Obituary: Victor Clinton Cauley

Victor Clinton Cauley of Kinston, NC, passed away peacefully on March 31, 2024, at the North Carolina State Veterans Home.

A graveside celebration of life service will take place on Saturday, April 6, at 10:30am at Pinelawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends Friday, April 5, from 5-7pm at Edwards Funeral Home.

Mr. Cauley was born on December 24, 1939, to Stephen William Cauley, Sr., and Elizabeth (“Bettie”) Joyner Cauley on the family farm in Kinston, NC. He was the youngest of six children. He resided there until graduating from Deep Run High School and joining the Army.

During his time in the military, Victor was stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas. There, he met his wife, Velma Sue Powell. They had one daughter, Victoria, born just before he was sent to Vietnam as a field wireman. After military service, he joined his wife and daughter in his hometown of Kinston, NC. Ten years later they divorced. Victor later married Barbara, and they spent four decades of life together. Early on, he worked with Wooten Gas and Oil Company, delivering fuel to residential homes. Next, he worked at the Caswell Developmental Center. He spent the remainder of his career as a maintenance supervisor for local funeral homes and dug many graves throughout Lenoir County. He was known for playing the guitar and for singing hymns beautifully. Mr. Cauley always had a joke to share and loved making people laugh. He also loved his family.

Victor is survived by his daughter, Victoria, and her husband, Robert Shaw, of Oldsmar, FL; brother, Jerry Dean Cauley, of Evanston, IL; grandchildren, Jeremy, Rebeckah, and Jacob; great-grandsons, Declan, Killian, and Cooper; six nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Emma Jane Vik; his brother, Stephen William, Jr.; two siblings who died in infancy: sister, Addie Ballard, and brother, Carroll West.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Wounded Warriors Project, 4899 Belfort Road, Jacksonville, FL, 32256 or to The NC State Veterans Home-Kinston, NC, 2150 Hull Road Kinston, NC 28504.

Arrangements made by Edwards Funeral Home & Cremations. Online condolences may be expressed at www.edwardsfhc.com.