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MURFREESBORO, NC – Howard Ray Dilday, age 86, of Holly Hill Road, passed away on Wednesday, December 22, 2021 at Vidant Roanoke-Chowan Hospital of Ahoskie, NC.

Mr. Dilday was born on July 6, 1935 to Andrew Jessie Dilday and Mary Brinkley Dilday in Hertford County, NC. Howard spent his entire career as a salesman, from selling hardware for 44 years and then selling cars for the last 19 1/2 years. Howard retired from being the owner/operator of Planter’s Hardware in 2002 and then went to work for Strickland Auto Group. He was a member of Murfreesboro Baptist Church and was a true family man. He cherished his children and lived his life to please them. His only day off was Sunday, and he would spend it doing whatever his children wanted him to do. He could also be referred to as “Mr. Fix It” because his children would call on him from anywhere at any time to fix something that was broken. Howard was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend that was loved and will be deeply missed by all that knew him.

Along with his parents, Howard was preceded in death by siblings: Lee, Raymond, “Red”, Ed, Donald, Daniel, Mary Ellen, Ruth, Dot, Nancy, and Mable.

Left to cherish Howard’s memory is his beloved wife of 65 years, Mabel; his daughter, Trilby Dilday Bryant and husband Dwight of Fuquay Varina, NC; his two sons, Bradford Craig Dilday of Murfreesboro, and Garry Wade Dilday and wife Kecia of Norfolk, VA; one grandson, Todd Bryant and wife, Joanna; three granddaughters, Brittany Bryant, Carly Dilday, and Claire Dilday; two great-grandsons, Owen and Blake Bryant; and his precious fur baby, Max.

The family will receive friends on Monday, December 27, 2021 from 6:00 pm until 7:30 pm at Garrett-Sykes Funeral Service, Ahoskie, NC, and other times at the home.

A celebration of life funeral service will be held on Tuesday, December 28, 2021 at 1:00 pm at the Chapel of Garrett-Sykes Funeral Service, Ahoskie, NC, with Rev. John Porter officiating.

Memorial contributions in loving memory of Howard may be made to Make-A-Wish, America, 1702 East Highland Ave., Suite 400, Phoenix, AZ 85016 or online by visiting tmcfunding.com /search fund, type- Howard Dilday.

Garrett-Sykes Memorial Chapel is handling the arrangements for the Dilday family and online condolences can be directed to the family by visiting www.garrettsykesfs.com.