August 10, 2006

Alfred S. Alschuler III

Mr. Alfred S. Alschuler III, 66, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on Thursday, August 3, 2006.

He was born August 14, 1939 in Highland Park, Illinois, the son of the late Helene and Alfred Alschuler.

Mr. Alschuler was a devoted teacher and mentor at Harvard, UMass Amherst, and Appalachian State University. He served as President of John F. Kennedy University, President of the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, and Dean of the Reich College of Education at ASU. He  also published numerous books, articles and web sites. Mr. Alschuler was a devoted friend and a loving and supportive father.

He is survived by his partner Suzanne; former spouses Irene and Cathryn; four children and their spouses, Lise and Ann, Britt and Colin, Alfie and Ericka, and Elena; four grandchildren; and siblings Art, Larry and Aryn.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 19, at 2:00 p.m. at the Amherst College Alumni House in Amherst, Massachusetts. Mr. Alschuler asked that in lieu of flowers donations be sent to Hospice of Franklin County, Massachusetts.

James Ralph Walker

Mr.  James Ralph Walker, 101, of Canary Drive, Boonville, N.C., passed away Monday, August 7, 2006, at Wilkes Regional Medical Center. 

He was born April 24, 1905 in Rominger, N.C., to the late John Young and Martha Rominger Walker. 

Mr. Walker was a graduate of Berea College in Kentucky and for 39 years was the Agricultural and Vocational Teacher, from 1929-1968, at Boonville High School and Starmount High School. He was a member of Boonville United Methodist Church, the Boonville Lions Club, Boonville Grange, and operated the Boonville Cannery. 

Surviving are his two sons, James Howard Walker and wife, Linda, of Vancouver, Wash., Eugene Walker and wife, Brenda, of Roaring River, N.C. and Sugar Grove, N.C.; three grandchildren, Stephen Walker and Erik Walker, both of Vancouver, Wash.; Marty Walker, and wife, Gidget, of Easley, S.C; and one great-grandchild, Ashley Walker, Vancouver, Wash. 

In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his wife, Lillian Halsey Walker in 1993, and by two brothers, William Howard Walker and Robert Walker.

A graveside service was held Thursday morning at 11 a.m. in the Boonville  Cemetery by the Rev. Marion Swann.

Memorials may be made to Boonville United Methodist Church Building Fund, 116 N Carolina Ave, Boonville, N.C. 27011. 

Gentry Family Funeral Service of Yadkinville is serving the Walker family.

August 4 , 2006

Juanita T. Hicks

Ms. Juanita T. Hicks, 82, of Glenbridge Health Care, Boone, died Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2006.

Ms. Hicks was born March 9, 1924 in Watauga County, a daughter of  Addie Belle Tester Trivette and the late Grady Sherwood Trivette. She was the former postmaster at the Vilas Post Office, and a member of Willow Dale Baptist Church.

Ms. Hicks is survived by one daughter, Ms. Catherine Rogers of Shreveport, La.; her mother, Mrs. Addie Trivette of Vilas; three sisters, Mrs. Polly Mele of Boone, Mrs. Doris Blankenship and husband, Marion, of West Jefferson, and Mrs. Peggy Cunningham and husband, Les, of Ocklawaha, Fla.; one brother, George Trivette, and wife, Alice, of Piney Flats, Tenn.; one grandson, Eric Rogers, and wife, Tammy ,of Johnson City, Tenn.; and one granddaughter, Heather Rogers Mather, and husband, Richard, of Jonesboro, Tenn. One great-grandchild and a number of nieces and nephews also survive.

In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Ruth Brown and Mae Brown; one brother, Charles Curtis Trivette; one infant sister, Frankie Lee Trivette; and an infant brother, Jerry Trivette.

Services will be conducted Friday morning, Aug. 4,  at 11 a.m. at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. The body will lie in state from 10  until 11 a.m. Officiating will be the Rev. Gordon Noble. Burial will follow in the Cove Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Thursday evening, from 6:30 until 8 at the funeral home. At other times friends may call at the home of the mother, Mrs. Addie Trivette, 607 George's Gap Road, Vilas.

Flowers are appreciated, or memorial contributions may be made to Saint Jude’s Childrens Research Hospital, 501 Saint Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn. 38105-1942.

Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Grace N. Martens

Grace N. Martens, 94, peacefully passed away in her sleep early July 27, 2006 at Summer Breeze on Wilmington Island. 

