Obituaries of Family & Friends of the Class of 1968

 Our sympathy is extended to our classmate Larry Ernst on the loss of his brother. 

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 Our sympathy is extended to our classmate Steve Lovelace on the loss of his father. 

Wilbur Lovelace(1923 - 2011)

Asheville - Wilbur Lee "Bill" Lovelace, 87, passed away Thursday, June 2, 2011 at the Charles George VA Medical Center.

A native of Cleveland County, Mr. Lovelace had resided in Asheville for 56 years. He was a graduate of Evans Community College in Commerce and a veteran of the US Army. He was a regional manager for the Sherwin Williams Company for 30 years.

He was a former member of the Jaycees and was a Board Member and distinguished Past President of the Kiwanis Club. Mr. Lovelace is a current member of the West Asheville Masonic Lodge. He was active in the United Way and was Past President of the Rhododendron Council of the Boy Scouts. He was a Past President of the Asheville Merchants Association and was a distinguished Board Member for his involvement in the Asheville Christmas Parade. He was also Past President of the Irene Wortham Center.

After his retirement, Mr. Lovelace taught furniture restoration and refinishing at the Harvest House. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church where he was a Deacon and former Sunday School teacher. Mr. Lovelace was the son of the late Crawford and Essie Ledford Lovelace, and the husband of the late Myrtis Howell Lovelace.

Surviving are his four children: Diane Lovelace Hamilton and husband Ted of Flat Rock, Steve Lovelace and wife Penny of Anderson, SC, Rick Lovelace and wife Cindy of Chocowinity, NC, and Jeff Lovelace and wife Bereda of Asheville; grandchildren: Wesley Hamilton, Angela Hamilton, Karen Fox, Lee Lovelace, William Lovelace, Sheldon Lovelace, and Martin Lovelace; five great-grandchildren; sister, Daphine Putnam of Kings Mountain; and brother, Fred Lovelace of Kings Mountain.

The family will receive friends from 2-3 PM Sunday at Anders-Rice Funeral Home. Interment will be private, and conducted by the Rev. Don Welborn. To sign Mr. Lovelace's guestbook online, please go to "Memorials" at www.andersrice.com.
 

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 Our sympathy is extended to our classmate Phillip Crisp on the loss of his father. 

ARDEN - Reverend William Lanford Crisp, 82, died Monday, March 7, 2011 at his home.

Mr. Crisp was born on September 13, 1928 in Greer, S.C. to the late William Percy and Emma Jane Cagle Crisp. He was also preceded in death by a son, William David Crisp; one brother and three sisters.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Joyce Elkins Crisp; a son, Phillip Crisp and his wife, Brenda, of Candler; three daughters, Judith Norton and her husband, Ed, of West Asheville, Jayne Buckner and her husband, Jim, of Gilbert, Ariz. and Joy Ferguson of the home; three sisters, Beverly Davis, Sharlene Ledford and Phyllis Morehead, all of South Carolina; two brothers, Harold Crisp of Asheville and Charles Crisp of S.C.; thirteen grandchildren, twenty-four great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

The family would like to express their deep appreciation and gratefulness to Four Seasons Hospice for all their compassion during this time.

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, March 9, 2011 at 3 p.m. at Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian with the Reverend James King officiating. Burial will follow at New Salem Cemetery.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service from 2 to 3 p.m. at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Four Seasons Compassion for Life, 571 South Allen Road, Flat Rock, NC 28731.

An online memorial register is available at www.grocefuneralhome.com

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 Our sympathy is extended to our classmate Patty Hopkins on the loss of her father. 

Charles Hopkins

 Our sympathy is extended to our classmate Maureen McGough on the loss of her father. 

 Our sympathy is extended to our classmate, Lynne DUCKWORTH Breed on the loss of her father. 

William Duckworth Jr.

William Thomas Duckworth Jr., 90 years, died January 23, 2011 at Givens Estates Health Care Center in Asheville, N.C.

A life-long native of Asheville, he was the son of the late William Thomas Duckworth Sr. and Margaret Mae Ball Duckworth and the brother of the late Margaret Duckworth Spurling of Bethesda, Md. He was the proud and happy husband of the late Mary Watson Corpening Duckworth with whom he shared 67 years of marriage and who predeceased him in 2009.

He is survived by his daughter, Lynne D. Breed; son-in-law, Richard P. Breed III; grandchildren, Ashley B. Breed, Richard P. Breed IV and Mary-Stuart W. Breed, all of Marblehead, Mass. His granddaughter, Lindsay R. Breed, passed away in 2009. He is survived by two sister-in-laws, Mrs. Avis Corpening of Granite Falls, N.C., Mrs. Jean Corpening of Salisbury, N.C.; a brother-in-law, Dr. Tom N. Corpening of Houston, Texas; 16 nieces and nephews and 14 grand nieces and nephews.

Bill was born on March 7, 1920 and attended Grace School through high school graduation. He traveled around the world for a year as the valise for his great-uncle, O.D. Revell. Upon return, he entered Mars Hill College, Mars Hill, N.C. where he met and fell in love with Mary Watson. He transferred to Wake Forest College, joined the Kappa Sigma fraternity and graduated in 1942 with a BS degree. Three weeks later he married Mary Watson at the First Baptist Church in Granite Falls, N.C. with a reception in the garden at her home. After a brief honeymoon in the mountains of Western North Carolina, Bill was inducted into the U.S. Army and was stationed at Fort Jackson in Columbia, S.C. as Quartermaster Sergeant. Mary Watson joined him in 1943 and they lived there for the duration of WW II. In 1946 the young couple moved to Asheville permanently and Bill joined his father as a realtor and appraiser in the W. T. Duckworth Company. After traveling through New England to purchase antique furniture, Mary and Bill decided to build a classic Cape Cod home at 32 Maywood Road in 1950 where they lived blissfully for 55 years. They were active members of the First Baptist Church as teachers for the Youth Sunday School and Bill served as a Deacon. In the summer of 1953, he took a post graduate course at Duke University Divinity School as he considered becoming a minister. In 1954, Bill enrolled in a summer course at Harvard University in appraising. When his father died in 1960, Bill took over the management of the company as well as managing the Revell Estate. He received many designations and awards during his illustrious career as an appraiser including MAI, AIREA, SREA. Bill was the first realtor to be awarded a Life Membership in the Asheville Board of Realtors, Inc. and was also a Life Member of the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers. He taught advanced courses at UNC-Chapel Hill, N.C. as well as speaking nationally and locally at professional appraiser's conferences. He was a director of the Asheville Savings Bank, a member of the Asheville Zoning and Planning Committee, a member of the Asheville Housing Authority, Chairman of the Buncombe County Welfare Board, Secretary of the Young Democrats Club, Director of the YMCA, a member of the Greater Asheville Council. President of the Central Asheville Association, President of the Junior Chamber of Commerce and Director of the Chamber of Commerce, Director of the Asheville Merchants Association, Chief of Staff of the Rhododendron Royal Brigade of Guards, member of the Knights of the Laurel, a member of the Board of Governors of the Asheville Country Club, a member of the Asheville City Club and a member of the Rotary Club. His work as a respected appraiser and realtor helped to shape the urban renewal growth and development of downtown Asheville. Highlights of his career included the honor of appraising the Biltmore Estate and the Cherokee Indian Reservation.

In 2005 they moved to Givens Estates in Oxford Commons and they shared 4 more years together there. As a couple they loved to travel and took advantage of every opportunity to do so as often as possible. They also shared a love of ballroom dancing and gourmet cooking and entertained frequently with friends and family.

In 1970, Bill and Mary built a beloved cabin at Lake Tahoma, Marion, N.C. and christened it appropriately, "Hoot 'N Holler". Bill named his boat 'The Queen Mary" and Mary graciously prepared endless meals of freshly caught rainbow trout, bream and bass.

Active in civic duties his whole life, Bill always contributed to meetings by toasting the events with his inimitable joke-telling, most notably with his hysterical rendering of "The Wide Mouth Frog" joke, delivered with perfect timing, inflection and facial expressions, charming young and old.

Bill loved to hunt, fish, and camp in the mountains and enjoyed being surrounded by nature, feeding his birds and squirrels with much devotion. Some of his happiest times were spent singing barbershop harmony with his dear friends, Jim Hall and Bob Carter, and playing his harmonica at the piano or around the campfires.

Fondly called "Grand Bill", his enthusiasm and gusto for life's big and little adventures spilled over to everyone he met and his generosity and love was abundant in all he did. Bill was a true Southern gentleman in every way who will be adored forever.

A memorial service will be held at the Pulliam Chapel at Givens Estates at 4 p.m., Friday, January 28, followed by a reception in the adjoining room.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be made to First Baptist Church, 5 Oak Street, Asheville, NC 28801, Givens Estates, 2360 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville, NC 28803, Mars Hill College, P.O.Box 6677, Mars Hill, NC 28754 or to Wake Forest University, Office of University Advancement, Box 7227, Winston Salem, NC 27109.

Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is assisting the family and the memo­rial register is available online at www.grocefuneralhome.com. Even though he was a "lefty", he lived his life right!

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 Our sympathy is extended to our classmate, Charles Bancroft on the loss of his father. 

GEORGE E. BANCROFT, JR.

Asheville - George Eastland Bancroft, Jr., 90, of 110 Carrier Street passed away Saturday January 22, 2011 at the John F. Keever, Jr. Solace Center.

A native of Oklahoma City, OK, he moved to Buncombe County in 1954. He was a member of West Asheville Baptist Church and a former member of the Asheville Civil Service Board.  Mr. Bancroft retired from the U.S. Postal Service following 37 years of service and was a WWII veteran of the U.S. Army having served in the Phillipines and New Guinea.

He was a son of the late George Eastland and Linnie Davis Bancroft and the husband of the late Bernice Mildred Orr Bancroft who died April 5, 1998 and was also preceded in death by his brother, Charles Eades Bancroft.

Surviving are his children, Mary B. Young and husband Mike of Hurdle Mills, Charles Edward Bancroft and wife Faradeih of Raleigh, John Eastland Bancroft and wife Kim of Fairview, twins, Gloria Lynne Bancroft and Gary Lindsey Bancroft both of Asheville and Liz Hutchins and husband Max of Asheville; sister, Elizabeth Saxon of Oklahoma City, Ok; 9 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be 11 A.M. Tuesday at Anders-Rice Funeral home with Rev. Troy Beavers officiating.  Burial will be in Ashelawn Gardens of Memory.

The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 P.M. Monday at the funeral home.  Memorials may be made to: Care Partners Hospice, P.O. Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813.

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 Our sympathy is extended to our classmate, Maureen McGough Williams and Marty & Michael on the loss of their Father. 

Morris L. “Mac” McGough

ASHEVILLE – Morris L. “Mac” McGough, age 88, of Asheville died Saturday, January 15, 2011.

Mr. McGough was born June 19, 1922, in Collinston, La. He was a retired vice president of Western North Carolina Development Association. He was a US Navy officer, serving in World War II. Mr. McGough was a member of First Baptist Church, Asheville. He was a son of the late Willie Lee and Leilah Meeks McGough. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by three brothers and two sisters.

Surviving are his wife of 63 years, Elizabeth Ann Koepke McGough; daughters, Marty Jollay and husband Keith, and Maureen Williams, all of Asheville; son, Michael McGough and wife Michele of Canton, Ga.; grandchildren, Michael B. McGough and Marta McGough, both of Charlotte, Christopher B. Wilson of Nazareth, Pa., Jeremy Wilson of Wadesboro, Jessica Wilson of Asheville, and Shannon Bell-Logan of Nashville, Tenn.; and seven great grandchildren.

His memorial service will be held at 2:00 P.M. Friday, February 25, 2011 in the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery.

Those desiring to make a memorial contribution are encouraged to consider The North Carolina Arboretum, 100 Frederick Law Olmstead Way, Asheville, NC 28806-9315.  West Funeral Home and Cremation Services are in charge of arrangements.

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 Our sympathy is extended to our classmate, Ronnie Gentry on the loss of his Father. 

CLAUD WESLEY GENTRY

Claud Wesley Gentry, 88, passed away Friday, December 17, 2010.

A native and lifelong resident of Buncombe County. Claud was a WW II Marine Veteran, a member of West Asheville Baptist Church and had retired after 34 years of service as a fireman. Claud was a son of the late Claud Henry Gentry and Viola Mantooth Gentry. He was also preceded in death by a brother and three sisters.

Surviving are his wife, Mary Lou Gentry, Christmas eve would have been 65 years of marriage; daughter, Gwen Keenan and husband, Jack; son, Ron Gentry and wife, Pat; son, Rusty Gentry and wife, Ruth; sister, Mildred Yearout; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Graveside service will be held 2 p.m. Monday, December 20, 2010, at Forest Lawn, with the speakers Mike O'Connor and Sadie Gentry officiating. The family will receive friends 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Monday, at Anders-Rice Funeral Home.

To sign Claud's guest book on-line, please go to "Memorials" at www.andersrice.com

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 Our sympathy is extended to our classmate, Robby Carter on the loss of his Father. 

Robert ‘Bob' Vann Carter

Born and Bred in Beaverdam, he was son of the late Ed and Annie Laura Carter. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wives, Joanna and Marilyn; his brothers, Rex and Ray, and his sister, Elizabeth Siddie Thompson.

Bob attended Grace School in Asheville, Mars Hill College and graduated from Wake Forest College. He managed the Wachovia Bank North Office for over 25 years. Bob loved his family and neighbors and good conversation. He enjoyed bird watching, poetry, wildflowers, Cripple Creek, In the Pines, barbershop singing and an occasional thimbleful.

