WANCHESE - Joseph Gideon Meekins, 105, born on February 11, 1892, died at a Barco nursing facility on December 25.
He was a native of Wanchese and was the son of the late William Lawrence and Eliza Tillett Meekins and was the widower of Mary Levina Tillett Meekins.
In 1908 Mr. Meekins started working with his father at the old Wanchese Boat Shop and Railways. In 1917 he moved to Norfolk and worked in the Norfolk Navy Yard where he assisted in building various Navy ships.
After World War I, he took a position in 1920 as an engineer in the Globe Fish Co. in Elizabeth City. He served on many boats including The Hattie Creef, Lloyd Jr and Pompano.
Except for 3 years on the Wicocon which was owned by the Foreman Lumber Company, he remained with the Globe Fish Company until 1931. In 1931 he transferred to the Texaco Oil Company and served as engineer on the oil tankers North State, Carolinian, and Valencia.
In 1943, Mr. Meekins accepted a civil service position as engineer at the US Naval Blimp Base in Elizabeth City.
After his retirement from the Blimp Base in 1957, he continued to live in Elizabeth City until 1964 at which time he returned to his home in Wanchese, where he resumed his love for boats by purchasing a 1980 shad boat which was badly in need of rebuilding. Once completely restored by him, it served as the family pleasure and fishing boat for many years. His advice on boating and engineering matters was sought by many throughout the country.
Mr. Meekins is survived by one daughter, Levina Meekins Fleming of Tulsa, Oklahoma; two sons: Marvin Hester Meekins of Arlington, Va. and William Lawrence Meekins of Lothian, Md.; seven grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held on Sunday, Dec. 28 at Twiford's Colony Chapel with Dr. Douglas Fleming and Marvin Meekins officiating. Burial will take place in the Meekins Family Cemetery, Sunnyside, Manteo.
The Coastland Times
Manteo, NC
December 28, 1997
He was a native of Wanchese and was the son of the late William Lawrence and Eliza Tillett Meekins and was the widower of Mary Levina Tillett Meekins.
In 1908 Mr. Meekins started working with his father at the old Wanchese Boat Shop and Railways. In 1917 he moved to Norfolk and worked in the Norfolk Navy Yard where he assisted in building various Navy ships.
After World War I, he took a position in 1920 as an engineer in the Globe Fish Co. in Elizabeth City. He served on many boats including The Hattie Creef, Lloyd Jr and Pompano.
Except for 3 years on the Wicocon which was owned by the Foreman Lumber Company, he remained with the Globe Fish Company until 1931. In 1931 he transferred to the Texaco Oil Company and served as engineer on the oil tankers North State, Carolinian, and Valencia.
In 1943, Mr. Meekins accepted a civil service position as engineer at the US Naval Blimp Base in Elizabeth City.
After his retirement from the Blimp Base in 1957, he continued to live in Elizabeth City until 1964 at which time he returned to his home in Wanchese, where he resumed his love for boats by purchasing a 1980 shad boat which was badly in need of rebuilding. Once completely restored by him, it served as the family pleasure and fishing boat for many years. His advice on boating and engineering matters was sought by many throughout the country.
Mr. Meekins is survived by one daughter, Levina Meekins Fleming of Tulsa, Oklahoma; two sons: Marvin Hester Meekins of Arlington, Va. and William Lawrence Meekins of Lothian, Md.; seven grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held on Sunday, Dec. 28 at Twiford's Colony Chapel with Dr. Douglas Fleming and Marvin Meekins officiating. Burial will take place in the Meekins Family Cemetery, Sunnyside, Manteo.
The Coastland Times
Manteo, NC
December 28, 1997
WANCHESE - Joseph Gideon Meekins, 105, born on February 11, 1892, died at a Barco nursing facility on December 25.
He was a native of Wanchese and was the son of the late William Lawrence and Eliza Tillett Meekins and was the widower of Mary Levina Tillett Meekins.
In 1908 Mr. Meekins started working with his father at the old Wanchese Boat Shop and Railways. In 1917 he moved to Norfolk and worked in the Norfolk Navy Yard where he assisted in building various Navy ships.
After World War I, he took a position in 1920 as an engineer in the Globe Fish Co. in Elizabeth City. He served on many boats including The Hattie Creef, Lloyd Jr and Pompano.
Except for 3 years on the Wicocon which was owned by the Foreman Lumber Company, he remained with the Globe Fish Company until 1931. In 1931 he transferred to the Texaco Oil Company and served as engineer on the oil tankers North State, Carolinian, and Valencia.
In 1943, Mr. Meekins accepted a civil service position as engineer at the US Naval Blimp Base in Elizabeth City.
After his retirement from the Blimp Base in 1957, he continued to live in Elizabeth City until 1964 at which time he returned to his home in Wanchese, where he resumed his love for boats by purchasing a 1980 shad boat which was badly in need of rebuilding. Once completely restored by him, it served as the family pleasure and fishing boat for many years. His advice on boating and engineering matters was sought by many throughout the country.
Mr. Meekins is survived by one daughter, Levina Meekins Fleming of Tulsa, Oklahoma; two sons: Marvin Hester Meekins of Arlington, Va. and William Lawrence Meekins of Lothian, Md.; seven grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held on Sunday, Dec. 28 at Twiford's Colony Chapel with Dr. Douglas Fleming and Marvin Meekins officiating. Burial will take place in the Meekins Family Cemetery, Sunnyside, Manteo.
The Coastland Times
Manteo, NC
December 28, 1997
He was a native of Wanchese and was the son of the late William Lawrence and Eliza Tillett Meekins and was the widower of Mary Levina Tillett Meekins.
In 1908 Mr. Meekins started working with his father at the old Wanchese Boat Shop and Railways. In 1917 he moved to Norfolk and worked in the Norfolk Navy Yard where he assisted in building various Navy ships.
After World War I, he took a position in 1920 as an engineer in the Globe Fish Co. in Elizabeth City. He served on many boats including The Hattie Creef, Lloyd Jr and Pompano.
Except for 3 years on the Wicocon which was owned by the Foreman Lumber Company, he remained with the Globe Fish Company until 1931. In 1931 he transferred to the Texaco Oil Company and served as engineer on the oil tankers North State, Carolinian, and Valencia.
In 1943, Mr. Meekins accepted a civil service position as engineer at the US Naval Blimp Base in Elizabeth City.
After his retirement from the Blimp Base in 1957, he continued to live in Elizabeth City until 1964 at which time he returned to his home in Wanchese, where he resumed his love for boats by purchasing a 1980 shad boat which was badly in need of rebuilding. Once completely restored by him, it served as the family pleasure and fishing boat for many years. His advice on boating and engineering matters was sought by many throughout the country.
Mr. Meekins is survived by one daughter, Levina Meekins Fleming of Tulsa, Oklahoma; two sons: Marvin Hester Meekins of Arlington, Va. and William Lawrence Meekins of Lothian, Md.; seven grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held on Sunday, Dec. 28 at Twiford's Colony Chapel with Dr. Douglas Fleming and Marvin Meekins officiating. Burial will take place in the Meekins Family Cemetery, Sunnyside, Manteo.
The Coastland Times
Manteo, NC
December 28, 1997
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