Archived

Mary Miller Marsh
Mrs. Mary Miller Marsh, 65, of Mark Lane, North Wilkesboro, widow of Wayne Marsh, died Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2007 at Wilkes Regional Medical Center.
She was born in Wilkes County, May 21, 1941 to Fred and Lizzie Dean Miller.
Mrs. Marsh was a lifelong member of Union United Methodist Church. She was an executive secretary for Lowe's Companies for 42 years.
Survivors include one daughter, Beth Marsh of North Wilkesboro; one son, Rev. Allen Marsh and wife, Melinda, of Boone; one sister, Jane Minton of Hudson, MI; one brother, Fred Miller of Millers Creek; and one grandchild.
Services will be held Friday, Jan. 19, at 2:00 at Union United Methodist Church with the the Rev. Ed McKinney and the Rev. Richard Little officiating. Burial will be in Mountlawn Memorial Park.
The family received friends at Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home from 6:30 until 8:30 Thursday night.
Memorials may be made to Union United Methodist Church Building Fund.
Online condolences may be made at www.reinssturdivant.com.
Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home in North Wilkesboro is in charge of the arrangements.

James William “Jimmy” Shomaker
Mr. James William “Jimmy” Shomaker, 57, of Oak Island, N.C., died Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2007, at home.
He was born in Avery County, Oct. 27, 1949 and was a son of James V. Shomaker and the late Mary Lois Riddle Shomaker.
Mr. Shomaker was the Assistant Administrator and Chief Financial Officer of Dosher Memorial Hospital in Southport. He earned his Masters Degree at Virginia Tech and was a member of the Alumni and received his undergraduate at Western Carolina University. He was an avid golfer and devoted football fan. He was active for many years with the Southport Lions Club. Mr. Shomaker was a member of Ocean View United Methodist Church and served as Chairperson of the Church Counsel.
Surviving are his wife, Susan Shomaker; two daughters, Leah Shomaker of Nebo, Mary Shomaker of Marion; one son, Jimmy Shomaker of Greensboro; one grandson, Levi Pittman; his father, James V. Shomaker of Linville; and one sister, Sharon Kaiser of Linville Falls.
In addition to his mother, he was preceded in death by a brother, Mike Shomaker.
Services will be conducted Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock at Ocean View United Methodist Church, officiated by the Rev. Fred Roberts. The family will receive friends prior to the service at the church from 12:30 until 2 o’clock.
A second funeral service will be held Saturday morning at 11 o’clock at Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Banner Elk. Officiating will be the Rev. Fred Roberts and the Rev. Bud Howell. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Ocean View United Methodist Church, 8400 E. Oak Island Drive, Oak Island, N.C. 28465 or to the American Cancer Society, P. O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73123-1718.
Peacock-Newman & White Funeral and Cremation Service in Southport is serving the Shomaker family.

JANUARY 15, 2007
Walton W. Campbell
Mr. Walton W. Campbell, 81, of Mentor, Ohio, died Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2007, at Lake West Hospital in Willoughby, Ohio.
He was born March 19, 1925, in Cleveland, Ohio, and lived in Eastlake, Ohio and Boone, N.C. before moving to Mentor, Ohio, 40 years ago.
Mr. Campbell was a fan of bluegrass music, often organizing bluegrass music benefits and jam sessions. He was a member of the Lyndhurst Masons, #508. He will be remembered for his sense of humor and his giving personality.
He retired from Euclid Incorporated in 1989 after 17 years of service as a heavy machinery mechanic. During his retirement, he worked for Hall Chemical as a security guard.
Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Maultrine Kirby Campbell; children, Jerry Campbell and wife, Elizabeth, of Lexington, N.C. and Linda Bobbitt and husband, Bruce, of Painesville Township, Ohio; son-in-law, Ray Shaheen; eight grandchildren, Amy Norman and husband, Doug; Gary, Amanda, Laura and Holly Campbell; Tricia Ernst and husband, Richard; Daniel Watson and wife, Heather; and Robert Shaheen and wife, Carol; great-grandchildren, Ryan and Ashley Norman; Gavin and Landin Campbell; Caitlin, Preston and Richie Ernst, Michael and Billy Shaheen, and Samuel and Benjamin Watson; sisters, Geraldine Whitehair and husband, Bill, of Madison, Ohio; Billie Jean Mineheart of Cleveland, Ohio; and a brother, Allen Campbell and wife, Jane, of Conneaut, Ohio.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Jean Shaheen; and sisters, Charloette Greene and Mary Boughman.
Services were conducted Monday morning, Jan. 15, 2007, at 10:30 a.m., at First Church of Christ in Painesville, Ohio. Interment was in Western Reserve Memorial Gardens in Chesterland, Ohio.
Contributions in Mr. Campbell’s name are suggested to First Church of Christ, 422 Mentor Ave., Painesville, Ohio 44077.
Online gifts, condolences and obituary at www.brunners.com.
Brunner Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Mentor, Ohio, is in charge of the arrangements.

Francis Brinkley Cornett
Mrs. Francis Brinkley Cornett, 93, of Jefferson City, Tenn., and formerly a resident of Watauga County, died Jan. 5, 2007, at Life Care Center of Jefferson City, Tenn.
Survivors include a daughter, Jacqueline C. Wright of Atlanta, Ga.; a son, James A. Cornett and wife, Joyce, of Jefferson, Tenn.; a sister, Johnsia Clark of Winston-Salem, N.C.; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Arlton L. Cornett; three brothers; and two sisters.
Services were held at the Farrar Funeral Home in Jefferson City, with the Rev. Richard Emmert officiating. Graveside interment was held at Happy Valley Memorial Park in Elizabethton, Tenn.
Farrar Funeral Home in Jefferson City, Tenn. was in charge of the arrangements.

Beryl Ann August Hanft
Mrs. Beryl Ann August Hanft, 66, of 190 Chestnut Street, Boone, died Wednesday morning, Jan. 10, 2007.
She was born Oct. 30, 1948 in Philadelphia, Pa., a daughter of Esther Kleinbord August Labovitz and the late Bernard B. August.
Mrs. Hanft was a school psychologist for the Avery County School System.
She was a founding member of OASIS, it’s first treasurer and a member of it’s first group of telephone respondents. She served two terms on the WYN Board and she was a county-wide Girl Scout Cookie Chairperson. Mrs. Hanft was a founding member of the Boone Jewish Community, served several terms on its Executive Board and was the current president of the B.J.C. Sisterhood.
In addition to her mother, she is survived by her husband, Sheldon Hanft; three daughters, Lila Hanft and husband, David Roberts, of Cleveland, Ohio, Melissa Anderson and husband, Varen, of Pinehurst, and Jennifer Hanft of Laramie, Wyoming; her step-father, David Labovitz, of New York, N.Y.; three grandsons, Alexander “Sascha” Roberts and Max Roberts, both of Cleveland, Ohio; and Zach Anderson of Pinehurst; and one granddaughter, Zoe Anderson of Pinehurst.
Services were conducted Friday morning, Jan. 12, 2007, at 11 o’clock, at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel, with Rabbi David Kraus officiating. Burial followed in Mount Lawn Memorial Park and Gardens.
The family received friends Friday morning from 9-11 a.m., at the funeral home, prior to the service.
Memorial contributions may be made to OASIS Crisis Intervention Service, P.O. Box 1591, Boone, N.C. 28607, or to Boone Hunger Coalition, 141 Health Center Drive, Boone, N.C. 28607.
Hampton Funeral Service was in charge of the arrangements.

Russell Boyd Richards
Mr. Russell Boyd Richards, 85, of N.C. Hwy. 194 North, Boone, died Sunday night, Jan. 7, 2007, at home.
He was born in Watauga County, Nov. 2, 1921, a son of the late General Lee and Bessie Pearl Lawrence Richards.
Mr. Richards was a member of Howard’s Creek Baptist Church, and a U.S. Army Veteran of World War II. He was a retired sawmill worker.
Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Bunnie Hodges Richards; three daughters, Anna Bell Main of Boone, Jeanette Combs of Sugar Grove, and Polly Richards and friend, Jay, of Boone; two sons, Jimmy Richards and wife, Doris, of Boone, and Junior Richards and wife, Linda, of Vilas; a special granddaughter, Marie Earp, of Valle Crucis; three sisters, Suma Jones of Boone, Ruby Jones and husband, Chester, of Boone, and Bernice Grice and husband, James, of Concord; two brothers, Stanford Richards of Lynchburg, Va., and Kenneth Richards of Deep Gap; 17 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren; a special friend, Ernest Pardue; and a number of nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Linda Richards; a son-in-law, Darrell Combs; one sister, Gladys Brown Cheek; two brothers, Johnny Richards and R.L. Richards; and two infant brothers, Bobby Len and James Odell Richards.
Services were conducted Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 10, 2007, at 2 o’clock at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by the Rev. Dan Church and the Rev. Scott Courtney. Burial with military honors followed at Mount Lawn Memorial Park & Gardens.
Memorials may be made to High Country Health Care System Hospice, 400 Shadowline Drive, Suite 100-B, Boone, N.C. 28607.
The family received friends Tuesday evening, Jan. 9, from 6-7:30 p.m. at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home.
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Richards family.