He was an avid Wake Forest sports fan and a lifelong member of Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church.

His survivors include a daughter, Cindy Jones and her husband, Gary; sons, Robby and his wife, Lynn and Tom and his wife, Janet; grandchildren, Laura Carter and her husband, Eduard, Drew Carter, Katie Santos and her husband, Corey, Tyler Jones and his wife, Michelle, Caroline Carter, Sarah Carter and Julie Jones and several nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held 1:30 p.m. Friday, November 12, 2010 at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 789 Merrimon Avenue with Rev. Kristy R. Farber officiating. Interment will follow at Lewis Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to John F. Keever, Jr. Solace Center, PO Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813.  Morris Funeral Home, 304 Merrimon Avenue is in charge of arrangements.

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 Our sympathy is extended to our classmate, Cathy Bufflap on the loss of her mother. 

Elizabeth ‘Betty' Bufflap

Asheville – Elizabeth Caroline Bove Bufflap, beloved wife, mother, sister, and friend died peacefully Friday, August 20, 2010, at the John Keever Jr. Solace Center.

Born on November 24, 1921 in Philadelphia, Pa to the late Frances Richard Bove and Viola Theresa Rice Bove, she is predeceased by her sister, Frances Bove Berry; and her grandchild, Caroline Ida Peerless.

After graduating from Ellis College for Girls, Newtown Square, Pa. she earned a bachelor's degree in Business Education from Shippensburg University in 1942. She taught high school business in Ridley Township, Clifton Heights and Oxford, Pa. She moved to Asheville with her husband and daughters in 1960, where she taught at Blanton's Business School. She was named Teacher of the Year in 1970-71 by the North Carolina Association of Business Colleges.

She and her devoted husband of sixty-five years were longtime members of the Asheville Country Club and the Mountain Buggies, Oasis Temple of the Shriners. She played golf, shared beekeeping, enjoyed solving crossword puzzles, delighted in gardening, and grew magnificent roses. She prepared many delicious meals for her family and friends. She loved nature, fed the birds and lovingly cared for dogs, and her cat. She was a passionate supporter of the Humane Society. She was a faithful member of the First Church of Christ Scientist, Asheville.

Besides her husband, Carl Adrian Bufflap Jr. she is survived by her sister, (Billie) Alma McDonnell Gilson; two daughters, Cathy Bufflap Peerless, of West Granby, Conn. and Nancy Elizabeth Bufflap Creedmore and husband, Chip, of Winston Salem, NC; grandchildren, James Samuel Peerless of Boston, Mass., Hannah Elizabeth Peerless of Arcata, Calif., and US Army Captain Jacob Carl Peerless, and his wife, Renee Ayotte Peerless, of Ipswich, NH; and a great-grandson, Samuel Joseph Peerless.

A memorial service to celebrate her life and unwavering devotion to her family and friends will be at 5 p.m. Friday in the Patton Avenue chapel of Groce Funeral Home. The family will receive friends following the service.  Donations may be made in her memory to The Shriner's Children's Hospital, c/o Desert Dust, Oasis Shriners, 604 Doug Mayes Place, Charlotte, NC 282628410, or to the First Church of Christ, Scientist, 64 N. French Broad Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801.

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 Our sympathy is extended to our classmate, Kathryne Nicholson Jones on the loss of her mother. 

Elizabeth Nicholson Beale

Asheville – Elizabeth Nicholson Beale, 86, of Asheville, went to be with her Lord on Sunday, August 1, 2010.

A native of Asheville, she was born November 18, 1923, a daughter of the late Vernon L. Berry and Irene Petrie Berry, and is preceded in death by her brother, Vernon W. Berry.  She graduated from Lee H. Edwards High School in 1941. After graduating from Blanton's Business College, she was employed by Smokey Mountain Trailways.  A faithful servant of God at Calvary Baptist Church, she was active in the Women's Missionary Union and served as secretary of the Sarah Wilson group for 55 years, and she was secretary of the children's nursery for 40 years.

She was preceded in death by Compton Buckner Nicholson in 1970, after 25 years of marriage. She remarried in 1972 to Edwin Yates Beale who preceded her in death in 2008 after 36 years of marriage. Thus creating a beautifully blended family richly blessed by her leadership, guidance, and steadfast Christian influence.  She is survived by daughters, Kathryne Nicholson Jones of Asheville, Nancy (Wayne) Clarke of Knoxville, Tenn.; sons, David (Jean) Beale of Syracuse, N.Y., Richard (Marcia) Beale of Asheville; eight grandchildren, and 15 greatgrandchildren.

A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. on Saturday at Calvary Baptist Church on Haywood Road, Asheville. The Dr. Rev. Buddy Corbin of CarePartners Hospice, and Dr. W. Thomas Sawyer will be officiating. Music by the Rev. Donald Welborn.  The family will receive friends following the service in the Fellowship Hall of Calvary Baptist Church.  In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to CarePartners Hospice and Palliative Care, P.O. Box 5779, Asheville, NC 28813.  Family extends a special thank you to caregivers, Felicia Harwood, Ray Ouimette, and Helaine Ouimette.

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 Our sympathy is extended to our classmate, Bill Hussey on the loss of his Mother. 

Dorothy R. Hussey

Asheville – Dorothy May Rumbough Hussey, 88, passed away peacefully Sunday, July 25, 2010.  She was the daughter of the late James Otis and Myrtle Wagoner Rumbough of Forks of Ivy near Mars Hill where she grew up.  Dorothy was an avid reader of current events and non-fiction, a prolific writer particularly of short stories of mountain lore, and an energetic activist and volunteer. She contributed to this newspaper many articles of opinion on a wide variety of subjects.  She participated in many activities at Asbury Memorial and Central United Methodist churches, including mission building trips to the Caribbean. Most notably she directed for years an enrichment program for seniors called Thursdays at Central.

For several decades she was an active advocate for mental health services. The life-long friends she made in that endeavor enriched her life to the end.  Dorothy deeply loved the richly diverse natural environment of these mountains. To that end she volunteered, working tirelessly and serving as an officer and board member of Southern Appalachian Mineral Society (SAMS). In 1960, 50 years ago this year, she helped to found and continued working with for over 40 years two  organizations: the Colburn Gem and Mineral Museum, and the Botanical Gardens of Asheville.

In addition to her parents, Dorothy was preceded in death by a son, David Hussey in 1973 and later by brothers, Robert and John Rumbough.  She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Bill Hussey Sr.; son, Bill Hussey Jr. and wife, Susan, and their three children, Maya, Sasha, and Ben, all of Weaverville. Also left to cherish her memory are her sister, Marjorie Clark of Asheville; brothers, Charles Rumbough of Charlotte; Albert Rumbough of Fuquay-Varina, NC; and many beloved nieces and nephews, extended family, and friends.  The family deeply appreciates the warm care given to Dorothy at the Keever Solace Center and the Golden Living Center where the staff enjoyed her indomitable personality, sharp wit, and unfailing humor.

An informal, interfaith celebration of Dorothy's rebirth into the next life will be held outside, weather permitting, at the Botanical Gardens of Asheville on Friday, August 6, 2010 at 2 p.m. Please feel free to bring anything encouraging or inspirational to share, such as a poem, a song, art, dance, thoughts, or memories.

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 Our sympathy is extended to our classmate, Larry Ernst on the loss of his Father. 

Don Ernst

Asheville – Don Ernst, affectionately known as Lefty by his YMCA friends, died unexpectedly on Monday, July 12, 2010.  Mr. Ernst played professional baseball. He met his wife of 61 years, Jean Spivey, when he was playing for the Asheville Tourists in 1946. His business ventures included managing parking lots and owner / operator of Quality Vending Company.  A member of Calvary Baptist Church, he performed in a Nursing Home Music Ministry for over 20 years.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Jean Spivey Ernst; three sons, Larry Ernst of Winter Springs, Fla., Ron Ernst of Jacksonville, Fla. and Randy Ernst of Asheville; two grandchildren, Chimene Kalinowski of Oviedo, Fla. and Adrian Ernst of Asheville; two greatgranddaughters, Breanna and Alexis Kalinowski of Oviedo; three nephews, Jon David Spivey of Asheville, Dick Ernst and David Ernst of Michigan; and a niece, Emily Ernst.

The funeral service will be 2 p.m. Friday at Calvary Baptist Church, with the Revs. Dr. Tom Sawyer and Donald Welborn officiating. Interment will follow at Green Hills Cemetery.  His family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. prior to the service at the church.  Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue is assisting the family.  The on-line register is available at www.groce funeralhome.com.

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 Our sympathy is extended to our classmate, Robert Barron on the loss of his Father. 

 Our sympathy is extended to our classmate, Raymond Tweed on the loss of his Mother. 

Elizabeth R. Tweed

Asheville - Elizabeth Revis Tweed, 89, died Monday, May 10, 2010.

Mrs. Tweed was born in Buncombe County and was a daughter of the late Jeter Tilson Revis and Mary Ward Revis. She was married to Glenn William Tweed, who died in 1984, and was also preceded in death by a son, Larry (Bud) Tweed, who died in 1996. She was a member of Westwood Baptist Church.

She is survived by three sons, Ronnie Tweed and his wife, Leuzette, of Asheville, Bill Tweed and his wife, Judy, of Shelby, and Raymond Tweed and his wife, Joyce, of Asheville; five grandchildren, James Tweed, Jeffrey Tweed, Teresa Lynette Marez, Mandy Tweed, and Hillary Tweed; two great-grandchildren, Abigail Tweed and Alexandria Marez; and a brother, William Revis of St. Cloud, Fla.

The graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Riverside Cemetery, with the Rev. Greg Metcalf officiating.

Memorials may be made to the West Asheville Baptist Church Building Fund, 926 Haywood Road, Asheville, NC 28806. The family expresses their appreciation to the staff of Aston Park HCC for the care they provided to Mrs. Tweed and her family during her stay. Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue is assisting with the arrangements. The online register is available at www.grocefuneralhome.com.

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 Our sympathy is extended to our classmate, Terry Felkel on the loss of his Father. 

Asheville - Robert Milton Bob Felkel, died Sunday, May 2, 2010, at the Memorial Campus of Mission Hospital as a result of an accident while doing what he loved to do, maintaining his yard.

A lifelong resident of Buncombe County, he retired in 2009 as President of Felkel Oil Co. following 55 years of service in the community of which he considered his customers as family and friends. He was a member and past chairman of the Board of Deacons of West Asheville Presbyterian Church. He was also a former member of the West Asheville Kiwanis Club and other civic organizations. Mr. Felkel was a WW II veteran of the U.S. Marine Corp, serving with the 2nd Marine Division in the Pacific Theater. He was born to the late Marion Robert and Ella Marie Anderson Felkel on April 11, 1926.

Surviving are his wife of 63 years, Margaret Anne Runnion Felkel; children, Cassandra F. Pavone, Terence Milton Terry Felkel, Timothy Howard Felkel and Wendy F. Cole; 10 cherished grandchildren and six great-grandchildren and several beloved nieces and nephews. Memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Anders-Rice Funeral Home, with the Rev. Dr. Ralph Sexton Jr. officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following services at the funeral home. To visit Mr. Felkel's guest book on line, please go to Memorials at www.anders rice.com

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 Our sympathy is extended to our classmate, Richard Soderquist on the loss of his Brother. 

‘Larry' Soderquist

Larry was born October 31, 1953 in Asheville with Downs Syndrome. From an early age Larry was mainstreamed, living at home graduating from Mt. Street School and working in supportive employment thru Handi Skills and Liberty Corner Enterprises at Square D and Goodwill. Larry touched the lives of everyone he met with a big smile and a bear hug asking for a cup of coffee. Larry gave the impression that he was way more normal than abnormal.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Oceola Everett and William G. Soderquist.  Surviving are his brothers, Charles Soderquist and wife, Stephanie, Richard Soderquist and wife, Katherine; and nieces and nephews, Kelby and Dustin Bradley, and Conner and Kate Soderquist.  A memorial service of Larry's life will be held at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, May 2, in Kenilworth Presbyterian Church, with Dr. Allen Smith and the Rev. Mike Woodard officiating, followed by a reception at the church.

The family thanks the staff of Liberty Corner Enterprises for their stellar care of Larry for the past several years.  Those desiring to make memorial contributions are encouraged to consider: Liberty Corner Enterprises, 147 Coxe Ave, Asheville, NC 28801.  Asheville Area Alternative Funeral & Cremation Services is assisting the family. (828) 2588274

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 Our sympathy is extended to our classmate, Linda Holland on the loss of her Mother. 

Jessie M. Holland

Candler – Jessie McLean Holland, 93, of 163 Moody Avenue, Candler, died Friday, January 8, 2010.

Mrs. Holland was a native of Swain County and was a daughter of the late Zebulon and Frances Fannie Bowers McLean. She was preceded in death by her husband, Norman P. Holland, sons, Keith, Lowell and Kenneth Holland, daughter, Normaleen Biggs, and five brothers and sisters.  Mrs. Holland was retired from Hadley's and she was a member of Good News Baptist Church.

She is survived by two daughters, Loraine Jones and Linda Holland of Candler; 13 grandchildren, 24 greatgrandchildren, 12 greatgreat-grandchildren, and a special friend, Sandra Sparks.  Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Monday in the Patton Avenue chapel of Groce Funeral Home with the Rev. Steve Smith officiating. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

Her grandsons will be pallbearers and her great-grandson, Zeb Holland, will serve as honorary pallbearer.  The family will receive friends from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. Monday prior to the service.  Memorials may be made to Good News Baptist Church, 828 Smoky Park Highway, Candler, NC 28715.

