Greg Niles Remembered

The planning community, as well as the citizens of Guilford County, lost a great guy this past Saturday. Greg Niles was one of the most sincere and genuine folks I have ever met. I had the pleasure of working with him on a number of projects, the most recent being the expansion of our ETJ, which required County approval. I had a lot of respect for Greg and enjoyed his keen sense of humor. He will certainly be missed by his family, his staff, and those who had the pleasure of working with him.

This is from the Greensboro News & Record:



Kenneth Greg Niles
GREENSBORO — Kenneth Greg Niles passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on Saturday, May 31, 2008, in Greensboro, N.C.

A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 5, at St. Andrews Episcopal Church.

Greg was the planning and development director for Guilford County.

Greg was born in Detroit, Michigan, on June 23, 1963, and grew up in Oneonta in Upstate New York. He attended school in Oneonta and graduated from Oneonta High School in 1981. During high school, Greg was a Rotary Exchange student and spent a year living and studying in Australia. Greg earned a bachelors degree from Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Va., in 1985. Shortly after graduating from Washington & Lee, Greg joined the Peace Corps and was assigned to the Island of Cebu in the Republic of the Philippines. Greg specialized in community water projects.

While serving in the Philippines, Greg met fellow Peace Corps volunteer, Claire Conlan. They married on their return to the United States and Greg began his Masters studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Greg's career in municipal planning included positions with Otsego County in Cooperstown, New York, the city of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and the city of Marco Island, Florida before assuming the position in Guilford County in 2005.

Greg will be remembered by all who knew him as a loving husband, father, son, brother friend and neighbor. He was completely dedicated to his family and to public service. His warmth and sense of humor will never be forgotten.

Greg is survived by his wife, Claire; their three sons, Connor, Aidan and Liam; his mother, Isabelle Niles of Oneonta, New York and his brother, George Lee Niles of Edmond, Oklahoma. In addition to his immediate family, he is survived by many brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles.

The family will receive visitors from 3 until 5 and from 7 until 9 p.m. on Wednesday, June 4, at the Forbis & Dick Funeral Home, 5926 West Friendly Ave. in Greensboro, N.C.

The family requests no flowers. Contributions may be made to the Greg Niles Educational Fund at any Bank of America.

On-line condolences may be offered at www.forbisanddick.com