Reece "Alan" Bull

Reece Alan Bull, 88, of Winston-Salem, passed away unexpectedly Thursday, January 12, 2023.

He was born in 1934 to Robah Allen Bull and Edith Marie Reece Bull and grew up in the small town of Wallburg, near Winston-Salem.

Alan was the oldest of 4 children and gladly took on the responsibility of doing whatever he could to make sure his younger brother and two sisters were taken care of. The 1930’s and 40’s were a simpler time when as a little boy, he would ride his horse to Wallburg Baptist Church where his family, including loving aunts and uncles, were all faithful members.

After school and chores, he enjoyed reading western stories and dreamt of someday becoming a real-life cowboy.

After high school, he attended the University of NC at Chapel Hill. His classmates best remember him for stealing, the Victory Bell from the locked Duke campus gym with his best friend, Larry Hayes for a UNC pep rally the night before a Duke/UNC game.

One summer night, while standing in line for the late show at the Carolina Theater with his friends, Spencer and Pollye Griffith, he met the love of his life, Nancy Whitaker. After a brief engagement, they married at Home Moravian Church and were married for 62 years. They went on to have 3 children, Deborah Lynn Bull Messick, Beth Alison Bull Thetford, and Stephen Alan Bull.

Alan worked for RJ Reynolds for 25+ years and retired from the Engineering Department. He had an inventive spirit and constructed many systems that improved factory operations. After retiring, he worked for NC School of the Arts, building sets for their productions, including the annual Nutcracker.

He inspired many of Winston-Salem’s finest young men by coaching Pop Warner Football, Winston-Salem National Little League, Forsyth Country Day Baseball, YMCA Basketball and volunteering for Junior Achievement.

Alan, and his wife Nancy, attended Reynolda Presbyterian Church for 30 years where he sang in the choir and volunteered with the youth group, taking them on many camping and skiing trips.

His love for adventure and dreams of being a cowboy were fulfilled in his 22 trips to Montana where he hunted, explored and spent time with his western friends.

Alan and his wife Nancy worked closely with the Miss Winston-Salem pageants for many years, and he is referenced in the book, There She Is for his creative pageant tactics.

Alan and Nancy were avid Tar Heel fans and loved to travel, especially to UNC football and basketball games, White Lake, and to their vacation homes at Lake Norman and Cherry Grove Beach where he organized the annual Easter Sunrise Service that still goes on today.

In his senior years, Alan and Nancy were faithful members of Calvary Baptist Church and Frank Hinson’s Seniors Sunday School Class and enjoyed many adventures with the friends they made there. His love of sports and tenacious spirit motivated him to continue to take classes at Forsyth Tech and play league baseball into his 80s.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Nancy Bull; a daughter, Deborah Lynn Bull Messick and a brother, Carlos Bull.

Surviving are his daughter, Beth Thetford and her husband Jason Crossmon of Cornelius, and son, Stephen Alan Bull and his wife Jenna of Silverado, CA.

Alan leaves behind a legacy of ten grandchildren, Alisa Messick Marsch (Joseph), Andrea Messick Harrelson (Adam), Andrew Messick (Alicia Rogers), William Thetford (Dana), Daniel Thetford (Olivia), David Thetford, Austin Bull, Emily Bull, Brody Hoggard, and Asher Hoggard, along with eleven great-grandchildren, Lidia & Aubrey Marsch, Noah & Carter &  Owen & Adalyn Harrelson, Russell & Eloise Messick, Alethia & Liam & Liberty Thetford.

He is also survived by two sisters, Gayle Compton, and Beverly Jo “Sharon” Bull.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Friday, January 27 at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel. The funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, January 28 at Calvary Baptist Church with a graveside service following at Westlawn Gardens of Memory.

The family would like to thank Arbor Acres and all the caring workers and friends there, particularly Alma Thompson and Kay Harnish who made his last few years so enjoyable.

Online condolences may be made to www.hayworth-miller.com.