Talmage Fish, Jr.

Rufus Talmage Fish, Jr.

Colfax

Rufus Talmage Fish, Jr., 79, of Colfax died Tuesday, March 20, 2018, at River Landing at Sandy Ridge.  He was born December 30, 1938 in Raleigh, NC to the late Rufus Talmage Fish, Sr. and the late Isabelle Buffaloe Fish.

Talmage was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was a loyal friend with a great sense of humor. He graduated high school from Oak Ridge Military Academy and later served as a member of the Board of Trustees.  He received a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from North Carolina State University, where he was a member of Kappa Alpha Fraternity. He also received a Master of Science in Industrial Management from Northeastern University and was a graduate of the Executive Program at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Talmage received his USAF Commission from NCSU and was proud of his military service of three years as an Air Craft Maintenance Officer.  He actively participated in Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Club as chaplain of the Statesville chapter.  Talmage was a lifelong Presbyterian, serving as Deacon, Elder, Clerk of Session, Chair of the Administrative Committee of Presbytery and also a Stephen Minister.  He was a volunteer at Rex Hospital in Raleigh.

An avid athlete, Talmage participated in football, basketball, and track in high school and played junior college basketball at Oak Ridge.  He also enjoyed hunting, tennis, music and motorcycles.

Talmage worked for Burlington Industries and Hooker Furniture in various capacities in management and information systems, culminating in his retirement from Hooker Furniture as VP/CIO Information Services.

He is survived by his son, Rufus Talmage Fish, III of Greensboro; daughters, Beth Fish Davis of Wilson, Julie Fish Price (Dickie) of High Point, Ashley Fish Robinson (George)of Charlotte; sister, Peggy Fish Rada (Heath) of Montreat; grandchildren, Tyler Wiggs (Kensie), Jackson Smith, Will Smith, and Pait Robinson; great-grandson, Gabriel Wiggs; nieces, Margaret Rada, and Mary Talmage Rada (Matt Schroer).

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife, Carole Massey Fish; and grandson, Austin Wiggs.

A celebration of his life will be held at 3:00 PM Saturday, March 24, 2018, at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, High Point with Rev. Jared E. Stine officiating.

Following the service, the family will receive friends in the Asbury Room.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be given to Hospice of the Piedmont, 1801 Westchester Drive, High Point, NC 27262 or NCSU Student Aid Association.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.wrightcremationandfuneral.com.

Wright Cremation & Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.

Hospice of the Piedmont
1801 Westchester Drive, High Point NC 27262
Web: http://www.hospiceofthepiedmont.org