Estel Lee Sowders, 81, of Lillington, died Tuesday, February 28, 2023.

Estel was born July 15, 1941 to the late Doyle Lee Sowder and Alice Burnette Sowder.  He was a veteran of the US Army.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Katherine Wicker Sowders; sister, Versey Brady; brothers, Ernest Sowder, Jimmy Sowder, and Jerry Sowder

Estel is survived by his daughters, Teresa Fay Cobb, Darlene Currin (Tony), and Kitty Reissmann (Karlheinz); sisters, Geraldine Osborne, Rose Boyd, and Geneva Gockel; brothers, Charles Sowder, Paul Sowder, David Sowder, Danny Sowder, and Joel Sowder; six grandchildren, Stephen Cobb, Brittney Harrington, Jessica McLain, Alexandria Luers, Patrick Luers and Steffen Reissmann; and eight great grandchildren, Emmy, Claire, Kyler, Alicia, Emily, Maximilian, Marleen and Leoni.

The family would like to offer special recognition to Quartershella "Red" McRae for her faithful support and care of Estel and the family.

A funeral service will be held 11am Friday, March 3, 2023 at Springhill United Methodist Church, 1960 Springhill Church Rd., Lillington, NC 27546 with Pastor Bobby Rackley officiating.  Burial will follow the service at Westview Cemetery.  The family will receive friends 10am – 11am prior to the service at the church and also other times at the home of Tony and Darlene Currin.

Memorials may be sent to the Springhill United Methodist Church Youth Programs

Arrangements by O'Quinn-Peebles-Phillips Funeral Home & Crematory, Lillington. Online condolences at http://www.oppfh.com.