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 Our sympathy is extended to our classmate, Susan MEADOWS Funderud on the loss of her Mother. 

MARY ALICE WEBB MEADOWS

Mary Alice Webb Meadows, 84, of Pine Lane, Asheville, died on Monday, December 21, 2009, at her home.

A native of Buncombe Co., Mrs. Meadows retired from Ball Corp. as a glass inspector, and was also an Avon representative for over 30 years. She was a member of Inanda Baptist Church.

Mrs. Meadows is survived by her husband of 68 years, Charles L. Meadows; daughters, Judy Havner, of Knoxville, TN, Susan Funderud and husband Don, of Asheville; Pamela Crain and husband Dennis, of Las Vegas, NV, and Cindy Martin and husband David, of Leicester; sons, Charles Thomas Meadows, of Candler, and Richard Dale Meadows, of Myrtle Beach, SC; 13 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren. One grandson preceded her in death.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday at the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery Chapel, in Black Mountain. Interment will follow in the cemetery.

Her family will be at the home, 23 Pine Lane, Asheville, NC 28806, to receive friends.

Flowers are appreciated, or memorials may be made to CarePartners Hospice, P.O. Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813.

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 Our sympathy is extended to our classmate,  Becky Sexton on the loss of her Mother. 

Jacqueline Buckner Sexton

Asheville – Mrs. Jacqueline Buckner Sexton, 84, of Aston Park Health Care Center, went to be with Jesus and to be reunited with her husband, the late Dr. Ralph Sexton Sr. on Sunday, November 29, 2009.

Mrs. Sexton was fondly known to her family and Church family as Nana. Mrs. Sexton was born on October 1, 1925 in Buncombe County where she lived all her life. She was a member of Trinity Baptist Church where her husband, the late Dr. Ralph Sexton Sr., founded and pastored. Mrs. Sexton worked in the ministry, side-by-side with her husband, for 59 years.

Mrs. Sexton was the daughter of the late Albert and Hester Angel Buckner. Also preceding her in death were two great-grandchildren, Jackson Parrish and Kalin Rebecca Ingle; brothers, Robert and Harold Buckner; sisters, Geri Freeman, Edna Clark, Dorothy Randall, twin sister-Gwen Henderson, Ruth Woodard, Inez Burns and a special niece and nephew, Joan McCurry and Johnny Freeman.

Mrs. Sexton was a graduate of Lee Edwards High School and attended Brevard College where she received a degree in Religion. She received her LPN from AB-Tech Nursing along with a degree in Medical Transcription. She was a nurse at St. Joseph's Hospital and assisted the late Dr. John Bradley for many years. Throughout her ministry with her husband, she was on a daily radio broadcast on WWNC during the last year of WW II, had the prayer time on the Send The Light Telecast on WLOS-TV for 43 years. Mrs. Sexton helped Dr. Sexton through all his ministries, including the Jesus Saves Mission, Church of the Nazarene, 107 State Street and Trinity Baptist Church of 216 Shelburn Road, Asheville. Many trips to the Holy Land and around the world like Haiti and Honduras, were such a big part of Dr. and Mrs. Sexton's lives. Through Missions, they were able to reach so many lives starving to hear the gospel. Besides being a devoted Pastor's wife and mother, she played the piano for church services, led the church choir at State Street, taught Sunday School, led a Girl Scout Troop and helped with the Missionary Society. After moving to Trinity Baptist Church, her greatest love was teaching the Ladies Dorcus Bible Class.

Mrs. Sexton is survived by her daughter, Rebecca Templeton and husband, Jim, of Asheville; son, Dr. Ralph Sexton Jr. and wife, Muzette, of Leicester; grandchildren, Beverly Parrish and husband, Dwight, of Costa Rica, Mark Sexton and wife, Sheri, and Matthew Templeton and wife, Heather, all of Asheville, Rev. Kent Sexton and wife, Leigh, of Myrtle Beach, Elizabeth Ingle and husband, Josh, of Candler; greatgrandchildren, Winston Parrish, Savannah Parrish, Scarlett Parrish, Preston Sexton, Sophia Parrish, Ian Sexton, Alena Templeton, Irely Ingle, Alexis Sexton, Juliet Sexton, Kaydon Ingle, Lola Sexton, Titus Templeton; sister, Patricia Byerly of Woodbine, Ga.; and several nieces and nephews whom she adored.

The funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday at Trinity Baptist Church, with her son, Dr. Ralph Sexton Jr., grandsons, the Rev. Kent Sexton and the Rev. Matthew Templeton, daughter, Mrs. Rebecca Templeton and the Rev. Jack Gassaway officiating. Burial will follow in Green Hills Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the church and other times will be at the home of Jim and Becky Templeton, 28 Tanglewood Drive, Asheville, NC 28806.

Pallbearers will be Mark Sexton, Matthew Templeton, Kent Sexton, Josh Ingle, Dwight Parrish and Jim Freeman. Honorary Pallbearers will be Jim Lenburg, Tommy Trantham, Elmer Riddle, Cliff Schuler, David West and Rev. Chris Pethel.

The family would like to thank Dr. Joel Rosenberg and his staff for their love and care during Mrs. Sexton's extended illness. Thank you to Aston Park Health Care and all the staff for their care of Nana. A special thank you to Jim Templeton, Mrs. Sexton's son-in-law, who helped care for Nana with Becky for the past 6 years. He was never thought of as a son-in-law, but her other son. Nana loved her Yankee.

Those desiring to make a memorial contribution are encouraged to consider the Alzheimer's Foundation of Asheville, AB-Tech Nursing and The American Macular Degeneration Foundation. Flowers are also greatly appreciated since Nana and Popie's love was built around Jesus and symbolized by roses. They wanted everyone to love Jesus first and bloom where they're planted. Their love story was genuine and a rare find one of the greatest ever told!

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 Our sympathy is extended to the family and friends of Ronnie Conner (Class of '67). 

Ronald Lewis Conner

Weaverville - Ronald Lewis Conner, 60, passed away unexpectedly August 25, 2009 at the Memorial Campus of Mission Hospitals.

A native and resident of Buncombe County for most of his life, he was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and retired from the U.S. Postal Service. He was the son of the late Robert Lewis and Roma Elizabeth Gosnell Conner.

Surviving are his sisters, Deborah Conner Ashkar and husband, Nabil, of Amman Jordan, Marie Case Grant of Leicester, and Kathie Case Adams of Asheville; nephews, Issam, Nasri and Yazan Ashkar and Randy Adams; niece, Katie Adams and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in the Chapel of the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Black Mountain with the Rev. J.R. Johnson and Father Morris Boyd officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: American Diabetes Assoc. Memorial and Honor Program, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312.

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 Our sympathy is extended to our classmate Lynn Duckworth on the loss of her Mother.

Mary Watson Corpening Duckworth

Mary Watson Corpening Duckworth, 88, died Monday, August 24, 2009, at Givens Health Care Center where she had been a resident since January of this year.

The daughter of Dr. O. J. Corpening and Alice Surles Corpening, she was born on January 21, 1921 in Granite Falls, NC, one of twelve children. She graduated from Mars Hill College in 1940 where she met her future husband, William Thomas Duckworth, Jr. She graduated from Duke University in 1942 with a BA degree in English. On June 16th, 1942 she and Bill were married at the First Baptist Church in Granite Falls, NC with a reception at her family home and garden.

She and Bill lived in Columbia, SC from 1942-1946 while Bill served in the US Army and Mary worked for the Columbia Record soliciting advertising and assisting the Childrens' Welfare Committee. She and Bill moved to Asheville, NC after the war was over in 1946 . She and Betty Lynch Williams Rawls founded the Wishy-Washy, a coin-op laundromat in Asheville on Charlotte Street in 1948. She and Bill built a home at 32 Maywood Road in 1950 where they lived together for 55 years. The inspiration for their home came from a special trip to New England where they acquired antiques and developed the design for their red shingled Cape Cod home and gardens.

Mary Watson was active in the Junior League, the Children's Welfare League, the Buncombe County Womens' Democratic Society, the Preservation Society of Asheville, the Town and Country Garden Club and the First Baptist Church for many years. She loved playing bridge, hiking, dancing, and always enjoyed and appreciated lively political or educational curricula debates. In 1957 Mary Watson designed an original childrens' activity calendar for which she sold the patent rights to Hallmark Corporation in New York.

She and Bill enjoyed many wonderful trips together, her personal favorite being a cruise through the Greek islands. She obtained her real estate license and enjoyed the process of learning new skills at all stages of life. Mary and Bill also built a home at Lake Tahoma, NC and enjoyed many happy years there fishing and boating. Noted for her delicious Southern cooking and hospitality, she and Bill often entertained family and friends. Her blonde hair, blue eyes, rosy complexion and healthy lifestyle were a joy for all. Her perpetual optimism, lovely smile and gentle nature grounded in clear common sense constantly guided and inspired her family. She and Bill moved to Givens Estates in 2005 where they have been living together in Oxford Commons. They celebrated 67 loving years of a remarkable marriage this past June and are affectionately called Grand-Bill and Grand-Mary by their family.

Mary Watson is survived by her husband, William T. Duckworth, Jr. and her daughter, Lynne Revell Duckworth Breed, her son-in-law, Richard Phillips Breed III, four grandchildren: Lindsay Revell Breed, Ashley Beardsell Breed, Mary Stuart Walton Breed and Richard Phillips Breed IV , all of Marblehead , MA., her brother, Dr. Thomas Nye Corpening of Houston, TX, two sister-in-laws: Mrs. Avis Corpening of Granite Falls, NC and Mrs. Jean Corpening of Salisbury, NC along with many cousins, nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at the Pulliam Chapel at Givens Estates on Friday, August 28th at 11:00 am followed by a reception in the adjoining room.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be made to First Baptist Church, 5 Oak Street, Asheville, NC 28801; or Givens Estates, 2360 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville, NC 28803; or Mars Hill College, P.O.Box 6677, Mars Hill, NC 28754.

"Nobody could dance the Charleston like Grand-Mary!"

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 Our  sympathy is extended to our classmate Vicki Patton on the loss of her Mother.

Samuel R. "Sam" Patton

Samuel R. "Sam" Patton, 91, of 11 Zephyr Drive, Asheville, died Monday, August 24, 2009, at the John F. Keever Hospice Solace Center.

Mr. Patton was born in Swannanoa and was a son of the late Huber R. Patton, Sr. and Irene Davidson Patton. He was also preceded in death by siblings, Huber R. Patton, Jr., Helen Hipp, and Woodrow, Harold, Roy and Jim Patton.

Mr. Patton was an Army Air Corps veteran of WW II and was retired from American Enka as Athletic Director. He was a member of West Asheville Presbyterian Church.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret Kennerly Patton; two daughters, Pam Demos of Asheville and Vicki Moss of Asheboro; five grandchildren, Jennifer Parrish of Cary, Timothy Moss of Asheboro, Nicholas Demos and his wife, Jenny, of Cullowhee, Allison Demos Dameron and her husband, Tim, of Greenville, NC, and Christi Demos and her husband, Robert, of Asheville; two great-granddaughters, Amber Demos and Isabella Dameron; and two sisters-in-law, Evelyn Patton and Ruth Robinson.A celebration of his life is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Wednesday at West Asheville Presbyterian Church with the Revs. Drs. A. Willis Gaines, Douglas B. Tilley, and Ben Sloan officiating. Private interment will be at First Presbyterian Church, Swannanoa.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday at Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue.
Memorials may be made to CarePartners Hospice, PO Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813, or to the Sam Patton Scholarship Fund, c/o Rhododendron Civitan Club, PO Box 17035, Asheville, NC 28816.

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 Our sympathy is extended to our classmate Diane GREENE Smathers on the loss of her Mother.

HELEN DEBRUHL GREENE

Helen DeBruhl Greene, 89, died Wednesday, August 19, 2009, at The Oaks following an extended illness.

She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Drs. Diane G. and Webb M. Smathers, Jr., of Westminster, South Carolina, one granddaughter, Tiffany Diane Smathers of Clemson, South Carolina, a sister-in-law, Luretta Miller DeBruhl of Asheville, seven nieces and nephews including Shirley Smith Lewis of Black Mountain, LaMont Miller DeBruhl and Deanna Smith Jordan of Asheville, eighteen great nieces and nephews and twenty-four great, great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, William G. "Bill" Greene.

A lifelong resident of Buncombe County, she was the daughter of the late Hattie Minerva Wilde DeBruhl and George Wade DeBruhl. The youngest daughter of ten children, she was preceded in death by four sisters and five brothers, Willie Dell White, Thelma Rose Fenwick, Addie Reba Cunningham, Georgia Jo Smith, Max Woodrow DeBruhl, Charles Talmade DeBruhl, James Raymond DeBruhl, Fuller McCoy DeBruhl, and Joe Wilde DeBruhl.

Mrs. Greene retired as the manager of the Biltmore Country Market in 1981. Prior to becoming the manager, she was a pinecone craftsman for the market. After retirement, she became a 10, 000 hour Volunteer in the gift shop at St. Josephs Hospital.
An active member of the community, she was a 50 year member and the oldest Past Matron of Biltmore Chapter #38, Order of the Eastern Star. She was also Past Grand Counselor of the United Commercial Travelers of North Carolina and Past President of the Quota Club of Asheville. Additionally, she was an active member of Biltmore United Methodist Church for many years.

