MOUNT OLIVE, N.C.— Norwood F. Ezzell, 85, of Rones Chapel community, passed away on Monday morning, March 24, 2014, while a patient at Wayne Memorial Hospital, Goldsboro, N.C.

He now reunites with his beloved wife, Elinor Carter Ezzell, who passed away on Jan. 9, 2013, and whom he missed so very much.

Services to remember him and his life will be held Wednesday evening, March 26, at 6:30 at Tyndall Funeral Home, and will be officiated by the Rev. Richard Hill, assisted by the Rev. Mike Whatley, after which the family will receive friends.

At other times, they welcome friends and family to join them at the residence.

Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial gifts be made to Rones Chapel United Methodist Church Building Fund, 138 Garner Chapel Road, Mount Olive, N.C. 28365, or to Norwood and Elinor Ezzell Educational Scholarship Fund, c/o Southern Bank and Trust Co., PO Box 729, Mount Olive, N.C. 28365.

Mr. Ezzell, a life-long mechanic, will be remembered for his having operated Ezzell’s Garage, which evolved into Norwood Ezzell’s Used Cars, and too, he had been a farmer during the course of his life.

He was a member of Rones Chapel United Methodist Church and was serving as a church trustee at the time of his death.

He proudly served in the United States Army and was a veteran of the Korean War.

He was a die-hard Ford man and loved horses.

Along with his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents, Gordon and Alice Cherry Ezzell; a brother, Sherwood Ezzell; two sisters, Louise E. Turner and Ruth E. Smith; and two infant siblings.

He is survived by a loving family that includes his five children, Cindy E. Bell and husband, Ricky, of Mount Olive, Koren E. Edwards and husband, Kenny, of Branchville, Va., Bea E. Odom and husband, Michael, of Mount Olive, Melba E. Harrell and husband, Frankie, of Wallace, N.C., and Norwood F. Ezzell II of Charlotte, N.C.; seven grandchildren, Tavia Cavallaro and husband, Angelo, Emily Brown and husband, William, Meredith Holt and husband, Will, James Harrell and wife, Eve, Mark Harrell and wife, Charlotte, John Bell and wife, Kelli, and Carrie Shields and husband, Josh; five great-grandchildren, Madi Brown, Adin Brown, Angelina Cavallaro, Sam Cavallaro, and Connor Harrell; a sister, Nancy E. Summerlin of Kenansville, N.C.; a brother and sister-in-law, Gordon Ezzell Jr. and Angeline Ezzell of Rocky Mount, N.C.; another sister-in-law, Patricia S. Ezzell of Dudley, N.C.; a brother-in-law, Stuart Carter of Graham, N.C.; and several nieces and nephews.