David Lee Bayne Sr.

David Lee Bayne, Sr., a pioneering trucking owner and executive, passed away on January 3, 2010 at Sunrise of Eastover in Charlotte, NC of Alzheimer’s disease.Services will be held on Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 2:30 pm at Hanes Lineberry N. Elm Chapel. Interment will follow at Westminster Gardens cemetery.David was the son of the late Reynolds and Mabel Bayne. He was born January 20, 1931 in Alamance County and grew up in Greensboro. David attended Burlington high School and later attended Guilford College. After college he joined his father in the operation of Bayne Transport of Greensboro. His entire career was in transportation. In 1967, he married Peggy Grindstaff Bayne and together they founded Carolina Western Express, Inc. He was part owner and CEO of Carolina Western Express; founder and sole owner of Sterling Equipment Company; Westway Express of California; Bayneco Corporation of North Carolina and founder and part owner of Jetway Air Express of Charlotte.David was a member of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, Clover Chamber of Commerce, American Trucking Association and served on the Board of Directors of Meredith College in Raleigh, and the Gaston Country Club. David attended Saint Andrews ARP Church and served as a Deacon and Elder.With the passing of David Bayne Sr. comes the passing of an era in the trucking business. He was the former owner of Carolina Western Express (established in 1972) and known as the pace setter of the industry. He equipped his trucks with chrome and polish, and installed the largest engines available to endure a weekly 5000 mile coast to coast journey. The fleet maintained a scheduled 52 hour transcontinental service from the Carolinas to California. Never again will the industry match the delivery times or the pace made during this era. Learning trucking from the ground up David had vision combined with experience. His ideas successfully led him into owning a network of companies in air freight, heavy hauling, express trucks, inter and intra-state trucking, and cartage systems. He founded the three day scheduled delivery of smaller shipments (LTL) from the Carolinas to the West Coast. In addition, he started his own machine shop (Sterling Equipment Co.) to repair and remanufacture company trucks and components. He loved his drivers, who in return helped the company gain the reputation of being one of the best in the nation. We will miss his knowledge, perseverance and remarkable vision of transportation. Most of all we will miss the man with a dream and his love for an ever changing industry.David was preceded in death by his parents; his brother Wallace Bayne; a son Gregory Bayne. He is survived by his wife, Peggy Bayne; son David Bayne, Jr.; daughters, Sharon L. Apostolides and Brenda J. Bayne; two adopted daughters, Teena McDonald and Denise Dixon; two beloved sisters, Shirley Wilhelm and husband Bob, and Barbara Coble and husband Ray; ten grandchildren and one great grandson as well as numerous nieces and nephews.The family will receive friends prior to the service on Wednesday, starting at 1:00 pm at the N. Elm Chapel 515. N. Elm Street Greensboro, NC 27401. The family wishes to express their appreciation for the love and care given to David by Sunrise of Eastover during his final battle with Alzheimers, and to Hospice and Palliative Care of Charlotte, NC for their care and comfort.Donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in his memory.