Kermit L. Greene

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Kermit Longworth Greene on April 11, 2017.

Kermit was born March 13, 1922 in Winton, NC.  He was born to Sarah Whitaker Greene and Harry Greene in his grandfather Watson Greene’s house.  His mother Sarah was a teacher and his father a farmer.  As a boy, he helped out on the farm, but his mother made sure he kept up with his studies.  As Kermit would often say, “She pruned her peach trees on him,” and for that he was grateful, so that he would become the decent and successful man he became.

He came from a family of outstanding citizens.  Both his grandfathers, Watson Greene and George F.C. Whitaker were very successful peanut farmers.  They were inventors and the first to have modern conveniences in their county.

Kermit’s favorite boyhood memories were eating at his grandmother, Sarah Elizabeth Greene, home.  Also, going trapping with his grandfather Whitaker.  In high school, he enjoyed playing basketball and he was paid to drive the county school bus before and after school.

His family eventually moved to Virginia and after graduating high school, he left home to live with an aunt and uncle.  It is there he learned the trade of welder.  It is also there that he met his future wife, Mary-Alice Lambert.  When World War II broke out he enlisted in the U.S. Army, but before going off to serve his country, he married his sweetheart on April 26, 1944, and promised to return safely.  Fortunately for Kermit, he did not have to go overseas, because of his mathematical skills, he became a Supply Checker for the Naval ships.

After the war, Kermit and his wife Mary moved to Brooklyn, NY where they started a family, only child Veryl Greene, was born and he pursued a career as a welder for a private company and then for the New York City Sanitation Dept.  It was there he was recognized for an invention that would save a lot of money for the NYC Sanitation Dept., and he was honored as a “Master Welder.”  Upon retiring he moved to Portsmouth, VA to be closer to his birth place and relatives.

He now joins his beloved wife Mary.  He will be deeply missed by his daughter, relatives, and friends.

Viewing will be held on Sunday, April 16^th from 2 pm to 5 pm.  A funeral service will be held on Monday, April 17, 2017, 12 Noon at Corprew Funeral Home Chapel.  Interment will be in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens.