George David Farthing

Mr. George David Farthing, 90, of Vilas, the Bethel community, died Thursday, Jan. 6, 2005, at the Watauga Medical Center.

He was born Nov. 20, 1914 in the Bethel community to William Young and Naomi Perry Farthing.

Mr. Farthing was a graduate of Bethel High School. At an early age he joined Bethel Baptist Church. As an active member, he served on various committees, including 20 years service as church treasurer. From 1943 to 1954 he owned and operated the Watauga Telephone System. In 1954 he sold the system to Skyline Telephone Membership Corporation, but continued to operate his system until 1957, until Skyline had their system ready to go into operation. In addition to operating the telephone system and a grade A dairy, he did much community work, serving as presiding officer of the Bethel Community Club and the Beaver Dam Grange. He was known to be the best neighbor in the community. When others needed assistance, or just to borrow a piece of machinery, they knew they could always call on Mr. Farthing.

Survivors include his wife of 69 years, Loy Farthing; two children, Anne F. Herlong of Ridge Springs, S.C., and John David Farthing and his wife, Christy, of Morganton. Four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren also survive.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, Perry, Dana and Ivan Farthing; and one sister, Nanny Farthing Swift.

Graveside services were conducted Saturday afternoon, Jan. 8, at the Winfield Scott Farthing Cemetery, officiated by the Rev. Charles McKnight.

Memorials may be made to the Winfield Scott Farthing Cemetery Fund, 1292 Bethel Road, Vilas, N.C. 28692.

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home is serving the Farthing family.

Grace Walser Greene

Mrs. Grace Walser Greene, 85, of 167 Possum Hollow Road, Blowing Rock, wife of the late Stacy S. Greene, died Friday morning, Jan. 14, 2005, at Watauga Medical Center.

She was born Feb. 16, 1919, in Blowing Rock, Watauga County, to the late Charles Robert and Dovie Earp Walser.

Mrs. Greene graduated from Blowing Rock High School and retired from Blowing Rock Hospital in 1981 after 20 years of service as Dietary Manager. She was a homemaker and a member of Laurel Fork Baptist Church.

Survivors include one sister, Mrs. Susie Underwood of Vilas; two nieces, Joan Sharpe and husband, Paul, and Barbara Beach and husband, Brent, all of Boone; and two nephews, Carl Underwood and wife, Michelle, of Vilas and Wayne Greene and wife, Linda, of Old Fort. She is also survived by a number of great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by a sister, Mrs. Lois Greene; and two brothers, John Walser and Paul Walser.

Services were conducted Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. at Laurel Fork Baptist Church, officiated by Dr. Daniel Featherstone. Burial followed in Woodlawn Cemetery in Blowing Rock.

Memorial contributions may be made to Laurel Fork Baptist Church, Women on Mission, P.O. Box 1147, Boone, N.C. 28607.

Online condolences may be sent to www.hamptonfuneralservice.com

Hampton Funeral Service was in charge of arrangements.

Fred William Harmon

Mr. Fred William Harmon, 95, of Highway 421 North, Vilas, died Saturday evening, Jan. 15, 2005, at the Watauga Medical Center.

He was born Jan. 1, 1910 in Watauga County, a son of Joel Wayne and Nora Mae Mast Harmon.

Mr. Harmon was a member of Brushy Fork Baptist Church. He was a retired salesman from Watauga Builders Supply.

Survivors include one son, Barton Lane Harmon and wife, Marcia, of Vilas; two grandchildren, Vonda Sharpe and husband, James, and Eric Harmon and wife, Jessica, all of Vilas; and four great-grandchildren, Brandon and Ashtyn Mast and Jacob and Kayla Ann Harmon.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Jessie Mae Tester Harmon; his second wife, Belle Pennell Harmon; two infant sons and one infant daughter; and three sisters, Ruby Cannon, Cleo Tester and Berlie Cross.

Services will be conducted Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by the Rev. Andy McFarland and the Rev. Jeff Woods.

The body will lie in state at the chapel from 1-2 p.m. Burial will follow at Mount Lawn Memorial Park & Gardens.

Flowers are appreciated or the family suggests memorials to the Brushy Fork Baptist Church, Building Fund, 3915 U.S. Highway 421 North, Vilas, N.C. 28692, or to Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Hand to Hand Program, 1564 Silverstone Road, Zionville, N.C. 28698.

The family will receive friends Monday evening from 7-8:30 at Austin & Barnes.

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home is serving the Harmon family.

John Vernon Idol

Mr. John Vernon Idol, 87, of Boone Trail, North Wilkesboro, died Saturday, Jan. 15, 2005, at Blowing Rock Hospital.

He was born March 28, 1917 in Watauga County, to Joseph Anderson and Fleetie Bell Watson Idol.

Mr. Idol received a B.S. and a Master’s Degree from Appalachian State Teachers College. He served in the United States Army during World War II.

He hegan his career in education as principal at Deep Gap School in Watauga County, then came to Wilkes County in 1947 to teach at Mt. Pleasant High School, served as assistant principal and then principal of Millers Creek High School. From 1954 until 1956 he served as Millers Creek District Principal. When the schools were consolidated, he became principal of West Wilkes District Schools. In the early 1960s, he served as Assistant Superintendent of Wilkes County Schools. Mr. Idol helped prepare the application to start Wilkes Community College. He served the college as Dean for Student Services and then Vice President for Student Services until his retirement in 1978.

Mr. Idol was elected to the Wilkes County Board of Education and was appointed as trustee of Wilkes Community College. He was a member and Past Master of Mt. Pleasant Masonic Lodge #573, a charter member and Past Worthy Patron of Mt. Pleasant Chapter #67 Order of the Eastern Star, served as President of the Kiwanis Club, life member of the V.F.W. Post #1142, served on the North Carolina Athletic Association, Past President of the Appalachian Alumni Association, Past President of the Wilkes County N.C.E.A. and Northwestern District N.C.E.A., served as director of the Wilkes Y.M.C.A., Northwestern and First Union Bank, President of the Northwest Development Association, a member of the Dixie Classic Fair Commission and was a past moderator of The Brushy Mountain Baptist Association. He was a member and deacon of Lewis Fork Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Etta Lee Triplett Idol; one daughter, Sharon Ann Oxford of Winston-Salem; one son, John Franklin Idol of Greensboro; one sister, Lucille Wilson of Boone; four grandchildren, John Sterling Oxford of Oxford, Miss., Clayton Harris Oxford of Winston-Salem, Sarah Whitley Oxford of Mont Eagle, Tenn. and Kathryn Leigh Idol of Chapel Hill.

Funeral services will be held Monday afternoon at 2 p.m., at Lewis Fork Baptist Church with the Rev. Sherrill Wellborn officiating. Burial with Masonic Rites by Mt. Pleasant Post #573 will be in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends at Lewis Fork Baptist Church Monday from 12:30 until 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Wilkes Community College Scholarship Fund, P.O. Drawer 120, Wilkesboro, N.C. 28697, The Health Foundation, P.O. Box 667, North Wilkesboro, N.C. 28659 or to the charity of the donor’s choice.

Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home in North Wilkesboro was in charge of the arrangements.

Rev. William Glen Proffit

Rev. William Glen Proffit, 92, of 214 Willow Lane, Todd and Glenbridge Health Care, Boone, died Sunday morning, Jan. 16, 2005, at Watauga Medical Center.

He was born Aug. 27, 1912, in the Meat Camp community of Watauga County, to the late John Frank and Floy Elizabeth Thomas Proffit.

Rev. Proffit was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and a farmer. He retired from the former Vermont American Corporation in Boone and was a member and former pastor of the Church of Deliverance on Meat Camp Road.

Survivors include three sisters, Mrs. Suma Miller of Boone, Phyllis Eller and husband, James, of Mountain City, Tenn. and Jewel Thomas and husband, Albert, of Zionville; one brother, Ralph Proffit and wife, Mary Lee, of Boone; and six sisters-in-law, Mrs. Fannie Mae Miller, Mrs. Virginia Smith and Mrs. Faye Miller, all of Boone; Mrs. Ann Miller and Mrs. Mag Miller, both of Todd, and Mrs. Ocie Miller of Mountain City, Tenn. He is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews, including special nieces and caregivers, Evonne Miller Settle and Irene Norris.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Opal Miller Proffit; a sister, Eva Proffit; and six brothers, Kermit Proffit, Cless Proffit, Marvin Proffit, Bernard Proffit, Ray Proffit and Dean Proffit; and two sisters-in-law, Bonnie Proffit and Helen Proffit; and a brother-in-law, Clint Miller.

Services will be conducted Tuesday morning at 11 o’clock at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. The body will lie in state from 10-11 a.m. Officiating will be Pastor Bruce Miller and the Rev. Delmar James. Military graveside honors and burial will follow at Pleasant Valley Methodist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends this evening (Monday) from 6-8 p.m. at Hampton Funeral Service.

Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Jean Weeks Padgett Ross

Mrs. Jean Weeks Padgett Ross, 83, of Cresent Avenue, Greenville, S.C., died Friday, Jan. 14, 2005, at the Watauga Medical Center.

She was born Oct. 18, 1921, in Spartanburg, S.C., a daughter of the late James Colton and Josie Bryson Weeks.

Mrs. Ross was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Greenville. She was retired from C. Dan Joyner & Co., where she worked in real estate sales. Formerly she had worked as a designer for Stone Manufacturing Company, in public relations for Pepsi and Seven Up for Hartness Bottling Company, and as a designer for D.J. Joyner Designs.

Survivors include one daughter, Patricia Padgett Quinn and husband, Charles, of Boone; three grandchildren, Tricia Quinn Cottingham of Kernersville, N.C., Charles Quinn, Jr., and wife, Kim, of Boone, and Meg Quinn of Greenville, S.C.; six great-grandchildren, Catherine and Michael Cottingham, Ashley, Chas, Casey, and Allison Quinn; two sisters, Bebe Gibbs of Talking Rock, Ga., and Ann Jumper of Chattanooga, Tenn.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Edgar A. Ross; and one sister, Margaret Ross.

Services will be conducted Tuesday afternoon at 1 o’clock at the First Presbyterian Church in Greenville. Officiating will be the Rev. Tim Leslie and the Rev. Randolph Kowalski. Burial will follow in the Woodlawn Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Greenville, 200 West Washington Street, Greenville, S.C. 29601, or to the First Presbyterian Church of Boone, 663 Howard Street, Boone, N.C. 28607.

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home in Boone, and Mackey Funeral Home in Greenville are serving the Ross family.

Roy Luke Wagner

Mr. Roy Luke Wagner, 77, of Zionville, died Thursday night, Jan. 13, 2005, at Ashe Living Center in Jefferson.

He was born Nov. 9, 1927, in Leona Mines, Lee County, Va., to the late Lee Roy and Florence Potter Wagner.

Mr. Wagner graduated from high school in Roan Creek, Tenn. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II and a retired concrete finisher from Greene Construction Company in Boone.

Survivors include one son, J.R. Wagner and wife, Gwen, of Zionville; one granddaughter, Jessica Reese and husband, Steve, of Mountain City, Tenn.; one grandson, Justin Lee Wagner of Zionville; one great-grandson, Steve Reese; and two great-granddaughters, Hannah Reese and Megan Reese, all of Mountain City; one brother, Bill Wagner and wife, Shirley, of Mountain City; and one sister, Jennie Lee Wagner and husband, Richard Pennington, of Danville, Va. He is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Artruda Stevens Wagner.

Services were conducted Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Carl Johnson and the Rev. Russell Cook officiating. Entombment followed in the Zionville Mausoleum.

Online condolences may be sent to www.hamptonfuneralservice.com.

Hampton Funeral Service was in charge of the arrangements.

Etolia Foster Welborn

Mrs. Etolia Foster Welborn, 91, of Boone Trail, North Wilkesboro, widow of Paul Dixon Welborn, died Thursday, Jan. 13, 2005, at Southwestern Regional Medical Center in Lumberton.

She was born Feb. 1, 1913 in Wilkes County, to Grant and Frances Summerlin Foster.

Mrs. Welborn was a member of Mount Zion Baptist Church and Mount Pleasant Eastern Star.

Survivors include one daughter, Mary Nell Maloney and husband, John, of Lumberton; three sons, Paul Welborn, Sr. and wife, Anne, of Mountain City, Tenn., Bob Welborn and wife, Dorothy, of Millers Creek, and Dickie Lee Welborn and wife, Gail, of Purlear; nine grandchildren, Paul Welborn Jr., Andy Welborn, both of Mountain City, Tenn.; Randy Welborn, Greg Welborn, both of Millers Creek; Angela Barnes of Wilkesboro; Derek Welborn of North Wilkesboro; Darren Welborn of Mooresville; Donna Phillips of Purlear and Jason Welborn, both of Pembroke, N.C.; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Services were conducted Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. at Reins-Sturdivant Chapel with the Rev. Clifford Johnson officiating. Burial followed in Mount Zion Baptist Church Cemetery at Ferguson.

Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home in North Wilkesboro, was in charge of the arrangements.

Mr. Guy Spencer Dyer
Mr. Guy Spencer Dyer, 55, of 273 Old Anderson Quarry Road, Vilas, died Wednesday morning, Jan. 12, 2005, at Watauga Medical Center.
He was born Dec. 13, 1949, in Boone, Watauga County, to the late Ernest Spencer and Margaret Earlene Church Dyer.
Mr. Dyer was a groundskeeper for Grandfather Golf & Country Club and a member of Doe Ridge Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Ala Sue Davis Dyer, and one son, Spencer Dyer, both of Collettsville; one daughter, Vickie Presnell and husband, Keith, of Banner Elk (Beech Creek); three sisters, Margaret Presnell and husband, Junior, Bronda Dyer and Debbie Gragg and husband, Ray, all of Boone; and two brothers, Edward Dyer of Boone and Rhonda ÒWoodyÓ Dyer of Mountain City, Tenn. He is also survived by two grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.
Services were conducted Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by the Rev. Arville Hardy and Mr. Finley Hodges. Burial followed in Mount Lawn Memorial Park & Gardens.
Hampton Funeral Service was in charge of the arrangements.

Bobby Sterling Smith

Mr. Bobby Sterling Smith, 72, of Deep Gap, died Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2005, at his home.
He was born in Watauga County, Sept. 27,1932, to Sterling and Patty Ann May Smith.
Survivors include his wife, Sue Davis Smith; one sister, Barbara Hartley and husband, Tommy, of Boone, N.C.; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Betty Jo Evert.
Private graveside services were held Thursday, Jan. 13, at Ashelawn Memorial Gardens with military rites. Rev. J. D. Walton officiated.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Watauga, 136 Furman Road, Boone, N.C. 28607.
Condolences may be emailed to the family through our website at www.ashelawn.com
Ashelawn Memorial Chapel and Gardens was in charge of arrangements.