Obituary of Claude Edward Teague

Claude Edward Teague, Jr., 88, of Winston-Salem died peacefully after a brief illness on Friday, June 7, 2013, surrounded by his children. He was born on September 9, 1924 in Sanford, N.C. to the late Mary Spaugh Teague and Claude Edward Teague. Mr. Teague was a graduate of Greensboro High School and his beloved alma mater, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he took A.B. and Ph.D. degrees in chemistry. He volunteered for service in the U.S. Army in World War II, where he saw combat in the Battle of the Bulge and the liberation of Belgium and Germany, and was decorated with the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Mr. Teague had a long and distinguished career as a research chemist and executive at R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. His insights on the tobacco industry remain widely remembered. He was a master gardener, avid fisherman, creative cook, gifted storyteller, incorrigible jokester, spoiler of dogs, and most of all, devoted father and grandfather. In addition to his parents, Mr. Teague was preceded in death by his younger brothers, Hampton Long Teague and Charles Houston Teague. He is survived by his daughter Penny Teague Martin of Winston-Salem, sons Brian Howard Teague of Mooresville and Claude Edward Teague III of Winston-Salem, eight grandchildren, sister Elizabeth Teague McNeill of Raeford, and dear friends Glenda Vogler and Thomas Snell of Winston-Salem. A graveside funeral will be held at the Old Chapel Hill Cemetery on Wednesday, June 12, 2013 at 10:00 AM. Mr. Teague's cousin, the Rev. Martha Hubbard Forrest, will officiate. Other arrangements are to be determined. In lieu of flowers, you may honor Claude Teague's memory by doing something nice for someone who does not expect it, and by carrying in your heart his favorite valediction: "be of good cheer."