A service will be held at 11:00 am Saturday at Biltmore United Methodist Church. Interment will follow at New Salem Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 until 8:30 pm Friday at Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that contributions be made to the Hospital Guild at St. Josephs Hospital, Room W133, 428 Biltmore Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801.

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Sincere condolences are extended to our classmates Pam and Pat Reid on the loss of their Mother.

RUBY RODDEY REID

COLUMBIA - Ruby Roddey Reid, 90, passed away Tuesday, May 5, 2009 in Columbia, S.C. She was born June 30, 1918 in Spartanburg County, S.C. to the late William R. and Nannie C. Roddey. Mrs. Reid was a graduate of Brooklyn – Cayce High School. Mrs. Reid lived her early years in Columbia and later moved to Asheville, N.C., where she lived for over 50 years. She retired from First Union National Bank in Asheville, N.C. in 1983. She was a member of Grace Episcopal Church in Asheville. She was a devoted and loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, whose main purpose in life was raising her four daughters. She had many friends and loved them all dearly.

Her husband, Thomas Peden Reid and granddaughter, Kathryn Patricia Maney, predeceased Mrs. Reid. She is survived by her daughters, Anita Reid of Columbia, Linda Reid Keller Robinson of Columbia, Pat Reid Ford of Atlanta, Ga. and Pam Reid Maney (Barry) of Lexington, S.C.; her sister, Frances Roddey Coleman of Columbia; grandchildren Jeff Keller (Caroline), Carole Brabham (Heyward), Ricky Ford, Allison Ford, and Jonathan Maney; great-grandchildren, Grace Keller, Reid Keller, Rhett Brabham, and Peden Brabham; and nieces and nephews.

Graveside service for Ruby Reid will be held Thursday, May 7, 2009 at 4:00 p.m. in Lewis Memorial Park Cemetery in Asheville, N.C. The family will receive friends Wednesday, May 6, 2009 from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ronald McDonald House, 1529 Hampton Street Columbia, S.C. 29201, in memory of Ruby Reid.

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Our sympathy is extended to our classmate Bill Murphy on the loss of his mother.

Catherine “Kitty” Lamb Murphy Flanagan

 Born March 18, 1918, in New Bern, N.C. to Byas Claude and Lena Belle Lamb, hers was a life filled with all the marvels of the 20^th Century. She moved to Asheville where she eventually met her first husband, William J. Murphy, Sr., with whom she shared the uniqueness of having the same birth date and year. Upon his death in 1963, she managed the W.J. Murphy Company (an Asheville manufacturing company) and a gift shop in Six Gun Territory amusement park in Silver Springs, Florida. This was one occasion of many when she exhibited the grit and determination that marked all of her endeavors.

In 1967, she married Everett L. Flanagan and soon thereafter began a much-deserved retirement. Days now could be filled with her varied hobbies and interests – crocheting, quilting, sewing, puzzle books, and gardening.

Kitty was predeceased by Everett and her brothers Robert and Garlie Lamb, twin-brother Carlton, and her only sister and best lifelong friend, Ruth L. Reusing. She is survived by her entire immediate family: Anne Maier (Bob), Joan Rawls (Tom), William J. Murphy, Jr. (Mardy), and Bobbie Whitener (Pat). Grandchildren Robbie, Tammy, Christie, Jennifer, Melissa, and Stephanie were the joys of her life, as were her five great grandchildren.

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 Our  sympathy is extended to our classmate Diane MILLS Jones on the loss of her father.

James B. "Jim" Mills Sr.

James B. "Jim" Mills Sr. James B. "Jim" Mills, 89, of Apex, NC, died Friday, November 14, 2008 in Southern Pines.
Jim was a renowned North Carolina baseball executive of more that 50 years. He graduated from Apex High School and attended NC State University while playing basketball and baseball. He was drafted by the Boston Red Sox and played in their minor league farm team.

After completing four years of service in the U. S. Army, he returned to minor league baseball, where he served as a player/manager from 1946 through 1953. After that, he moved into the front office and worked as a General Manager until the early 1970s. He was a field representative for the National Association of Professional Baseball from 1972-1983.
Jim also served as President of the Carolina League from 1977 until 1983 and served as a special consultant to the Durham Bulls in the 1980s and 1990s. He loved college sports and officiated ACC and SEC basketball and football in the 1950s and 1960s.
Jim was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 1999 and later into the North Carolina High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

He is survived by his wife, Florence of 63 years and his daughters, Judi Holland, Diane Jones, and Nancy Mills-Smith and son, Jim. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Kyle and Eric Holland and Kimberly King, Ashley Hodges and Maddie and Jaycee Mills and great grandchildren Aiden and Ayla Holland and Gabby Hodges.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Green Level Baptist Church, 8509 Green Level Church Road, Cary, NC 27519.
Condolences may be made to www.apexfuneral.com

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Sincere condolences are extended to our classmate Bonnie GRIER Teeter on the loss of her Father.

Harry L. Grier

Asheville - Harry L. Grier, 86, of Asheville, passed away Monday, October 27, 2008. Mr. Grier was born March 14, 1922, in Milwaukee, to the late Harry and Rose Hanke Grier. He was a Navy Veteran of World War II. He retired from Square-D Co.

Harry was preceded in death by his son, Robert Grier and daughter, Denise Wilkenson.

Surviving are his wife, Doris M. Grier; daughters, Claudia Maher, of Asheville, Bonnie Teeter and her husband, John, of Calif.; son, Jason Grier and his wife, Kati, of Asheville; several grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. He is also survived by a brother and three sisters.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, November 5, 2008, at St. Eugene Catholic Church. A gathering of family and friends will follow at the Cloisters Condominiums Clubhouse. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Care Partners Hospice, P.O. Box 25338, Asheville, NC, 28813.

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Our sympathy is extended to our classmate Woody Griffin on the loss his father.

Woodrow Pinkney Griffin, Sr.

Son of the late Pinkney Eli Griffin and Clorina Jones Griffin, he was born in the Fruitland section of Hendersonville.

He attended Brevard College, graduated from Georgetown College in Georgetown, Ky., and later earned a master's degree from Western Carolina University. Mr. Griffin spent a lifetime in education. He was a teacher, coach, elementary and high school principal. He was superintendent of Asheville City Schools from 1960 to 1977. Well known and highly respected, he led the system through challenges and remarkable growth. His works were acknowledged in the WP Griffin Sports Arena at Asheville High School.

He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church, a Rotarian and member of many civic and professional organizations. He, with others, worked for the establishment and growth of Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College, where he served on the Board for almost 20 years.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Dorothy Parker Griffin; brothers, Odell, Brown and Orville; and sisters, Helen G. Corn and Veola G. Holbert.

He is survived by a sister, Roberta G. Justus; and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by son, Woodrow P. Griffin, Jr., of Asheville; daughter, Bettie G. Watts; and son-in-law, Nelson Watts, of Cincinnati; grandchildren, Parker N. Watts, of Cincinnati and Alison W. Palmer, of Breckenridge, Colo.; as well as four great-grandchildren, Griffin K. Palmer and Anson B. Palmer, of Breckenridge and Adelene B. Watts and Samuel E. Watts, of Cincinnati.

The graveside service will be at the Lanning Pittillo Cemetery in Hendersonville, Saturday, October 4 at 2 p.m.

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Our sympathy is extended to our classmate Robyn RAMSEY Carter on the loss of her mother.

Frances “Frankie” Ramsey

Asheville - Frances Frankie Ramsey, 89, formerly of Pinecroft Rd., Asheville, died Thursday, September 18, 2008, at Aston Park Health Care Center.

Mrs. Ramsey was born in Watauga Co., and was a daughter of the late William Franklin and Ruby Spainhour Miller. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Woodrow C. Red Ramsey, who died in 1990.

Mrs. Ramsey graduated from the Duke University School of Nursing, and had been the director of nursing at the Western North Carolina Hospital for Chest Diseases, in Black Mountain. Mrs. Ramsey is survived by her daughter, Robyn R. Carter and husband, Dale, of Atlanta; son, Dr. Gary H. Ramsey and wife, Sharon, of Marshall; sisters, Lorene Parker, of Boone, Carolyn Siphers, of Raleigh, and Josephine Crowder, of Williamsburg, Va.; five grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

The funeral service for Mrs. Ramsey will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Groce Funeral Home chapel on Patton Ave., with the Rev. Butch Stillwell officiating. Entombment will follow in the Ashelawn Gardens Mausoleum.

Her family will receive friends for one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.  Memorials may be made to CarePartners Hospice, P.O. Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813.  The online register is available at www.grocefuneralhome.com

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Those of us who grew up in West Asheville will remember Mike from our days at Hall Fletcher. Our sympathy is extended to his friends and family

MIKE SILVER

Weaverville - Michael David Mike Silver, 58, of 16 Salem Acres, passed away Sunday, August 31, 2008.

A lifelong resident of Buncombe County. He was Owner and Operator of Craggy Motors, was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Weaverville and former member of Newbridge Baptist Church, a 1968 graduate of Erwin High School, attended MontreatAnderson College and was a Vietnam Veteran of the U.S. Marine Corp.

He was preceded in death by his father, Offie Howard Junior Silver Jr.; paternal grandparents, Offie Howard and Teakie Capps Silver; maternal grandparents, Roadman and Gladys Arrowood and son, Gregory David Silver. Surviving are his wife, Karen Elaine Rice Silver, whom he married July 1st, 1972, of the home; son, Andrew Michael Andy Silver of Mooresville; daughter, Katie Marie Silver Hensley and husband, Michael, of Candler; mother, Earline Arrowood Silver Ingle and husband, Bill, of Asheville; mother-inlaw, Lois Sawyer Rice of Asheville; brothers, Ronnie Silver and wife, Gracie, and Terry Silver, all of Asheville; brothers-in-law, Bryan Rice and wife, Margo, of Asheville and Blix Rice and wife, April, of Easley, S.C.; several nieces and nephews.

The funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday at First Presbyterian Church of Weaverville with the Revs. Skip Gillikin and Lee Roy Denton officiating. Burial will follow in Green Hills Cemetery with military honors conducted by the Buncombe County Veterans Council Memorial Team. The family will receive friends 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at Anders-Rice Funeral Home.

Above all Mike loved the Lord and his family. He shared his belief in the way he lived and was a loving husband, father, son, brother and a man who was loved by all. Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Chuch of Weaverville (Missions), P.O. Box 247, Weaverville, NC 28787. To sign Mike's guest book on-line, please go to the Memorials at www.andersrice.com.

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Our sympathy is extended to our classmate Leslie Winner on the loss of her mother.

Julienne Marder Winner

She was an accomplished bridge player, an avid reader, and a loyal friend to many.

She is survived by her children, Dennis and wife, Catherine Winner, Robert and wife, Susan Winner, of Asheville, and Leslie Winner of Winston Salem; brother, Gerard Marder and wife, Joan, of Asheville; grandchildren, Leanne Winner and husband, Ellis Hankins, of Raleigh, Lauren Winner and husband, Griff Gatewood, of Durham, Tom Winner of Philadelphia, Lily Schorr of Charlotte, and Jenny Good of Birmingham; great-grandchildren, Will, Lucy and Kate Hankins; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

The funeral services will be held 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at Temple Beth HaTephila with graveside services to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Julienne Winner Scholarship Award at the UNCAsheville Foundation, 1 University Heights, Asheville, NC 28804.

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Our sympathy is extended to our classmates Steve & Mike Stewart on the loss of their mother.

Helen O'Neal Stewart

Asheville - Helen O'Neal Stewart, 87, formerly of Rocky Mountain Way, Arden, entered into eternal life Saturday, June 28, 2008, at The Golden Living Center. A native of Johnson City, Tenn., she had also resided in Asheville, Brevard and Shallotte, N.C. She was daughter of the late George Earl and Lillian Thomerson O'Neal. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Colonel (retired) Robert P. Stewart and a brother, Roy Judson O'Neal.

Helen was blessed with a beautiful voice and had a successful singing career early in her life. She had a TV Show at WBTV in Charlotte and sang at many events and clubs, as well as, entertained the troops with the USO during WW II. She gave up this career so that she could raise a large family and she instilled a love of music into all of her children and grandchildren. She owned and operated The Yarn Peddler in Brevard where she taught needlepoint and crafts. She was a former member of St. Joseph's Auxiliary Guild and was an avid golfer. She had an outgoing personality and sense of humor that endeared her to everyone she met. She will be greatly missed.

She is survived by her loving sons, Michael and his wife, Susan, of Rutherfordton; Stephen and his wife, Luciene, of Weaverville and David and his wife, Debbie, of Franklin; a daughter, Helen Anne Stewart of Rutherfordton; sister, Barbara Cooke of Asheville; seven grandchildren and one greatgrandchild.

A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Thursday, July 3, 2008 in the Chapel of Morris Funeral Home, 304 Merrimon Avenue with the Rev. C. W. Anthony officiating. The family will receive friends following the service.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Caregivers Hospice, Eliada Home or charity of one's choice.The family wishes to thank the staff of Carepartners Hospice and The Golden Living Center who have become like family to Helen.Morris Funeral Home is assisting the family. Condolences may be sent through the website at www.morrisfamilyfuneralho me.com

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Our sympathy is extended to the family and friends of our classmate Susan RALSTON Bleckley on the loss of her father.

