Gary Freeman Singleton

Born on October 19, 1930, to Gary Higgins and Ruth Freeman in Cary, North Carolina, Gary moved to Raleigh at an early age, where he grew up on Henderson Street with his older sister Dorothy and younger brother Robert. His mother, a strong advocate for education, instilled in all three children a lifelong passion for learning. After graduating from Needham B. Broughton High School, Gary attended UNC-Chapel Hill before serving in the United States Air Force. His military tour included two years in Japan during the reconstruction, where he attained the rank of Staff Sergeant and immersed himself in the local culture. Upon returning to the States, Gary completed his degree in History from Atlantic Christian College and moved back to Raleigh, where he met his future wife, Peggy Daughtridge.

Gary found his occupational calling when he became a tax assessor for Wake County. Working in the field, he utilized his background in history to help establish the framework for the county's burgeoning real estate market. As he rose through the ranks into an executive role, he tackled complex mapping and taxation issues that helped form the Wake County of today. Gary was a stalwart supporter of his children David and Laura in the many of activities they pursued in their youth, and beyond. His reliable, steady approach to problem-solving was equally evident in retirement, during which he developed an impressive body of work in genealogy and attained the highest civilian rank of archivist at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. Gary leaves behind a personal library that stands as a testament to his resolve, meticulous attention to detail, and lifelong curiosity. In his later years, that curiosity developed into a passion for the arts, visually from the early Dutch Masters to mid-century avant-garde, and musically from the concertos of Mozart to the operas of Puccini. Throughout his considerable academic pursuits, Gary always found time to work the land, nurturing a love of nature he developed while working for the county. Early on, he tended to the family farm near Cary and later could be found tirelessly landscaping his Raleigh home in Drewry Hills or the land around his other home in Sunset Beach.

Gary's successful career, love of life and dedication to family, punctuated by his sharp wit, keen sense of logic and thirst for knowledge will leave a broad legacy for all that have had the privilege to know him.

He is survived by his brother, Robert; two children, David Daughtridge Singleton and Laura Singleton Jenkins; three grandchildren, Seth David Singleton, Hamilton Tobias (Toby) Jenkins and Bailey Quinn Jenkins; and three great-grandchildren, Hannah Elizabeth Singleton, Micah Christopher Singleton and Joshua Stephen Singleton.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Peggy, sister Dorothy Perry and granddaughter Hannah Jo Singleton.

A graveside service will be held at Oakwood Cemetery on Thursday August 27th at 11am, followed by a reception at the Singleton home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the North Carolina Coastal Federation, (https://www.nccoast.org/).

Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary's St., Raleigh, NC, is serving the Singleton family.