Rock Bottoms

Donahue “Rock” Bottoms, Jr., 74, of Wilson, NC, passed peacefully on Monday, September 8, 2025, after battling Parkinson’s Disease for over a decade without ever once complaining.

The visitation with the family will be at Wilbanks Christian Church, 6128 NC 42, Elm City, Thursday from 1:00-2:00 PM, followed by a Celebration of Life Service at 2:00 PM. Interment will be in Bridgers Family Cemetery, Elm City.

Rock was a true twenty first century Renaissance Man. Whether it was collecting antique cameras, designing his own Christmas cards, creating and restoring beautiful furniture by hand, or naming an Andy Griffin episode in thirty seconds or less, he was the epitome of a fine southern gentleman.

Born and raised in Wilson, North Carolina, he was the oldest son of Dalen Van Saulter and the late Donahue Bottoms. Rock and his three siblings loved traveling to Atlantic Beach in a renovated bus, walking up to the smell of his Mama frying bacon before a day in the waves and sun. He also looked forward to Daddy’s fried chicken on Sundays and delicious “Granny Cakes” for dessert. He graduated from Fike High School in 1969. He attended NC State University and graduated from Barton College with a degree in fine arts.

Rock’s art projects always incorporated the talents of his wife, Debbie and daughter, Emily, overtaking the kitchen table every fall to make handmade Christmas cards and paint tobacco sticks and okra Santas. In the warmer months, he’d coax the girls outside to the garage, trying not to knock them over when hand-bending the wood for his beautiful, handcrafted boat.

A devoted fan of the North Carolina State Wolfpack, Rock raised his wife, and daughter to “Back the Pack”, which involved elaborate tailgates at Carter Finley Stadium. Rewatching the Jim Valvano ESPY’s speech was one of the only times his family ever saw him cry.

Rock loved taking his wife and daughter along for day trips to special North Carolina landmarks. Whether it was the site of a historic battleground, a greasy spoon in a remote town, a choose-and-cut Christmas tree farm in Boone, or front row at the Raleigh Christmas parade, Rock had a detailed itinerary – and a brochure for the adventure.

He was a lover of fine art and shared that love through weekend visits to the North Carolina Museum of Art with Emily. He also had a fondness for Flea Markets and would regularly take Emily to pick out a rose quartz ring or a dozen pencils.

Rock was a steadfast husband to Debbie, often telling friends and family that she did all the work, and he took all the credit. He was a thoughtful gift giver and every Christmas there was a stack of beautifully wrapped gifts he had spent hours carefully selecting just for her. Rock never stopped at a gas station without picking up her favorite king-sized candy bar.

He gladly shopped for groceries each week with the detailed spreadsheet of each aisle at Harris Teeter he created in hand.

His incredible woodworking skills were passed down to him by his father, Donahue Bottoms, and are carried on in his brother, Matt, and nephew, Tyler. His greatest wish was to make children’s toys, which he did for several years following his retirement. His woodworking legacy remains in his beautiful creations that will be passed down for generations to come.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 51 years, Debbie; his only daughter, Emily Turner, son-in-law, Kyle Turner, and his grandson, Benton Turner, with whom he adored building trains and refilling bird feeders. He is also survived by his mother, Dalen Van Saulter Bottoms, and siblings, Marilyn Moody (Mike), Candy Hunsucker (Abbott), and Mat Bottoms (Gail), as well as his sister-in-law, Lillie Benton Johnson, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Arrangements by Wilson Memorial Service, 2811 Fieldstream Dr, N, Wilson, 237-7171; www.wilsonmemorialservice.com