June 5, 2025, 90, Goldsboro —
Rex T. Hatch, at the age of 90, passed away early evening, Thursday, June 5, 2025, on Hatch’s Hill, the place he loved and called home.
Mr. Hatch was a graduate of North Carolina State University, and he had served in the United States Army. Mr. Hatch was not one to be idle. Instilled with a strong work ethic, his working life began at an early age as he was a newspaper delivery person on his bicycle. For 25 years, he was employed with British American Tobacco Company as an overseas leaf manager. During this time, he lived and served in many areas abroad to include Venezuela, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and again, Venezuela. After retirement from the tobacco company, He had also been an insurance adjuster, and was involved with agricultural sales and service as he embarked on a long-standing association with catalytic generator sales, as he represented the company to the nation’s farmers.
Mr. Hatch, characterized as a fine Christian gentleman, was a life-long member of the Salem Advent Christian Church in Mount Olive, where he lent himself and his talents to serve as the church’s sexton and maintenance repairman. Too, he was a trustee of Salem.
In favor of his patriotism and memories of service to America, he was a member of the local American Legion post.
Raised on Hatch’s Hill as one of ten, he was preceded in death by his parents, Roy Eugene Hatch and Mary Arden Flowers Hatch, and seven of his siblings. He is survived by his wife, Billie Faye Bell Hatch, to whom he would have been married for 65 years come July; four children, Joy Arden Hatch and husband, Ray, of Myrtle Beach, Joni Faye Hatch Darden, Nicole Hatch Reynolds, and Rex Eugene Hatch and wife, Lori, all of Hatch’s Hill, Mount Olive; two sisters, Joyce Hatch and Elaine Hatch Overton, both of Hatch’s Hill; and seven beloved grandchildren, Leslie Faye Ducasse and husband, Zack, Lauren Nicole Darden, Kristin Denning, Levi Joy Reynolds, Riley Lynn Hatch, Andrew Cole Reynolds, and Tyler Scott Odom; and several nieces and nephews.
The Hatch family will receive friends on Sunday, June 8, at Salem Advent Christian Church, beginning at 2 p.m. with funeral services to follow at 3 p.m. Officiating will be the Rev. Doug Abel and the Rev. Michael Sykes. Mr. Hatch will be laid to rest in the Hatch Cemetery on Hatch’s Hill. A warm welcome is also extended to the Hatch residence. Flowers are welcome, or memorial gifts may be made to Home, Health, and Hospice (3-HC), 2402 Wayne Memorial Drive, Goldsboro, NC 27534.
