katharine Davis Wilhelm, and Leila Southerland Wilhelm.

Dwight was a graduate of Rockwell High School and Catawba College, serving two years in the U.S. Navy in World War II.  He was Office Manager for Rowan Cooperative Dairy until moving to Charlottesville, Virginia where he was Assistant Bursar at the University of Virginia.  He became the financial officer for Wagoner Construction Company, Colonial Steel and Wagoner Supply and treasurer of Haven Lutheran Church in 1960, continuing this work for over thirty years.  For the last fifteen years, he has been a member of First United Methodist Church where he has served on the Finance Committee and the Property Committee.  He led the building of a Habitat house and went on several mission trips to the Gulf Coast to repair hurricane damage.  He enjoyed volunteering and spent many hours at Rowan Vocational Opportunities.  In 2006 he received the North Carolina Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service, the state’s highest commendation for Volunteerism.

The service will be held at 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, August 14, 2019, at the First United Methodist Church, 217 South Church Street, Salisbury, N.C. 28146 with the Rev. Mark Conforti officiating

The family will receive friends at 3:00 P.M. in the fellowship hall of the  First United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the First United Methodist Church, 217 South Church Street, Salisbury, N.C. 28146 or David G. Wilhelm Foundation, 22006 Market Street, Cornelius, N.C. 28031.

 Lyerly Funeral Home is serving the Wilhelm family. Online condolences may be made at www.lyerlyfuneralhome.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dwight Russell Wilhelm, please visit our floral store.