Clarence Odell Stanley, 74, of Wilmington, North Carolina, was called Home on Friday, February 5, 2021, after a long battle with cancer.
He was born on June 17, 1946, in Durham, North Carolina to the late Ezekiel “Zeke” Thomas Stanley and Lucille (Tevapaugh) Stanley.
He was employed by Durham Coca Cola in special events for 17 years and received several special recognition awards from the fraternities and sororities at both the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University. Before digital technology, Odell was a courier for the Dean Smith UNC Basketball Show and the Bill Dooley UNC Football Show. He would take the reels of film from the WTVD TV station in Durham to Little Washington or New Bern, then to Wilmington every Sunday – rain, sleet or snow!
Odell was also a top sales producer for Carpenter Chevrolet, Coggin Pontiac, Rippy Cadillac, Jeff Gordon Chevrolet, General Manager for John McCurley’s Oxford Ford and received the prestigious SME Distinguished Sales Award for the Eastern District.
He loved working with his hands, working in the yard, and restoring furniture and antiques for his shops, Trash to Treasure and Rocky Point Resale Mall.
Odell was a good loving husband, father, papa, and friend to many. He will be missed every day until we are all together again.
He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Julia Piner Stanley; children, C.O. “Del” Stanley, Jr. and wife, Tina (grandson, Jaeden Parrish) of Timberlake, NC, Damon Scott Stanley and wife, Carlette of Burgaw, NC, Dana Juling Valle and husband, Zhariff of McSherrystown, PA. He was also blessed with granddaughters, Jessica Lynn Stanley and Dylan Jayde Valle; grandsons, First Lieutenant Jeremy T. Stanley and wife, Hunter, Elder Zebastyan Jacob Valle; and one great granddaughter, Magnolia Joe Stanley. Also surviving is his sister, Marie S. Buck, and many nieces and nephew. He loved them all and told them every chance he had.
In addition to his parents, Odell was also preceded in death by his brother, E.T. Stanley, Jr., and his sister, Ina Mae Phillips.
A Celebration of Odell’s Life will be held at a later date this coming summer.
Shared memories and condolences may be sent to the family by selecting Tribute Wall above.
Quinn McGowen Funeral Home – Wilmington
910-794-7171
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