John Dexter Greene

John Dexter Greene, 89, died Dec. 11, 2025, at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. John resided at 500 Lenoir Road at Grace Ridge Retirement Community.

Born in Durham County, N.C., on Oct. 27, 1936, he was the only child of Benjamin Franklin Greene and Mildred Davis Greene. John grew up in Morganton where he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and graduated from Morganton High School. He began his collegiate studies at The Citadel, then transferred during his sophomore year to the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, becoming an avid Tar Heel fan for life.

Following graduation from UNC in 1958, John and wife, Jane Bowers Greene, moved to Charlotte, where he began a career in insurance, first in sales then as an adjuster.

In 1963 John and Jane returned to Morganton where he entered the automobile business with his father-in-law at Tux Bowers Motor Company. Upon the death of Tux in 1972, John became president and dealer principle until the dealership (John Greene Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram) was sold in 2021 — a remarkable 58-year tenure.

John enjoyed life to the fullest! He was an avid Tar Heel fan as well as an Appalachian State Mountaineer fan after both of his children and a grandson graduated from there. He attended sporting events, recitals, and other activities where his children and grandchildren participated. Golf was a favorite pastime where he enjoyed the outdoors, the companionship of playing partner, and the challenge of the game. A new passion for hickory stick golf developed in his senior years. It seemed confusing that someone would choose to make a difficult game more difficult, but the travel, experiences, and new friends he made playing with his hickories brought him great joy.

The lists of how John served his faith and community are too immense to catalog and would not reflect his humble character. The rewards of his tireless commitments were the friendships he fostered with those he partnered with for success.

John was honored to serve as the North Carolina Automobile Dealers Association Chairman and was recognized as a Lifetime Achievement recipient. He represented North Carolina as the Time Magazine Dealer of the Year in 2006. John was inducted into The Order of the Long Leaf Pine Society. Boy Scouts of America honored John with the Silver Beaver Award, and he was also honored as Morganton’s Rotary 2014 Man of the Year.

John was a member of First United Methodist Church, where he served on numerous committees and worshipped faithfully. John will be remembered for his unprecedented generosity.

In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Jane Greene. He is survived by daughter, Teresa Greene Norman (Dan) of Blowing Rock, NC; and son, John Dexter Greene Jr. (Connie) of Nebo, NC; grandchildren, Ashley N. Smith (Jeff), Lydia N. DuMont (Tyler), James R “Jim Bob” Norman (Kenia), Ben C. Norman (Tiffany), Haley Marie G. Williams (Drew), Kerri G. Terry (John Paul); and great-grandchildren, Jacob, Daniel, Cam, Lilah, Freedom, Silas, Bennett, Weston, Evelyn Jane, Andrew Marie (Annie), John Anderson, and Miles Drew.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, at First United Methodist Church in Morganton. The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall following the service. The service will be live-streamed on the Facebook page of First United Methodist Church Morganton (facebook.com/fumcmorganton) or YouTube (http://youtube.com/@fumcmorganton).

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Building Preservation Fund at First United Methodist Church Morganton or a charity of your choice.

Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.sossomanfh.com.