WILMINGTON — Jere Lott Mendenhall LeGwin, 87, died peacefully Tuesday, March 26, 2019, surrounded by his family.
Jere was born Jan. 7, 1932, in Wilmington, to the late Estelle Mendenhall LeGwin and James DeWitt LeGwin Sr.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, James DeWitt LeGwin Jr.
Jere is survived by his wife of 60 years, Barbara Paschall LeGwin; two children, Margie LeGwin Stockford (Jeff) of Wilmington and Louisa LeGwin Ramirez (Robert) of Raleigh; grandchildren, Grace Stockford Gavin (Carsen), Sophie, Isolde, Luke, Ambrose, Audrey, Leo and Fabian Ramirez; and niece, Lys LeGwin Busch (Bob) and their daughter, Sarah Busch.
Jere grew up in Greensboro. He attended UNC Chapel Hill, and then enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Jere proudly served his county as a sailor aboard a U.S. Destroyer during the Korean War. Following his honorable discharge from the Navy, Jere graduated from North Carolina State University with a B.S. in Engineering. Jere was a general contractor and formed Jere LeGwin Construction, building commercial and residential structures, including a neighborhood of custom-designed homes he named Mendenhall.
His other interests were the opera, football, good literature and the outdoors. He liked to fish, hunt, build, garden and work on the land. His greatest joy was the love of his life, Barbara, and his family, to whom he was steadfastly devoted.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 30, at Andrews Market Street Chapel with the Rev. Jeffery L. Stockford officiating. The family will receive visitors one hour prior, beginning at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Oakdale Cemetery.
Memorial donations in memory of Jere may be made to Castle Creek Memory Care, 4724 Castle Hayne Road, Castle Hayne, NC 28429; or the Alzheimer’s Association of Eastern North Carolina, 5171 Glenwood Ave., Suite 101, Raleigh, NC 27612.
Share online condolences with the family at Andrews Mortuary & Crematory.