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, on July 2, 1912, she lived in Lima, Ohio, Stuart, Fla., and Boone,   prior to coming to Savannah, Ga., in 2000.

Mrs. Martens attended Wesley Oaks Methodist Church in Thunderbolt, and was a member of the “S” chapter of  the PEO sisterhood in Savannah.  She had been a member of PEO since 1948.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Forest M. Martens; and a son, Forest G. Martens.

Surviving are a son,  L. Scott Martens, and his wife, Barbara, of Savannah; grandchildren, Merilee Bakewell and husband, Buzz,  of Morganton, N.C., Glenda Guise of North Miami Beach, Fla., Christopher Martens and wife, Carolyn, of Portland, Ore., and Todd Martens and wife, Elaine, of Boca Raton, Fla.;  nine great-grandchildren,  Megan and Lindsey Bakewell, Christen, Casey and Katelyn Guise, Grace and Lucas Martens, and Caden and Ainsley Martens.

Mrs. Martens retired from a successful real estate career in Ohio to enjoy golf and playing bridge. 

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, Aug.  4, at the Wesley Oaks Methodist Church in Thunderbolt.  

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the PEO Cotty College Fund or the Wesley Oaks Methodist Church.

Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements.

Arvel Edsel Reese

Mr. Arvel Edsel Reese,   68, of 399 Rich Mountain Road, Zionville, died Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 1, 2006, at the Watauga Medical Center.

Mr. Reese was born Dec. 10, 1937 in Watauga County, a son of the late Edward Harvey and Sarah Johnson Reese. He was a retired manager for the Schwab Tire Company in The Dalles, Ore.

Mr. Reese is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Marie Mast and husband, Jackie, of Sugar Grove, and Ms. Betty Lewis of Jacksonville, Fla.; and two brothers, Johnny Reese and wife, JoAnn, of Trade, Tenn., and Burl Reese and wife, Nola, of Lenoir.

A number of nieces and nephews also survive.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Jewel Reese.

Services  will be conducted Saturday afternoon, Aug. 5,  at 2 p.m. at Zionville Baptist Church. The body will lie in state from 1 until 2 p.m. Officiating will be the Rev. Carl Johnson. Burial will follow in the Zionville Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Saturday from 1 until 2 p.m. at the church prior to the service.

Flowers are appreciated, or memorial contributions may be made to the Zionville Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, in care of Ollie Phipps, 800 Murdock Road, Trade, Tenn. 37691. The family has respectfully requested no food.

Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Herbert Watson

Herbert Edsel Watson, 75, of Advent Church Road, Taylorsville, died Sunday, July 30, 2006, at Frye Regional Medical Center.

He was born Oct. 31, 1930 in Watauga County to the late Walter V. and Effie Hayes Watson.

Mr. Watson was a retired forklift operator for Kincaid Furniture Industries and attended Lenoir First Free Will Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Rachel B. Watson of the home; a son, Jerry Dean Watson of Lenoir; two stepsons, Ronnie and Steve Garnes, both of Lenoir; a stepdaughter, Mrs. Betty Wilcox of Lenoir; three brothers, Edwin Watson of Cleveland, Ohio, Bobby Watson of Deep Gap, and Roger Watson of Blowing Rock; three sisters, Mrs. Nina Ruth Davis and Mrs. Carolyn Lyons, both of Boone, and Mrs. Joyce Greene of Lenoir; seven stepgrandchildren; four stepgreat-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Services were held Wednesday, Aug. 2, at 11 a.m. at Lenoir First Free Will Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Jack Moses, the Rev. Julius Hall and the Rev. David Ross. Interment followed at Simmons Cemetery in Deep Gap.

Memorial contributions may be made to: American Cancer Society, 6000 Fairview Road, Suite 200, South Atlantic Division, Charlotte, N.C. 28210.

Greer-McElveen Funeral Home and Crematory in Lenoir was in charge of arrangements.

John David Woodard

John David Woodard, 37, of 702 Miller Road, Trade, Tenn., passed away suddenly on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2006.

He was born on June 13, 1969 in Boone, to Bobbie Jean Miller Woodard of Trade, Tenn., and the late Ranson David Woodard.

In addition to his father, John was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, P.J. and Lillie Miller and paternal grandparents, Newton and Alice Woodard.

He enjoyed camping and loved spending time with his children, family and friends. He was a member of God’s Country Church.