James Ronald Ralston

Mr. Ralston was born in Buncombe County and was a son of the late Charlie P. and Marie Calloway Ralston. He was a graduate of Grace High school and served with the Fourth Marine Division during WW II. He was awarded the Purple Heart after being wounded in Saipan enroute to Iwo Jima.

He was retired from Akzona (American Enka) where he worked as an electrical engineer. He was a lifelong member of Asbury Memorial United Methodist church and was former Captain of the Beaverdam Volunteer Fire Department.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Sarah Virginia Williams Ralston; one daughter, Susan Ralston Bleckley and her husband, Jerry, of Asheville; two granddaughters, Sarah Bleckley and Martha Bleckley; two sisters, Merle Buckner and Gail Bartlett and husband, Ralph; and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday at Asbury Memorial United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Lisa Hartzog Hannah officiating. Private interment will be at Lewis Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the church fellowship hall immediately following the memorial service.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Asbury Memorial United Methodist Church, 171 Beaverdam Road, Asheville, NC 28804.

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Sincere condolences are extended to our classmate Linda Schifflin Coyle on the loss of his Mother.

Lucile ‘Lucy' Irene Adams Schifflin

Asheville - Lucile Lucy Irene Adams Schifflin, 95, died on Sunday, April 6, 2008, at Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community. Mrs. Schifflin was born on April 4, 1913, in Kimbolton, Ohio (near Cambridge), the daughter of the late Boyd Cameron and Mary Elizabeth Montgomery Adams.

She was a graduate of Ohio State University in the Food Sciences/Nutrition/Dieticia n Program and worked as a Lunchroom Manager for the Detroit Public Schools until she met her husband John B. Schifflin. They were married on November 24, 1938, in Detroit. In 1946, they moved to Milwaukee, Wis. and lived there until 1961 when Square D transferred the family to Asheville.

For over 20 years the family dedicated their time to retarded citizens and were instrumental in helping establish the Irene Wortham Center. Lucy was a member of Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church and the women of the church awarded her an Honorary Life Membership in 1999.

She was preceded in death by her husband John Jack Schifflin, who died on March 11, 2005, and a son, Stephen Perry Schifflin, who died in infancy. She was also preceded in death by a sister, Helene Gertrude Adams, who died in infancy; two brothers, William M. Adams, of Detroit, Mich. and Renwick Glenn Adams, of Johnstown, Ohio.

She is survived by two sons, John B. Schifflin and Michael H. Schifflin, both of Milwaukee, Wis.; two daughters, Janet C. Schifflin, of Asheville and Linda S. Coyle and her husband,

Jay of Middleton, Wis. and several nieces and nephews.

The memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 12 at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church with the Revs. Bill Buchanan, Mark Ramsey and

Morgan Gardner, Chaplin of St. Giles Chapel at Deerfield Retirement Community, officiating.

The family wishes to thank the wonderful and caring staff at Deerfield who cared for Mom throughout her time in skilled care.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 789 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, N.C. 28804; the Irene Wortham Center, 916 W. Chapel Road, Asheville, N.C. 28803 or Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community, 1617 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, N.C. 28803. The family will receive friends immediately following the service in the Fellowship Hall of the Church.

Morris Funeral Home, 304 Merrimon Ave., is in charge of the arrangements. Condolence may be sent through the website at www.Morrisfamilyfuneralho me.com

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Our sincere condolences are extended to our classmate Drusilla PETIT Westall on the loss of her Mother.

EVELYN MOORE PETIT

Winston-Salem - Mrs. Evelyn M. Petit, 85, passed away Tuesday, March 18, 2008, in Winston-Salem. She was born in Canton, Ohio. She was a resident of Asheville for most of her life.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph Eariel and Reah Morgan Moore; her loving husband of 55 years, Quentin V. Petit Sr.; her sons, John Earl Petit and Quentin V. Petit Jr.; and a sister, Verna Moore Patrick.

Surviving are her daughter, Drusilla Westall; grandchildren, Stuart and Spirit Westall, David and Holly Lee; and five great-grandchildren, Logan, Eian, William and Lillith Westall, and Matthew Lee, all of WinstonSalem; daughter-in-law, Pam Petit; and granddaughter, Nicole Petit, of Asheville; sister, Betty Moore Neighbors, of West Chester, Ohio; and six loving nieces and their families. She will be missed by all.

She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church and retired from K-Mart in 1987.

The graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 29, 2008, at Pisgah View Memorial Park in Candler. The Rev. Donald Welborn will officiate.

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Our sympathy is extended to the family and friends of our classmate Ben Higgins on the loss of his mother.

VIRGINIA DAVIS HIGGINS

Asheville – Virginia Higgins, 87, died Tuesday, March 4, 2008, at Golden Living Center. She is preceded in death by her parents, Thomas Edgar and Mini Caldwell Davis.

Surviving are her sons, Thomas Higgins of Parkton NC., Harrison Mike Higgins of Asheville, Benjamin Higgins of Asheville, and Clarence Higgins of Old Fort.; seven grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and sister, Pauline.

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Our deepest sympathy is extended to our classmate Pat REID Ford on the loss of her husband Rick.

RICHARD J. "Rick" FORD Jr.

RICHARD "RICK" J. FORD, JR. Richard "Rick" J. Ford, Jr. 54, President and Chief Executive Officer of Realtec Incorporated passed away on Friday, December 14, 2007 of natural causes. Mr. Ford served Realtec in many capacities and ultimately was responsible for many of the company's successes. Mr. Ford developed Ford's Colony Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Virginia and Ford's Colony Rocky Mount, in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Ford's Colony Williamsburg was named the No. 1 master-planned community in the United States and has been touted as a nationwide model for housing communities. Mr. Ford was instrumental in bringing The Manor Club, a Marriott vacation ownership facility, to Ford's Colony Williamsburg. Ford also worked very closely with renowned golf course architect Dan Maples on the design of the 54 championship holes of golf at Ford's Colony. Ford's Colony at Rocky Mount is Rocky Mount, North Carolina near North Carolina Wesleyan College on the former Belmont Farms property. The Rocky Mount Ford's Colony community is 1,400 acres and includes an 18-hole golf course and an 80 acre lake. Over the course of his career as a developer, Ford successfully developed Keowee Key in Salem, South Carolina and Sapphire Valley in Cashiers, North Carolina. At Keowee Key, Ford negotiated the final sale of assets to the Keowee Key Homeowner's Association. This sale was one of the first of its kind in the United States. Mr. Ford was a well respected member of the Atlanta, Williamsburg, Virginia and Rocky Mount, North Carolina, North Carolina business communities. He was a founding member of the Buckhead Club in Atlanta and was also a Georgia Dome Executive Founder. He was a member of the Gateway Partnership, an organization dedicated to economic and business development in the Rocky Mount area. At a national level, Mr. Ford served on the Board of Directors of the American Resort Development Association for over ten years. He was also a member of the Urban Land Institute and the Community Association Institute. Mr. Ford was a generous supporter of numerous charities and causes including: Rally for A Cure, cystic fibrosis, and American Diabetes Association. In Williamsburg, thanks to Mr. Ford, the local High Schools and William and Mary played golf free of charge at Ford's Colony Country Club. He also funded the high school track team at Lafayette High School in Williamsburg, Virginia. In Rocky Mount, Mr. Ford made Ford's Colony Country Club the home course for North Carolina Wesleyan College. Mr. Ford was committed to education and sponsored three scholarships at the following institutions: Our Lady of Perpetual Help School; North Carolina Wesleyan College; and Culinary Arts at Nash Community College. Mr. Ford also contributed to the Women's Shelter in Rocky Mount. Rick Ford was an avid Maryland Terrapins fan and an active supporter of the Maryland Terrapin Club. He served as a Member of the Executive Advisory Committee for the Business School and was honored in 1998, at the school's 75-year anniversary, as an outstanding Alumni member of the University of Maryland, Smith School of Business. He attended the University of Maryland on a track scholarship, and graduated with a degree in accounting and finance and marketing. While at the University of Maryland, Mr. Ford was Student Vice President of the M Club. This year Mr. Ford was elected to the Bishop O'Connell High School Athletic Hall of Fame, which is where Mr. Ford attended high school. Mr. Ford is survived by his wife of thirty years Patricia "Pat" Reid Ford and his two adult children, Richard "Ricky" Ford, III and Allison P. Ford, both of Atlanta. Also surviving him are his parents Mr. And Mrs. Richard J. Ford of Williamsburg, VA, one brother and two sisters: Brian Ford (Lynn Ford) of Williamsburg, Virginia, Mary Ford Wilson (Dr. Terrance Wilson) of Rocky Mount, North Carolina and Kerry Ford (Tracy Jones) of Hampton, Virginia. Other family includes numerous nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. A man who never met a stranger, Rick Ford cared deeply about his family, his friends and the community and he will be missed terribly. Funeral services will be held on Thursday December 20 at 10:30 am at the Cathedral of Christ the King on Peachtree Road with burial afterwards at Arlington Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at home after the burial.
 

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Sincere condolences are extended to our classmate Joe McGuire on the loss of his father.

WALTER R. MCGUIRE

Asheville - Walter Raleigh McGuire, 93, of Asheville died on Sunday, July 8, 2007 at his home.

Mr. McGuire was born on December 8, 1913, to the late Walter Raleigh McGuire and Grace Johnson. He graduated from Lee H. Edwards High School, now Asheville High School, in 1929. He began his college education at The Citadel in Charleston, transferring to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he graduated in 1934. Upon obtaining his law degree from the University, Mr. McGuire began his legal career in Asheville in 1937. He married Leonora Fanning of Asheville in 1941, and they remained married for thirty two years until her death in 1973.

With the onset of World War II, Mr. McGuire enlisted at age 28 to serve in the U.S. Army. He was commissioned as a lieutenant in the 100th Division of the U.S. Army and served as a forward observer for an artillery battalion in combat in France and Germany.

Mr. McGuire was awarded the Bronze Star for repeatedly risking his life advancing under artillery and mortar fire to reconnoiter enemy positions for his unit. He was temporarily reassigned near the end of the war to serve as a trial judge advocate in Stuttgart, Germany, for which he was cited for meritorious service. At the conclusion of the war, Mr. McGuire returned to the practice of law in Asheville. In 1952 he joined the firm of Barnard & Parker to form Barnard, Parker & McGuire. During his fifty years of service as a lawyer, Mr. McGuire practiced with Frank Parker and James Baley, Jr., each of whom was appointed to the North Carolina Court of Appeals, and with Richard Wood, Louis Bissette and Charles Worley, each elected as Mayor of the City of Asheville. Specializing in real estate and estate matters, he served as the senior partner of the current McGuire, Wood & Bissette, P.A. from 1969 until his retirement in 1998.

Mr. McGuire served as a member of the North Carolina Board of Law Examiners from 1972 to 1981; chair of the Board of Trustees of the Asheville-Buncombe Library System; and president of the Buncombe County Alumni of Carolina. He was a lifelong member of Central United Methodist Church in Asheville, and a trustee of Shaw's Creek Methodist Campground and Johnson Family Cemetery in Henderson County. Mr. McGuire was also a member of the Pen and Plate Club, the Zeb Vance Debating Society, the Seniard Creek Club, and the Biltmore Forest Country Club, and was a Knight of the Laurel of the Rhododendron Royal Brigade of Guards. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved fishing, hunting, gardening and visiting the family farm.

Surviving are his wife of thirty-three years, Kathryn Goode McGuire; sons, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Walter McGuire and his wife, Bonnie of Charleston, South Carolina, Leslie McGuire and his wife, Martha of Asheville, and Joseph McGuire and his wife, Jean of Asheville; stepdaughter Gail Rogers and her husband, George, of Asheville; step-son John Northen and his wife, Sheila of Chapel Hill; grandchildren Mick McGuire and his wife, Carrie of Portland, Ore., Lea McGuire of Charleston, Bryan McGuire of Asheville, Sally McGuire of Asheville, Jeffrey Rogers and his wife, Dawn of Greenville, South Carolina, Ashley Robertson and her husband, Brent of Raleigh; Lindsay Northen of New York City; and Hadley Northen of Chapel Hill; and eight great grandchildren.

The family will hold a graveside service at 4 p.m., on Wednesday at Riverside Cemetery in Asheville. A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Thursday, at Central United Methodist Church on Church Street in downtown Asheville, with a reception immediately following at the church. Honorary pallbearers will be John Shuford, John Erichson, William Duckworth, Ridgeway Lynch, Richard Wood, Louis Bissette, Douglas Thigpen, and Charles Cloninger.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the charity of your choice.  Morris Funeral Home is assisting the family.

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Our sympathy is extended to the family and friends of our classmate Meredith ORR McLaughlin on the loss of her father.

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Our sympathy is extended to our classmate Hal Brown on the loss of his mother.

VIOLET WOMACK BROWN

Asheville - Violet Womack Brown, 86, of Asheville, died Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2007, at Mission Hospitals, St. Joseph Campus.

She was a daughter of the late William George and Bertha Viola Sprinkle Womack. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Hal H. Brown Sr., who died in 1990. Violet was a native of Franklin and grew up in Sylva, before moving to Asheville in 1940.

Mrs. Brown graduated from business college and went to work as a transcript analyst for Army Air Forces. She later became a teachers' aide and substitute teacher at William Randolph Elementary School. She was involved with numerous children's charities, programs and activities, including the advisory board of the Presbyterian Home for Children and Bethany Ministries in counseling of new mothers. She was also very active in women's and children's ministries, as well as outreach programs at First Presbyterian Church of Asheville, of which she was a member for 60 years.