Floy Ward
Mrs. Floy Glenn Ward, 93, of 203 Circle Street, Millers Creek, formerly of Vilas, died Friday evening, Jan. 12, 2007, at Villages of Wilkes Skilled Care in North Wilkesboro.
She was born Nov. 7, 1913 in Watauga County, a daughter of the late Thomas and Lora Ann Tester Glenn.
Mrs. Ward was a homemaker and a founding member of Willow Valley Baptist Church.
Survivors include one daughter, Mrs. Mazie B. Walsh and husband, Drake, of Millers Creek; one daughter-in-law, Jean Ward of Sugar Grove; and one sister-in-law, Mrs. Belva Wheeling of Lenoir. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, eight great-great-grandchildren, and a number of nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard B. Ward; three sons, Rev. Cannon Ward, Darrell Ward, and Dexter B. Ward; one sister, Gladys Matheson; and five brothers, George, Will, Frank, Charles and Arlus Glenn.
Services were conducted Sunday afternoon, Jan. 14, 2007, at Willow Valley Baptist Church. Officiating was the Rev. Ray Greene. Burial followed in the Willow Valley Baptist Church Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Willow Valley Baptist Church, in care of Brandon Greer, 436 Clark Swift Road, Vilas, N.C. 28692.
Hampton Funeral Service was in charge of the arrangements.

Texie Greene Watson
Mrs. Texie Greene Watson, 96, of Deep Gap, N.C., died Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 10, 2007, at Glenbridge Health and Rehabilitation in Boone.
She was born Sept. 3, 1910 in Watauga County, to Linville and Jessie Wellborn Greene.
Mrs. Watson was a member of the Mt. Pleasant Chapter #67 of the Order of Eastern Star. She owned and operated the Silver Springs Grocery and Gas Station in Deep Gap for a number of years as well as operating a roadside produce stand.
Survivors include one daughter, Margaret Greene of Deep Gap; one son, Mackie Watson and wife, Karen, of Deep Gap; three grandchildren, Libby Winebarger and husband, Dennis, of Deep Gap; Donnie Watson of Deep Gap and Billy Blevins and wife, Terry, of West Jefferson; four great-grandchildren, Sarah Winebarger of Deep Gap, Brad Winebarger and wife, Ashley, of Boone, and Codi and Tanner Blevins, both of West Jefferson; two sisters, Edna Hartley and Faye Greene, both of West Jefferson; and one brother, Hoover Greene and wife, Dolly, of Oak Ridge, Tenn.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Odus Watson; her parents, Linville and Jessie Wellborn Greene; and three sisters, Leah Miller, Mae Owens and Via Brown.
Services were conducted Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. at Stony Fork Baptist Church, with the Rev. Vernon Eller officiating. Burial followed at Mt. Lawn Memorial Park and Gardens.
The family suggests memorials to Stony Fork Baptist Church, in care of Betty Triplett, 414 Stony Fork Road, Deep Gap, N.C. 28618.
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Watson family.

C. Robert ‘Bob’ Whitlatch
Mr. C. Robert “Bob” Whitlatch, 77, of 244 Rabbit Run Road, Boone, died Wednesday evening, Jan. 10, 2007, at his residence.
He was born Dec. 22, 1929 in Parkersburg, West Virginia, a son of the late Howard Everett Whitlatch and Kelsie Laura Roberts Whitlatch.
Mr. Whitlatch was a retired salesperson of Massage Therapy Equipment. In 1956, he graduated from Bonebrake Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, and was ordained in the Church of The Brethren in Baltimore, Md. He pastored churches in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, and Florida.
Survivors include his wife, Mildred “Mickie” Biser Whitlatch; one daughter, Sheree L. Cunningham and husband, David; and one son, Robert G. Whitlatch and wife, Joy, all of Boone; two grandsons, Robert C. Plemons and wife, Lauren, of Blowing Rock, and Jonathan R. Whitlatch of Boone; one sister-in-law, Mrs. Barbara L. Whitlatch of Fort Pierce, Fla.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, James H. Whitlatch.
Services were conducted Sunday afternoon, Jan. 14, 2007, at 2:00 o'clock, at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. Officiating was Pastor Sam McGinn, Pastor Donald Logue, and Pastor William Shimer. Burial followed in Mount Lawn Memorial Park and Gardens.
The family received friends Sunday afternoon, from 1:00 until 2:00 o'clock, at the funeral home, prior to the service.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hope Pregnancy Resource Center, 232 Furman Road, Boone, N.C. 28607, or to Samaritan's Purse, 801 Bamboo Road, Boone, N.C. 28607.
Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.