In addition to his mother, Bobbie Jean (Miller-Woodard) Hill, John is survived by his stepfather, Marvin Hill, both of Trade, Tenn.; wife, Angela Potter Woodard of the home; three daughters, Amanda Woodard, Arizona Woodard and Montana Woodard; two sons, Anthony Woodard and Nevada Woodard, all of the home; two sisters, Yvonne Delp of Trade, Tenn., and Connie Stout of Mountain City, Tenn.; and two brothers, Tony Woodard of Trade, Tenn., and Teddy Manuel of Lenoir.

Several nieces, nephews, uncles, aunts and cousins also survive.

Services will be conducted at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4, at the Charles B. Hux Memorial Chapel of the Hux-Lipford Funeral Home, with the Rev. Ronnie Manuel officiating.

Music will be under the direction of the Rev. Ronnie Manuel.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 6 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home.

Graveside services and interment will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 5, at the Main-Miller Cemetery.

Active pallbearers will be Chad Greer, Jamie Stout, Chris Cole, Roger Reece, Selmer Humphrey and Butler Potter.

Honorary pallbearers are Tony Woodard, Clyde Miller, Ivey Miller and Benny Miller.

Family, pallbearers and friends are asked to assemble by 10:45 a.m. on Saturday at the cemetery for graveside services.

At other times, the family will receive friends at the home of a sister, Yvonne Delp, on highway U.S. 421 (behind Woody’s fireworks), Trade, Tenn.

Condolences may be sent to the family through the Web site at www.hux-lipford.com

Arrangements for the Woodard family are in the care of Hux-Lipford Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

July 31, 2006

Leo D'Agostino Sr.

Mr. Leo D'Agostino Sr., 77, of 136 Ivy Drive, Boone, died Wednesday evening, July 27, 2006, at Watauga Medical Center.

He was born Oct. 9, 1928 in Stamford, Conn., a son of the late Leonard and Rose Aiello D’Agostino.

Mr. D’Agostino was a retired maintenance worker for the Stamford Connecticut Housing Authority.

Survivors include his wife, Emogene Hollars D'Agostino; three daughters, Sandra Wilcox, and husband, James, of Boone, Andrea Hitt and husband, Earl, of Clarksburg, W.Va., and Arlene Hometer and husband, Zane, of Boone; three sons, Leonard D'Agostino  Jr. and Jeffery D'Agostino, both of Boone, and Steven D'Agostino and wife, Melinda, of Deep Gap; and a sister-in-law, Pat D'Agostino of Stamford, Conn..

Ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, and a number of nieces and nephews also survive.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one son, Randall J. D'Agostino; two sisters, Mary Johnson, and Anna D'Agostino; and three brothers, Alfred, Louis, and Thomas D'Agostino.

Services were conducted Saturday morning at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. Officiating was the Rev. Gordon Noble. Burial followed in Mount Lawn Memorial Park and Gardens.

Hampton Funeral Service was in charge of the arrangements.

Bobbie Hale Dooley

Mrs. Bobbie Hale Dooley, 66, of 204 Doe Valley Lane, Deep Gap, died Monday morning, July 24, 2006 at home, following a lengthy battle with ALS (Lou Gehrigs disease).

She was born May 30, 1940, a daughter of Doris Sellers Hale and the late Luther Hale. 

Mrs. Dooley was a registered nurse, having graduated from the Grady Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Atlanta, Ga.

She worked as an RN at Grady Hospital and at the Veterans Hospital in Atlanta, and at the Lenoir Living Center, Vespers (Avante) Nursing Home in Wilkesboro, and Charleston General Hospital in Charleston, W.Va.

She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Boone. 

Surviving are her husband, Frank W. Dooley; one daughter, Jennifer Hendrix and husband, Tim, of Deep Gap; one son, Mark Alan Dooley of Bradenton, Fla.; one grandson, Adam Hendrix of Deep Gap; her mother, Doris Sellers Hale of Porterdale, Ga.; three sisters, Mary Jo Studdard and husband,  Kent, of Watkinsville, Ga., Diane Clegg and husband, Bobby, of Social Circle, Ga., and Judy English and husband of Conyers, Ga.; one brother, Ronnie Hale, and wife, Evelyn, of Mansfield, Ga.; and a number of nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life was conducted Wednesday afternoon, July 26, at 2 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Jeff Clegg officiating.  Inurnment will be private. 

The family received friends Wednesday afternoon following the service from 3 until 4 p.m. in the fellowship hall of the First Presbyterian Church. 

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Watauga County, 136 Furman Road, Boone, N.C. 28607.

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Dooley family.