She is survived by her son, Hal H. Brown Jr., his wife, Stephanie, and their daughter, Katherine Grace Brown, all of Asheville; and brother, John Robert Womack, of Winston-Salem.

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Sincere condolences are extended to our classmate Mary Margaret Judd on the loss of her father.

DANIEL STEWART JUDD

COLUMBIA — Dan S. Judd, 82, of Columbia, formerly of Asheville, NC, died Sunday January 28, 2007, in Lexington Medical Center in West Columbia.

A native of Buncombe County (born March 6, 1924), Mr. Judd was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Oscar (Mabel Moyers) Judd. After returning home from serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, he operated Judd Furniture and Supply with his father. Mr. Judd continued the operation of the hardware store after his father’s death until he went into accounting on a full-time basis. Dan was the District Director of the U.S. Census for Western North Carolina in 1960. He was actively involved with the West Asheville Lions Club, West Asheville Lodge #665 AF & AM where he was a past master, Trinity United Methodist Church and various political activities. He was a founding member of the West Asheville Merchants Association and recently assisted the West Asheville Library with a project on “Old Haywood Road.” The Judds moved to Columbia in 1968 where Dan was affiliated with Columbia College of South Carolina. In 1973 he and his wife founded the tax and accounting firm of Dan S. Judd Consultant, Inc. in Irmo. He was a member of Union United Methodist Church in Irmo and the Aline Leitner Fellowship Class. Mr. Judd served on the Board of Directors of Lexington Medical Center for nine years and also on the Board of the Lexington County Library at the time of the building of new Irmo Library. Additionally, Mr. Judd was active in the Irmo Ruritan Club and the Eau Claire Masonic Lodge.

Surviving are his wife of 60 years, Margaret Norvelle Shipman Judd; children, Dan Judd Jr. of Birmingham, AL, Mary Margaret Judd of Lexington, and Oscar (Leesa) Judd of Lyman; grandchildren, Guy and Faith Judd Wood and Oscar, Amanda, Frances and Maggie Judd; great-grandson, Daven Wood; brothers-in-law, Bert (Ruth) Shipman and John Johnston; nieces, nephews and extended family members to include Susan K. Judd, Carol P. Stephen and Doug Wood. Mr. Judd was predeceased by his sister, Ophelia J. Scroggs, and sister-in-law, Carol S. Johnston.

Funeral services will be 6 p.m. this evening (Tuesday) at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home on Bush River Road in Columbia. Visitation will follow the service. Grave-side services with Masonic rites will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Green Hills Cemetery in West Asheville, NC. Honorary pallbearers will be members of West Asheville Lodge #665 AF & AM.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 521 N. McDuffie St., Anderson, SC 29621, The Judd Scholarship Fund, Columbia College, 1301 Columbia College Drive, Columbia, SC 29203 or the charity of one’s choice.

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Our sympathy is extended to our classmate Meredith ORR McLaughlin on the loss of her mother.

Willie Albright Orr

Asheville - Willie Florence Albright Orr, 93, of 40 Gertrude Place, died Friday, Nov. 24, 2006, in her home, surrounded by her family. Mrs. Orr was born in Salisbury on Oct. 29, 1913. She was the daughter of the late William Archie and Florence Colley Albright. She was preceded in death by three sisters, Geneva Knepper, Mabel Watkins and Marie Walser; and brother, Mitchell Albright.

Mrs. Orr graduated from Boyden High School in Salisbury in 1931. She was a 1935 nursing graduate of old Memorial Mission Hospital in Asheville. She was a practicing registered nurse for 11 years before marrying her husband, William Bill Orr. She had been a member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church since 1936, where she taught many years of weekday church school.

Surviving are her husband, William Bill Orr; three daughters, Beverly Orr, Barbara Epley and Meredith McLaughlin, all of Asheville; son-in-law, Dave Epley; nine grandchildren, Brennan Kopp and wife, Nurdan Kopp, Kevin Kopp and wife, Michele Kopp, Melissa Kopp, Shannon Crownover Pala and husband, Christopher Pala, Blake and Nathan Crownover, Andrew and Spencer Stone, and Heather Smithson and husband, Lance Cpl. Karl Smithson; seven great-grandchildren, Ella Rose Kopp, Isabelle Florence Pala, Alexandra DeSota Pala, Pinar Polat, Aydin Polat, Tan Polat, Funda Biggs, and two great-granddaughters on the way.

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Sympathy is extended to our classmate Debby NORMAN Johnson, her sisters, Leesa ('67) and Bobbie ('69) and brother Robert on the loss of their mother.

JANEY COLE NORMAN

Janey Cole Norman, 78, of 48 Ormond Avenue, Asheville, died Thursday, September 28, 2006.

A native of Buncombe County, she was the daughter of the late Auyer B. Cole and Emily Nations Cole and was also preceded in death by her husband of 40 years, Robert L. Norman, Jr. She was a member of West Asheville Presbyterian Church, an active member of the Asheville Chapter of the Quilters Guild and worked as a foster grandmother at Calvary Baptist Church Daycare.

Mrs. Norman is survived by a son, Robert B. Norman of Asheville; three daughters, Leesa Ann Young of Asheville, Debrah Lynn Johnson of Pennsylvania and Bobbie Jo Fullam and husband David of Candler; three grandchildren, John and Margaret Fullam of Candler and Monica Johnson of Maryland; two great-grandchildren, Morgan Shelton and Kaitlyn Patterson.

Private burial will be held at Snow Hill United Methodist Church Cemetery.

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Sincere condolences are extended to our classmate Alice MCCRACKEN Hurst on the her father.

C.M. ‘Chick' Mccracken

Asheville - Former F.B.I. agent and Buncombe County educator, C.M. Chick McCracken, 96, passed away Saturday, Sept. 16, 2006, after a brief illness.

A native of North Carolina, he resided his last year at Eden Terrace in Spartanburg, S.C. Born in Fairview on Nov. 19, 1909, he was the son of Cicero McAfee McCracken and Helen Clayton McCracken. He was the widower of Evelyn Austin McCracken. He was retired from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Buncombe County School System. He was a lifetime member of Calvary Baptist Church.

He is survived by his daughter, Alice McCracken Hurst and husband, David Hurst of Spartanburg; grandsons, Asher and Daniel Hurst; son, James Austin McCracken and wife, Nancy Woodell McCracken of Greensboro; granddaughter, Carrie McCracken Cowan and husband, Newton Cowan; great-granddaughters, Mary Mac and Ellie Cowan; grandson, David Ian McCracken of Greensboro; and great-grandson, Riley Mark Austin McCracken. He is also survived by sisters, Lura McCracken Roberts of Phoenix and Ruth McCracken Wells of Brevard and brother, Julian McCracken of Fairview.

The son of a country doctor, he attended Fairview High School, graduated from Biltmore High School and was admitted to the North Carolina Bar after earning a law degree from Wake Forest College. McCracken joined the FBI the year before the attack on Pearl Harbor, leaving a job as principal of what was then Weaverville High School. His first assignment was in Detroit. He was transferred to the Knoxville, Tenn., office and served for three years as resident agent in Chattanooga, Tenn. He was transferred to the Charlotte office in November 1948 and was assigned as resident agent of the Asheville office on Jan. 1, 1950. He became senior resident agent here in 1951. Following his retirement from the bureau in 1965, McCracken returned to his first love serving as principal of Pisgah Elementary School. After his second retirement, he and his wife, Evelyn enjoyed spending winters in Winter Haven, Fla., and summers in their home in Asheville.

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Our sympathy is extended to our classmate Greg Banner on the loss of his father.

William Perry Banner

Asheville - William Perry Banner, 82, of 24 Pinewood Place, Asheville, passed away Monday, August 14, 2006, after a long illness.

He was born on July 30, 1924, in Falls Mills, Va. to George Thomas Banner, an engineer with the Norfolk and Western Railroad and Reba Maude Lafon. The third of four children, early in his life Bill became fascinated with storytelling, radio, and photography. At the age of 14 he was broadcasting from a homemade radio station in his backyard and making home movies that still survive, while attending The Art Studio, a private high school in Bluefield, W. Va. where he worked at radio station WHIS whose studios were next door. After graduating in 1939, he attended radio and television school in New York City where he lived with his sister Ruth.

After receiving his degree in 1941, he was employed at Camp Croft in Spartanburg, S.C. to do radio programming for the Armed Forces Radio. Returning to his home region, he again worked as an announcer at WHIS and for the Tennessee Radio Network in Bristol where he worked with Ernie Ford and Jack Webb at WOPI. It was in Bristol that he met his wife, Evangeline Louise Miller, a singer on one of the live radio programs popular at the time. They were married on March 20, 1943.

Bill's work next took them to Spartanburg, S.C. where he attended Wofford College and became a well known radio personality on WSPA. In 1952, he made the leap to television, turning his longtime hobby of photography into his livelihood by first becoming film director at WGVL in Greenville, S.C. and three years later moving to WLOS-TV in Asheville where he worked as director of photography, writing and producing commercials and film and video programs until retiring in 1999.

Through the years, he enjoyed writing articles for professional journals as well as short stories for popular magazines, and pursuing his hobbies of genealogical research and collecting artifacts of the history of recording and broadcasting, building a reputation for his museum quality collection of phonograph records, radio programs, films, and broadcasting equipment. He will be well known as a radio and television pioneer.

He is survived by two children, Laura Leslie Banner of Chapel Hill, and Gregory LaFon Banner of Arden; grandchildren, Stephanie Louise Dawson of Greenville, N.C., Alexia Leigh Banner Owenby of Fletcher, Wesley Greg Banner of 24 Pinewood Place, Asheville, and Gregory Reynolds of Fletcher; one great-grandchild, Kayla Louise Owenby of Fletcher; and a brother, Frank Banner of Bluefield, Va.

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Our sympathy is extended to our classmate Norma (GRAY) Chapman on the loss of her mother.

Elizabeth ‘Lib' Gray

Asheville - Elizabeth Lib Plemmons Gray, 84, passed away Saturday July 29, 2006, at Mission Hospitals, St. Joseph Campus following a brief illness.

Mrs. Gray was a lifelong resident of Buncombe County and was the daughter of the late Lewis N. and Maude Randall Plemmons. She was also preceded in death by her daughter, Carol Jean Penley Jones and her 5 siblings.

She retired in the early 80's from Memorial Mission Hospital where she had served as at the Visitor Information Desk and in her earlier years was a saleslady with Bon Marche' in downtown Asheville.

Mrs. Gray was a devoted Mother and Home Maker, a member of Calvary Baptist Church and a member of the Asheville Christian Women's Club.

Surviving are her daughters, Betty Gail Molnar of Conway, S.C., and Lee Gray Chapman and husband, R. Tom Chapman, both of Pinellas Park, Fla.; grandchildren, Karen Wilson, Kim Pounds, Jeff Farmer, Kathy Hiler and Carolee Farmer; step grandchildren, Kim Barger and Tawney Brown; 11 greatgrandchildren; and 9 step great-grandchildren.

Private services will be held at Pisgah View Memorial Park with the Rev. Dr. John T. Tiller officiating.

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He will be missed

HERBERT G. HAGAN

Asheville - Herbert G. Hagan, 85, of 89 Trotter Place, passed away Tuesday, October 25, 2005 at St. Joseph Hospital following a period of declining health.

A native of Madison County, he had resided in Buncombe County since 1926. He served with the U.S. Army Air Corps. in England during World War II and was stationed at Alcanbury Air Field when the war ended. He retired from American Enka after 39 years of service. In his early years, Herbert was a truck driver for Henson Produce and also worked for the City of Asheville.

He was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather, and a friend to all who knew him.

Herbert was the son of the late Loran Vance and Lottie Mae Smith Hagan. He was also preceded in death by his loving wife, Joyce Kitching Hagan and seven brothers and sisters.

Surviving are two sons: John Hagan and wife Cathy of Marshall, VA and Jerry Hagan and wife Carol of Arden; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11 AM Friday in the chapel of Anders-Rice Funeral Home, with Chaplain Charles Carter, U.S. Navy, Retired, officiating. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 PM Thursday at the funeral home.

The family would like to express gratitude to the staff of The Laurels of Greentree Ridge for the kindness and caring shown to Herbert during his brief stay.
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Our sympathy is extended to our classmate Woody Griffin on the loss of his mother.

DOROTHY PARKER GRIFFIN

Cincinnati, Ohio - Dorothy Parker Griffin died quietly in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Wednesday, June 29, 2005, following a long illness.

She was born Feb. 26, 1920, to Mr. and Mrs. John Milton Parker of Henderson County and was preceded in death by four siblings. She lived in Asheville until four years ago, where she worked for Drs. Corcoran, Shuford, Moser, Crews and Elmore. She was a long-time member of Calvary Baptist Church.

She is survived by her husband, Woodrow P. Griffin of Cincinnati; daughter and son-in-law, Bettie and Nelson Watts of Cincinnati; son, Woodrow P. Griffin Jr. of Asheville; grandchildren, Parker Watts and wife, Byrd, of Marion and Alison Watts Palmer of Breckinridge, Colo., and great-grandchildren, Griffin and Anson Palmer of Breckinridge and Adelene and Samuel Watts of Marion.

The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Anders-Rice Funeral Home with the Rev. Dr. Buddy Corbin officiating followed by a graveside service at Lanning-Pittillo Cemetery in Fruitland.

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Our sympathy is extended to our classmates Joyce and Judy Llewellyn on the loss of their father.

