Lt. Ted A. Painter, USN, retired, passed away quietly at his home in Bloxom, on June 17, 2020, which was fittingly his 54th wedding anniversary with his late wife Alexann Painter.
A decorated veteran of the United States Navy, Lt. Painter enlisted in the Naval Reserve at the age of 17 as a seaman recruit. He was trained as a fire control technician (guns), and advanced through the ranks to become a master chief petty officer. He was commissioned as an ensign in April 1978 through the limited duty officer program as a 6162 surface ordnance specialist. He retired in May of 1985 and took a job with RCA Service Company as a combat systems test director. After 19 years with RCA/GE/Martin Marietta/Lockheed Martin he retired and enjoyed a life of leisure for two years, after which his wife gently suggested he find something to occupy his time. He submitted an application to Lowe’s Home Improvements, and to everyone’s surprise, he was hired as a department manager. He retired from Lowe’s in June of 2014 after eight years. After his final retirement, Ted served as a volunteer with Samaritan’s Purse helping to rebuild and repair homes damaged by disasters. He traveled all over the country to help victims of hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, and other natural disasters recover and rebuild their homes and communities. Ted fully embodied the work of Samaritan’s Purse across the U.S. and around the world to help those who are hurting, lost, and in need in the name of Jesus Christ. In fact, just prior to his diagnosis, Ted had spent two weeks in New Bern, N.C., helping with disaster relief following Hurricane Florence in September. Ted also became very involved in the Operation Christmas Child program, which allows children all over the world to receive much needed gift boxes as well as be introduced to the Bible and to learn the story of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. He also volunteered for Light House Ministries, a Christian-based transitional homeless shelter located here on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. He consistently put the needs of others ahead of himself!!!!
Lt. Painter was a member of The Veterans of Foreign Wars, The American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, The Navy League of the United States, The Military Officers’ Association, The Huguenot Society of South Carolina, The Sons of Confederate Veterans (Adam Washington Ballenger Camp #68), The National Society, and Sons of the American Revolution. He was a dedicated member of the Lighthouse Fellowship Church.
Ted was predeceased by his parents, Marion and Edith Painter, of Spartanburg, S.C.; two brothers, Robert “Bobby” Painter, of Illinois, and Thomas S. Painter, of Spartanburg; a daughter, Amanda Lynn; and his beloved wife, Alexann Matthews Painter.
He is survived by his daughter, Sara Mears, and her husband, Michael, of Bloxom; brothers, Bo and wife, Virginia, of South Carolina, Joel and wife, Libby Taylor, of South Carolina; sisters, Kaye and husband, Marvin Hanson, of Texas, and Kathy and husband, Norman Morgan, of South Carolina; goddaughter, Victoria Ann Cummings, of Jacksonville Beach, Fla.; a very special nephew, Justin Painter, and his wife, Kim, of South Carolina; a very special niece, Kim French, and husband, Buck, of North Carolina; niece, Lauren Couch, and her husband, Clay, of North Carolina; nephews, Bryan Hanson, of Texas, Marc Hanson, of Texas, Bo Painter and wife, Ansley, of South Carolina, Mark Dix and wife, Felisha, of Tampa, Fla., Chris Dix and his partner, Leah Ordetx, of Tampa. He also had nine great-nieces and great-nephews. He counted among his closest personal friends Sara Cummings, of Jacksonville Beach, Dick and Carole Seidel, of Pottstown, Pa., Jacqueline Spragg, of Oak Hall, and his old shipmates LCDR and Mrs. Michael Booth, of Virginia Beach, Va., and Capt. and Mrs. William Phillips, of Chesapeake, Va.
Family and friends may visit on Wednesday, June 24, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Thornton Funeral Home in Parksley. Pastor Kevin Wilson will be officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to The Tisch Brain Tumor Center, DUMC 3624, Durham, NC 27710; The Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society (www.nmcrs.org); Samaritan’s Purse (www.samaritanspurse.org); or Lighthouse Ministries.
Arrangements are by the Thornton Funeral Home.
To sign the guestbook online, visit www.thorntonfuneralhom.net