Jean Ann Hodges

Mrs. Jean Ann Hodges,  68, of Bairds Creek Road, Vilas, died Saturday morning, July 29, 2006 at the Watauga Medical Center. 

Born in Pennsylvania, she was a daughter of the late Mickey and Alice Marouchoc. 

Mrs. Hodges was a homemaker and a member of Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church. 

Surviving are: her husband, Maston Hodges Sr.; two sons; Leonard Hodges and wife, Sandra, of Plantation, Fla., and Maston Hodges Jr.; one daughter, Lisa Braman, and husband, Robert, of Deerfield Beach, Fla.; five grandchildren, Chelsi Hodges, Candice Parsons, Jonah Hodges, J.W. Hodges and Heather Hodges; one sister, Joan Matta of Sumter, S.C.; and one brother, James “Jimmy” Marouchoc of Nesquehoning, Pa. 

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one son, William Wayne Hodges.

Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday afternoon at 2  at Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church.

Officiating will be the Rev. Wynn Greer and the Rev. Carl Wilson. 

Burial will follow at Mount Lawn Memorial Park and Gardens. 

The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 6 until 7:30 at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home.

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Hodges family.

George D. ‘Pete’ Phillips

Mr. George D. “Pete” Phillips, 66, of 2722 Kellersville Road, Banner Elk, died Saturday evening, July 29, 2006, at the Watauga Medical Center.

Mr. Phillips was born March 10, 1940, in Avery County, a son of the late Spencer and Ella Fae Woodring Phillips. He was a member of the Beech Valley Baptist Church.

Mr. Phillips is survived by his wife, Hattie Bell Presnell Phillips of the home; one daughter, Sherry Harmon of Fleetwood; one son, Danny Phillips of Butler, Tenn.; one stepson, Rick Presnell, and wife, Shelly, of Mountain City, Tenn.; one stepdaughter, Leesa Dratwinski, and husband, Andre, of Butler, Tenn.; three granddaughters, Hayley Ward and Kateland Ward, both of Banner Elk, and Whitney Phillips of Johnson City, Tenn.; three grandsons, Jesse Presnell of Sugar Grove, David Harmon of Fleetwood and Gabriel Presnell of Mountain City, Tenn.; one stepgranddaughter, Rebecca Nowak and one stepgrandson, Connor Nowak, both of Mountain City, Tenn.; one sister, Barbara Brown, and husband, George, of Hickory; and two brothers, Dale Phillips and wife, Joann, of Franklin, N.C., and Glenn Phillips and wife, Yvonne, of Butler, Tenn.

A number of nieces and nephews also survive.

He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Spencer and Ella Fae Woodring Phillips, and one brother, Paul Allen Phillips.

Services will be conducted Tuesday, Aug. 1, at 2 p.m. at Beech Valley Baptist Church. The body will lie in state at the church from 1 until 2 p.m. Officiating will be the Rev. Bill Warren and the Rev. Quincy Norris. Burial will follow in the Beech Valley Cemetery.

The family will receive friends this evening (Monday) from 7 to 8:30 at the funeral home.

Flowers are appreciated, or memorial contributions may be made to the Beech Valley Cemetery Fund, in care of Rick and Kim Harmon, 3646 Buckeye Road, Sugar Grove, N.C. 28679.

Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.

Jimmy Allen Ward

Mr. Jimmy Allen Ward, 60, of Cool Springs Drive, Boone, died Friday morning, July 28, 2006, at the Watauga Medical Center. 

Born in Watauga County Jan.26, 1946, he was a son of the late Noah Enoch and Addie Eve Ward. 

Mr. Ward attended Flat Springs Baptist Church, and was a retired sanitation worker for the town of Boone.

Surviving are: his wife, Virginia Harmon Ward; one daughter, Virginia Mae Pope, and husband, Junior, of Boone; two sons, Ricky Allen Ward and wife, Heathe,r and Adam Lee Ward and wife, Ida, all of Lenoir; three sisters, Mary Alice Greene and husband, Mike, Lillie Mae Harmon and husband, Benny, and Louise Bryan and husband,, Nathan, all of Boone; one brother, Bobby Ward, and wife, Della, of Deep Gap; and 11 grandchildren.  

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Noah Ward.

Funeral services will be conducted Monday morning at 11 at the Sandy Flat Baptist Church.  Officiating will be the Rev. Max West.  Burial will follow in the Matney Liberty Cemetery. 

The family will receive friends Sunday evening from 6 until 7:30 at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home.

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Ward family.