Individual Details

Death

And now there are two. Mack Eudy, at 98, was the oldest of three World War I veterans in Cabarrus County. He died Friday, May 29, 1992, at Presbyterian Hospital. He spent about a year in the Army, serving eight months and four days in France. “Four days in France wasn't bad, but eight months was a bit too long,” he often told his family. In France, he served with the 53rd Pioneer Infantry, an engineering unit, building bridges, cleaning after battles and sometimes burying the dead. He once stumbled upon a wounded man, picked him up and was carrying him to the hospital when Germans began shooting. “He told me to leave him and get to safety,” Mr. Eudy related. “I said we'd both get to safety and dragged him into some woods.” It took the Army 70 years, but on Nov. 7, 1989, he was finally awarded his World War I medal. “He was mighty proud of that,” his grandson, Avery Phillips, said Saturday. He helped organize the Black-Phillips American Legion Post in Midland and was an honorary member of Earp-Williams VFW Post in Mint Hill. He was the last surviving World War I member of both posts. He met and married Lillie Robinson in 1926 when they both were over 30. He built a home for his bride at 50 Alvin Hough Rd. in Midland in 1930, where she lived until her death May 5. A Cabarrus County native, Mr. Eudy farmed until he was 96 and drove his car until he was 93. ‘‘He was highly insulted that he couldn't get a driver's license,” Phillips said. “He never had a ticket or a wreck but after three tries he gave up on his license.” He also had been a sawmill worker for 20 years before joining Cannon Mills Co. as a carpenter, retiring in 1960 after 29 years. Funeral is 2 p.m. today at Clear Creek Baptist Church, where he was the oldest living member, a Men’s Bible class member and former trustee. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Hartsell Funeral Home of Midland is in charge. Survivors are his sons, Evan Eudy of Mint Hill, Reade Eudy, Roger Eudy, Jim Eudy, all of Midland; daughters, Ms. Janet Furr of Midland, Mrs. Clara Phillips, Mrs. Alice Lee; 21 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Clear Creek Baptist Church cemetery fund, 9015 Ferguson Rd., Charlotte, N.C. 28227.