ROBERT PHELPS LLEWELLYN

Asheville - Robert Phelps Llewellyn, 79, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, May 7, 2005, while staying at North Greenville Extended Care Hospital in Travelers Rest, S.C., after a brief illness.

A native of Asheville, Bob was born Feb. 22, 1926. Mr. Llewellyn was the son of the late Gladys P. and Jack L. Llewellyn. Bob was a lifelong member of First Christian Church.

Mr. Llewellyn retired after 36 years with the United States Postal Service. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

Mr. Llewellyn was a pianist with The Kentucky Gentlemen, a well-known band of Asheville. Bob was an avid golfer and a friend to all creatures great and small. He was predeceased by his loving wife of 47 years, Daphine S. Llewellyn.

He is survived by his loving and devoted identical twin daughters, Joyce L. Howell and her husband, G. David Howell, of Spartanburg, S.C., and Judy L. Thrash and her husband, H. Lee Thrash III, of Roswell, Ga.; two granddaughters and their husbands, Eliza H. and Max Thomas Hyde Jr. of Spartanburg and Maggie T. and Robert G. Browning of Mableton, Ga.; and a grandson and his wife, Henry L. and Lulu S. Thrash of El Paso, Texas; and a special pet, "Dollie."

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Our sympathy is extended to the family of Ronnie and Toni Stewart on the loss of their son.

RYON BROOKS STEWART

Baltimore - Ryon Brooks Stewart, 28, of Baltimore, died Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2004.

He was a native of Buncombe County and a graduate of N.C. State University with a masters degree in electrical engineering. Ryon was an engineer employed by Northrup Grumman Corp. in Baltimore.

Surviving are his parents, Ronnie and Toni Stewart; brothers, Matthew Stewart of 21 Berry Lane, Fletcher, NC 28732 and Jason Stewart of Nashville, Tenn.; and his  grandmother, Belle Stewart of 118-2 Bear Creek Lane, Asheville, NC 28806. His family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday at Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue in Asheville. A private memorial service will be held by the family. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to ones favorite charity.

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Sincere condolences are extended to our classmates Arlene MAYS Raines on the loss of her father.

FRANCIS "FRANK" MAYS

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Our sympathy is extended to our classmate Mike Grant  on the loss of his father.

JOHN CHARLES GRANT

Asheville - John Charles Grant, 85, died Monday, Aug. 9, 2004, at his home after a period of declining health.

A lifelong resident of Buncombe County, he retired from Southern Railway and was an Army Veteran of World War II. He was a 32nd Degree Lifetime Member of Nichols - West Asheville Masonic Lodge A.F. & A.M. #650. He was the husband of the late Irene Adams Grant, who died Dec. 12, 1999.

Surviving are his daughters, Cheryl G. Candler and her husband, David, of Asheville and Karen G. Thompson and her husband, Charles, of Candler; son, Mike R. Grant and his wife, Marie, of Asheville; grandchildren, John Candler and his wife, Lori, Dustin Grant, and Ginger and Bonnie Thompson, all of Asheville; and great-grandson, Grayden.

A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Pisgah View Memorial Park with the Rev. Jackie Collins officiating. Masonic graveside rites will be provided by members of Nichols, West Asheville Masonic Lodge A.F. & A.M. #650.

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Our sympathy is extended to our classmate Howard Nahikian, on the loss of his Father.

ROBERT LEVON NAHIKIAN

Carbondale, Ill. - Robert Levon Nahikian, 87, of Carbondale, Ill., and formerly of Asheville, N.C., passed away at 3:10 a.m., Friday, Aug. 6, 2004, after a brief illness.

Robert Bob Nahikian was a resident of West Asheville for most of his life, but was born in Detroit on Jan. 12, 1917, one of four children of the late Howard Movess Nahikian and Alice Campbell Nahikian. A 1934 graduate of Christ School in Arden, N.C., he attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

In 1943 he was employed at the Enka Plant and held a military service deferment. Mr. Nahikian chose, however, to serve his country during World War II as a U.S. Navy Radioman First Class from January 1943December 1945. He served in the Pacific Theater as part of Admiral Robert Briscoes staff.

Mr. Nahikian retired from the U.S. Postal Service in 1980 after 35 years of service. For the last 16 years of his service, he worked at the U.S. Postal Service office located in the basement of the Buncombe County Court. He was known throughout the court house for his special gift of assisting anyone who asked for help with any government-related form or application.

Mr. Nahikian married Texas Irma Curtis on Feb. 25, 1936. They were married for 44 years until Mrs. Nahikians death in February 1980. Mr. and Mrs. Nahikian were founding members of St. Georges Episcopal Church, West Asheville. Mr. Nahikian was the first Senior Warden of the Vestry and many more times during the over 50 years that he continued to be an active member of St. Georges. He was most proud of having served as a volunteer general contractor to build the church on School Road.

In 1998, he moved to Carbondale, where he lived with his daughter and son-in-law, Marcia Nahikian Nelms and Jerry Nelms and their children, Taylor and Emory Nelms. Mr. Nahikian developed many ties to the community, as a member of Epiphany Lutheran Church of All Saints in Carbondale and a participant in the Hoover Eldercare Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Mr. Nahikian leaves his children and their families: Robert Lavon and Patricia Nahikian of Melrose, Fla., Marta N. and Donald E. Hicks of Greensboro, N.C., Marie Nahikian-Seymour and Gene Seymour of Brooklyn, N.Y., Howard "Nic" and Val Nahikian of Hiawassee, Ga., and Marcia and Jerry Nelms of Carbondale. Mr. Nahikian is also survived by eight grandchildren: Lisa Yackel of Richmond Hill, Ga., Deborah Nahikian of Tega Cay, S.C., Sheila Hicks Burns of Rural Hall, N.C., Nathan Nahikian of Washington, D.C., Aaron Nahikian of Albemarle, Va., Chafin Seymour of Brooklyn, N.Y., Taylor Nelms and Emory Nelms of Carbondale; great-grandchild, Kevin Yackel of Athens, Ga.; his youngest sister, Satenik ODonnell of St. Louis; and many nieces and nephews.

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Sincere condolences are extended to our classmates, Joe & Billy Reid, on the loss of their mother.

MARGARET P. REID

Asheville - Margaret Pinkston Reid, 86, of 95 Wilshire Drive, died Sunday, May 23, 2004. Mrs. Reid was born in Buncombe County and was a daughter of the late Charles R. and Kathleen Armstrong Pinkston. She was married to William M. "Bill" Reid, who died in 1970. She was a graduate of Blanton's Business College and worked as a bookkeeper at Wildey's Beauty Supplies and the GI Outlet. She was a member of St. George's Episcopal Church. Surviving are two sons, William G. Reid and C. Joseph Reid and his wife, Sherry Hendricks Reid, all of Asheville; two grandsons, William Reid and his wife, Robyn, and Daniel Reid; two sisters, Kathleen McDonald and Mary Rezzuto; and two brothers, Joe Pinkston and Sherwood Pinkston. The graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Green Hills Cemetery with the Rev. Father Harry Woggon officiating. Memorials may be made to Mountain Area Hospice, P.O. Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813. Groce Funeral Home, Patton Avenue, is in charge of arrangements.

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Our thoughts and prayers are extended to Stacy Morgan & his family  on the loss of his mother. Stacy grew up

in West Asheville and graduated with the class of 1970. Cleo was a remarkable lady and she will be missed by all

who knew her.

CLEO MORGAN

Asheville - Cleo Ann Hatch Morgan, 76, formerly of 98 Trotter Place, Asheville, died Monday, Feb. 2, 2004, at Pisgah Manor Health Care Center.  A lifelong resident of Buncombe County, she was retired from the Patton Avenue K-Mart and a member of Crossroads Assembly of God. Mrs. Morgan was the daughter of the late C.C. and Josephine Roberts Hatch and wife of William Bill Cathey Morgan who died in 2000. She was also preceded in death by a son, Roger Leslie Morgan. Surviving are her son, Stacy Morgan and wife, Phyllis, of Asheville and grandchildren, Matt Morgan and wife, Mary, of Hinesville, Ga., and Lea Morgan and Brent Morgan, both of Asheville. The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in Anders-Rice Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Wade Zachary officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the service at the funeral home. Burial will be in Green Hills Cemetery.

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Our deepest sympathy is extended to our classmate, Bob Ray, on the loss of his mother.

JOANN CARLAND RAY

JoAnn Carland Ray, 72, of 573 Old Leicester Highway, Asheville, died Thursday, Dec. 25, 2003 at her home. Mrs. Ray was born in Buncombe County and was a daughter of the late Kenneth and Virginia Webb Carland. She was married to Robert L. Ray, who died in 1992. She graduated from Lee H. Edwards High School and was a member of Calvary Baptist Church. Surviving are two sons, Bob Ray and his wife, Bobbie ,and Lt. Ron Ray and his wife, Karen, all of Asheville; three grandchildren, Lee Ray, Jeff Ray and Olivia Ray and one great-granddaughter, Alana Ray. Funeral services will be at 4 p.m. on Sunday in the Patton

Our sympathy is extended  to classmate Richard Soderquist on the loss of his father, William Soderquist

WILLIAM G. SODERQUIST

Asheville - William George Soderquist, 86, died Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2003, at Magnolia Health Care Center. A native of Graham County, he was a son of the late William O. and Bess Scott Soderquist. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Osceola Everett Soderquist, who died in 1981. A 1939 graduate of Western Carolina University, he was vice president of Hardwood Corp. of America. He was a deacon at Kenilworth Presbyterian Church, a member of the Asheville Kiwanis Club and the Toastmasters and a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of World War II. Mr. Soderquist is survived by three sons, Richard Soderquist and his wife, Katherine, Charles Soderquist and his wife, Stephanie, and Larry Soderquist, all of Asheville; two sisters, Frances Norton of Cullowhee and Ann Roberson of Titusville, Fla.; and four grandchildren. The graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Calvary Episcopal Churchyard. His family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue. At other times the family will be at 102 Old Toll Road, Asheville. The family would like to thank the staffs of Mountain Area Hospice and Magnolia Health Care and request that memorials be made to Mountain Area Hospice, P.O. Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813 or Mountain Housing Opportunities, 64 Clingman Ave., Asheville, NC 28801.

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Our sympathy is extended to our classmate Cecil Lasher  on the loss of his Mother

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Our sympathy is extended to our classmate Phillip Quinn on the loss of his Sister.

Hariette 'Tee' Quinn

 Asheville - Harriette Montee "Tee" Quinn, 62, of 45 Ottari Road,

died Monday, May 5, 2003, at her home. Miss Quinn was born in Atlanta and was a daughter of the late Clarence Emmett and Edythe Bullard Quinn. She was employed as a nurse at Magnolia Health Care Center.

Surviving are her sister, Kay Williams of Greenville, S.C.; two brothers, Steve Quinn and his wife, Jackie, of Asheville and Phillip Quinn and his wife, Sherry, of Columbus, Ga.; two nieces, Kimberly Williams and Treva Cross; and two nephews, Jason Ratcliff and Phillip Hawkins.

A memorial service will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Patton Avenue chapel of Groce Funeral Home with the Rev. Terry Duckworth officiating. Her family will receive friends at the funeral home immediately following the service and request that memorials be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 2680, North Canton, OH 44720.

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Our sincere condolences are extended to our classmate Larry McHone  on the loss of his Mother.

Claudene McHone

Claudene “Mamaw” McHone, 72, of 1 Lamb Ave., died Sunday, April 6, 2003 at Mission St. Joseph’s Health System.
 
A life long resident of Buncombe County, she was a member of Avery’s Creek United Methodist Church. She was a homemaker and a beloved guardian of her children, grand children, great grandchildren, and friends. She enjoyed helping people, cooking, and she was everybody’s “Mamaw”.
 
Mrs. McHone was the daughter of the late Herman Spencer and Kate Davis Scott and was the wife of the late Bud McHone.
Surviving are her sons, Ronnie McHone and wife Carol and Larry McHone, all of Asheville, Gary L. McHone and wife Sara and Bobby Caldwell, all of Arden; daughter, Diane Dobson and husband Joey; 13 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren: sisters, Wilma Tilson of Morganton and Marjorie Johnson of Long Beach, CA.
Funeral services will be held at 11 AM Thursday in the Anders-Rice Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Brenda Newman officiating. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 Wednesday at the funeral home. At other times, the family will be at the home of Gary McHone, 18 Fieldstone Ct., Arden.
Memorials may me made to Avery’s Creek UMC, 16 Fullam Dr., Arden, NC 28704

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Our sympathy is extended to our classmate Barbara Gross on the loss of her father.

Martin Gross

Asheville - Martin Gross, of 137 Stratford Road, died at his home Monday, March 25, 2003, after an illness. He was an Asheville resident for 60 years. Mr. Gross was born in New York City on March 13, 1916, the son of Hungarian immigrants Max and Bertha Wiesner Gross. He was also preceded in death by his brother, David Gross. He graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School with highest honors in math and went on to receive his accounting degree from New York University School of Business. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and served his country during World War II for 4 ½ years, achieving the rank of captain. While stationed in Asheville he met his first wife, Marjorie Cooper, who preceded him in death in 1958. Mr. Gross opened his accounting practice in 1945 at 44 Patton Ave. He was a 50-year member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and of the North Carolina Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He was a founder of the Mutual Investment Club of Asheville, which won Standard and Poor's 1965 National Award for Outstanding Performance. He was active in B'nai B'rith and Temple Beth Ha-Tephila, where he served as president and on the board, and a was a long-time active member of the Lions Club. After retiring from practice he spent winter months in Florida, where he served for 18 years as president and treasurer of his condominium community. He was an avid fisherman and boater and enjoyed boating with his children every summer. Mr. Gross is survived by his wife of 32 years, Nina Ash Gross; three children, Gary Gross of Key Biscayne, Fla., Barbara Sorrels of Brazil, Ind., and Jules Gross of Asheville; two stepchildren, Victoria Roberts of Norwalk, Conn., and Robert Parmer of Denver, Colo.; five grandchildren, Todd Gross, David Gross, Matthew Sorrels, Moriah Sorrels and Moses Sorrels; and two stepgrandchildren, Joshua Roberts and Rachel Parmer.

