Elwood Louis Salter Sr.

Elwood Louis Salter Sr., 95, of Havelock, passed away on Thursday, April 8, 2021, at his home.

Buddy’s life will be remembered and celebrated at 2 p.m., Wednesday, April 14, 2021, at Oak Grove United Methodist Church in Havelock, where he was a member. He will be laid to his final Earthly resting place at the Oak Grove United Methodist Church Cemetery. Friends are welcome to attend the service. For those unable to attend, the family invites you to view the webcasting of the service through his obituary page on Munden Funeral Home’s website. In keeping with the CDC guidelines pertaining to the Coronavirus, those who are ill or at-risk (elderly, immune-compromised) are encouraged to stay home. Additionally, there will be a limit to the number of people in the building at one time, as well, those who attend will be asked to bring and wear a protective mask. Help us honor the family while practicing safe measures. Friends are also encouraged to leave words of comfort to the family through the website.

(See link below for the Service Bulletin including the Order of Service.)

Elwood, better known as “Buddy” spent his final days surrounded by family in his home on the same farm he was born on 95 years earlier. He left behind in this world a legacy of love and family, and was reunited with his wife of 48 years, Betty, and 13 brothers and sisters who passed before him.

Born on January 5, 1926, the youngest son of a farmer and logger, he grew up among family and farming. One day shy of his 18th birthday, he enlisted in the Navy and served this nation as Seaman 1st Class aboard the SS Edwin A Stevens, SS Robert G Ingersoll, and USAA Rodman vessels from 1944 to 1946 during WWII.

Upon his homecoming to the States, he began work for the state of North Carolina as a surveyor which led him to work in various locations including the one in which he met his future wife. In 1950, Betty Jean Ruffin of Rocky Mount, NC and Buddy were wed in secret with 2 friends as witness’ while Betty was a student in nursing school which at the time was only allowing unwed females. After Betty’s graduation, he brought her home to the farm on the creek where they built a house and a life. They had 2 sons, Elwood Louis Salter Jr., also known as “Bud” and Paul Ruffin Salter.

Buddy owned and operated a filling station in Havelock in the 50’s, earned a certificate in welding, and was a 33rd degree Mason, but he found his true joy in plowing fields and growing crops. In 1966, he joined his brother, Osmond, in farming the family land also knows as “Salter Brothers Farm”. In 1980, he also began contract harvest work for Open Grounds in Carteret County and remained there until the harvest of 1996. During this time, he welcomed 2 daughters-in-law, Anita and Amy Salter, and then 4 grandchildren, Justin Elwood Salter, Jenna Salter King, Kathryn “Katie” Delaney Salter, and Natalie Salter Kollar, who brought a unique joy to his life. One that included card games, tractor rides, shrimping and fishing.

In his later years, Buddy was often found riding his 4-wheeler, checking on the corn making sure the rows were straight, whittling sticks into smaller sticks, and reading the newspaper daily. He continued to assist with the farm as well as advise his family how to correctly farm up until the end. In recent years, his favorite tractor was even modified with the addition of lower steps to allow him to continue to climb up on it and many of his walking canes were recovered from the fields after falling off the tractor while he rode. Right up until suffering a stroke, secondary to atrial fibrillation on March 27th, he was still driving to town, making the family London broil dinners, and his famous homemade pimento cheese.

Perhaps though, his greatest pleasure was found in the final decade of his life when 4 great grandchildren came into this world. Caden Mark King, Scarlett Grace King, Margaret “Maggie” Edith Salter, and Norah James Kollar brought light and life to his days. He regularly played Go Fish, fixed cinnamon raisin toast breakfasts, gave 4-wheeler rides, and was never out of ice cream.

In addition to his immediate family, he was loved my many other nieces, nephews, cousins, and other honorary family members who also called him “Pop”.

An oyster roast, pig picking, or planting season will not pass where those left behind won’t think of him looking down on the farm and family he raised. They will smile fondly at any John Wayne Western, Andrew Sister’s song, will likely always have a rain gauge and farmer’s almanac somewhere on the farm, and he will be with them in their hearts.

As an expression of sympathy, flowers are welcome.

Family and friends are welcome to submit online condolences at www.mundenfuneralhome.net

Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home & Crematory in Morehead City, NC.