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Our sincere condolences are extended to our classmate Larry Fisher  on the loss of his Mother.

VIRGINIA W. FISHER

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Our deepest sympathy is extended to our classmate, Mike Hensley, on the loss of his father.

REV. RALPH HENSLEY SR.

ASHEVILLE - The Rev. Ralph Randolph Hensley Sr., 84, died Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2002, at Mission St. Joseph's Health System after an extended illness. A native of Buncombe County, he served as a Baptist minister in Kentucky and several churches in North Carolina before returning to Buncombe County in 1962. He was a member of Beverly Hills Baptist Church, a graduate of Lee Edwards High School, Wake Forest College and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. He was ordained as a minister on Aug. 23, 1939, at Asheville First Baptist Church and became the first minister at Starnes Cove Baptist Church. The Rev. Hensley was a son of the late W.R. and Jay Hensley. He was also preceded in death by two sisters and one brother. Surviving are his wife of 61 years, Frances Gregg Hensley of the home; sons, Randy Hensley of Dunedin, Fla., Mike Hensley of Wake Forest and Morris Hensley of Safety Harbor, Fla.; three grandchildren and one great-grandson. The graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Forest Lawn Memorial Park with the Rev. Tim Lolley officiating. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Friday at Anders-Rice Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to WNC Baptist Home, 213 Richmond Hill Drive, Asheville, NC 28806. To sign Mr. Hensley's guest book online, please go to "Funeral Schedule" at Anders-Rice Funeral Home.

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Our thoughts and prayers are with our classmate Tom Charbonneau on the loss of his father.

RAY A. CHARBONNEAU

WEAVERVILLE - Ray A. Charbonneau, 84, of 4 Northview Lane, died Monday, July 22, 2002, at his home, surrounded by his family. Mr. Charbonneau was born in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, and was a son of the late Thomas J. and Rosalie Daniels Charbonneau. He was raised in Detroit and served in the Army Air Corps from 1941 to 1945, flying in A-20s in the 97th Bomb Group in North Africa. After being wounded and receiving the Purple Heart, he was returned to the United States for recovery, where he met and later married Helen Cole, a member of the Women's Army Corps from Asheville. Together they moved to Asheville in 1946. He attended Asheville-Biltmore College, where he served as editor of the Bluets School Literary Magazine, and later attended the University of Detroit. He worked as a supervisor for the U.S. Postal Service in Asheville until his retirement in 1976. He was a loyal UNC basketball fan and also loved the diversity of all music. He was a former member of the Knights of Columbus and a member of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church. Surviving are his wife, Helen Cole Charbonneau; three daughters, Helen Rae Charbonneau of Marietta, S.C., Anne Feltham-Charbonneau and her husband, Richard Feltham, of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and Katherine Lee of Durango, Colo.; son, Thomas Cole Charbonneau and his wife, Brenda, of Fairview; two sisters, Violet Barber of Citrus Springs, Fla., and Jill Bolton and her husband, (Ray's lifelong friend) Sam, of Luddington, Mich.; seven grandchildren, Heather Rogers Verdino and her husband, Jerry, and Charles Rogers of Columbia, S.C., Warren Feltham, Ned Feltham and Rich Feltham and his wife, Michelle, all of Halifax, and Kimbrough and Leah Charbonneau of Fairview; six great- grandchildren, Garrett, Sam, Michael and Jerry Verdino and Daniel and Jessica Feltham; and his pet dog, Woofie. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 3 p.m. Thursday at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church. The Rev. Fr. John M. Pagel and the Rev. Dr. Guy Sayles will officiate. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery. His family will receive friends Thursday at the church fellowship hall one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 919 Haywood Road, Asheville, NC 28806. Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue is in charge of the arrangements. The memorial register is available at "Funerals Scheduled

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Our heartfelt sympathy is extended to our classmate, Jeana Piercy, on the loss of her father

CHARLES HUGHES PIERCY

ASHEVILLE - Charles Hughes Piercy, 85, of 4 E. Baird Mountain Road, died Sunday, July 21, 2002. Mr. Piercy was born Oct. 31, 1916, in Yancey County and was a resident of Buncombe County for the past 57 years. He was a mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service for 40 years, having retired in 1984. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Army Air Corps. Charles was a member and elder of Malvern Hills Presbyterian Church and attended Woodland Hills Baptist Church. He was a member of the National Association of Letter Carriers and the American Legion and was an avid gardener. Mr. Piercy was the son of the late Fred and Dolly Lewis Piercy. Surviving are his wife of 55 years, Alice Henson Piercy; daughters, Barbara Jan Piercy of Winston-Salem and Jeana Piercy Branscomb of Arden; son, Charles Keith Piercy and his wife, Jane, of Silver Spring, Md.; sisters, Bess P. Boyd of New London and Patricia P. Jenkins of Cocoa Beach, Fla.; and two grandchildren. The graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Enka. Flowers are acceptable and appreciated. Those desiring to make a memorial contribution are encouraged to consider Woodland Hills Baptist Church, 50 Woodland Hills Road, Asheville, NC 28804 or Malvern Hills Presbyterian Church, 2 Bear Creek Road, Asheville, NC 28806. West Funeral Home, 17 Merrimon Ave., Weaverville, is in charge of arrangements.

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Our thoughts and prayers are with Marshall, Milton and the entire Ramsey family.  Your Mom will be missed by all of us who knew her.

MABEL TWEED RAMSEY

ASHEVILLE - Mabel Marie Tweed Ramsey, 80, of 83 Lanning St., died Wednesday April 10, 2002, at the home of her daughter, Sandy Dryman, at 82 Stewart St. A native of Greenville, Tenn., she had resided in Buncombe County since 1943. She was a retired practical nurse and a member of The Candler House of Prayer. She was a daughter of the late Ervin Fowler and Addie Mae Sands Tweed and wife of Ulysess Grant Ramsey Jr., who died in 1981. A son, John Ramsey, also preceded her in death. Surviving are her daughters, Jackie Smith and Sandy Dryman, both of Asheville; sons, Ulysess Ramsey of Asheville, Milton Ramsey of New Port Richie, Fla., and Marshall Ramsey of Asheville; sisters, Carol Morris of Gardenia, Calif., and Ruth Riling of German Town, Tenn.; nine grandchildren; three step-grandchildren and three great- grandchildren. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Anders-Rice Funeral Home with the Rev. Chuck Waldrup officiating. Burial will be in Madison Seminary Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Mountain Area Hospice, P.O. Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813. To sign Mrs. Ramesy's guest book on line, go to "Funeral Schedule" at Anders-Rice Funeral Home.

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Our heartfelt sympathy is extended to Beverly & her family on the loss of her father.

ROBERT DONALD POORE

Robert Donald Poore, 84, of 288 Luther Road, Candler, died Tuesday, February 26, 2002, at Pisgah Manor Nursing Center.

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Our sympathy is extended  to classmates Cris & Gaden Maney on the loss of their father, James Maney.

JAMES C. `BUDDY' MANEY JR.

ASHEVILLE - James C. "Buddy" Maney Jr., 88, formerly of 137 Westwood Place, died Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2002, in a Black Mountain health care facility. A native of Barnardsville, he was a son of the late James C. and Dora Burleson Maney. He was married to Virginia Ingle Maney, who died in 1985. He was also preceded in death by two grandsons, Paul Dwight Maney and John Lee Maney, a sister, Mabel Maney Woody, and a brother, Robert Glenn Maney. Mr. Maney served in the U.S. Army during World War II as counter intelligence with the 29th Division and he and his brother, Bill owned and operated Maney Brothers Grocery in West Asheville. He was retired from the N.C. Judicial System, where he was a former state probation officer and a magistrate court judge. He was a Mason and former member and deacon at both Calvary and Westwood Baptist churches. Survivors include a daughter, Jenny Lynn McClure and her husband, Ed, of Lubbock, Texas; two sons, Cris Maney and his wife, Teresa, of High Point and Gaden Maney and his wife, Terra, of Swannanoa; a sister, Grace Bennett of Asheville; a brother, William C. Maney and his wife, Evelyne, of Asheville; eight grandchildren, Chase, Jared, Nathan and Maegan McClure and Adam, Seth, Chelsey and Emma Maney; one great-grandchild, Alex McClure; and a former daughter-in-law and mother of Adam and Seth, Pat Stillwell. The funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Patton Avenue chapel of Groce Funeral Home with the Rev. Dr. Buddy Corbin officiating. Burial will follow at Green Hills Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the services at the funeral home and at other times will be at the home of Gaden Maney in Swannanoa. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Calvary Baptist Church Building Fund, 531 Haywood Road, Asheville, NC 28806 or to Asheville Christian Academy Building Fund, 50 Bell Road, Asheville, NC 28805. A memorial register is available at "Funerals Scheduled" at Groce Funeral Home.

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Those of us who grew up in West Asheville (in particular the Malvern Hills area) will fondly remember Bill Sisk who owned and operated Malvern Hills Drugstore.  He was a very good friend and many of us wiled away hours in his store,  drinking cherry cokes and brousing through comic books.  He will be missed by all who new him.

WILLIAM T. SISK

William Taylor Sisk, 68, of 18 Chester Place, died Thursday, November 1, 2001, at a local hospital.
A native of Swain County, he was the son of the late Charles J. and Frances Rasor Sisk.  He was a graduate of Lee H. Edwards High School and UNC- Chapel Hill School of Pharmacy and was the owner/operator of Malvern Hills Drug Store.
He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Lareen Sumner Sisk; three daughters, Michele Stratta of Greensboro, Mary Noguchi and her husband Mitsu of Nagoya, Japan, and Kathleen Sisk of Mebane; a son, Taylor Sisk of Kure Beach; three grandchildren, Charles Sisk and his wife Cathy of Boston, MA, and Sean and Lukas Noguchi of Nagoya, Japan; and a sister, Sandra Malone of Caliente, CA.
The family will receive friends from 1:00 - 5:00 pm, Sunday, at the residence, 18 Chester Place.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Thoms Community Care Foundation, 68 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville, NC 28803.
Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue is assisting the family.
 

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Our sympathy is extended  to classmate Kathy Beard & her family on the loss of her father, Banks Beard.

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Our sincere condolences to classmate Bill Coffey on the loss of his wife, Louise.

LOUISE D. COFFEY

MAULDIN, S.C. - Louise Dunlap Coffey, 50, of 7 Napa Court, Mauldin, died unexpectedly at her home Saturday, May 26, 2001. A native of Fletcher, she was the daughter of Ansel and Melba Nix Dunlap of Fletcher. She was a member of Fletcher First Baptist Church and a receptionist for the KPMG accounting firm. Louise was on the board of directors and served as secretary of the Greenville Harley Owners Association and was on the Board of the South Carolina State Harley Owners Association. In addition to her parents, she is survived by her husband, William H. "Bill" Coffey; her son, Monty Coffey of Charlotte and her brother, the Rev. Philip Dunlap of Fletcher. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Shepherd Memorial Park, conducted by the Rev. Philip Dunlap. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Harley Owners Association. Her family will receive friends from 7 - 9 p.m. Monday at Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian on Long Shoals Road. Memorials may be made to the Greenville Family Learning Team, c/o Harley Owners Assn., P.O. Box 1245, Mauldin, SC 29662. The memorial register may be signed online by going to "Funerals Scheduled" at Groce Funeral Home.

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Our deepest sympathy is extended to our classmate, Mike Coughlin, on the loss of his father.

JAMES WILBUR COUGHLIN

James Wilbur Coughlin, 77, of 7 Lynnwood Road, Asheville, died Saturday, October 6, 2001, in an  Mr. Coughlin a native of  Wisconsin and served in the US Army Signal Corps during WW II. He was a 1950 graduate of University of Wisconsin receiving a B.S. in  Electrical Engineering. He was a marketing manager for the Square D Company for 30 years and was transferred to Asheville in 1961. He was active with various community services including the Habitat for Humanity, the “Festival of Trees” fund-raiser for Hospice, and Helpmate, Inc. He was an active member of St. Eugene’s Catholic Church, serving on numerous boards, committees and activities.

Mr. Coughlin is survived by  his wife, Virginia; his son Michael and wife Nina of Greensboro, NC; son Patrick and wife Julie of Weaverville, NC; daughter Karen and Jerry Brown of Hendersonville, NC; daughter Joanne Davis and husband Jeff of Dublin, GA; and daughter Diane who lives in the Wolf Laurel area of NC; eight grandchildren, Andrew, Daniel, Christopher, Sean, Scooter, Vandy, Michael and Ryan. He is also survived by a brother Joseph and his wife Elaine, a sister Virginia and her husband Steve Brigham, a sister Bette and her husband Dr. William Tyznik, a brother William and his wife JoAnne, a sister Helen Rita Bass, and a brother Steve and his wife Corrine.

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