Archived

Joseph Nelson Hatch
Mr. Joseph Nelson Hatch, born March 22, 1915, died at the age of 93, on March 25, 2008, at The Glenbridge Health and Rehabilitation Center.
He lived most of his life in Belleville, New Jersey. He led a somewhat unusual life. Mr. Hatch was descended from several prominent ancestors including one who was a member of the First Continental Congress of the United States. This contributed to his life-long interest in history and he was a past president of the Belleville, New Jersey Historical Society.
Mr. Hatch’s own life became difficult when his father left and he became the sole support for his mother and himself. He became a milkman at age 15 during The Great Depression and remained in that position for 40 years. He was a loving father and a good athlete. He spent countless hours playing baseball, basketball, and football with his sons and their friends and is still remembered fondly by several of them, most particularly Ernie Stefanelli of Bloomfield, New Jersey.
Survivors include two sons, Eric Hatch and wife, Carole, of Boone, and David Hatch of Milford, Conn.; three grandchildren, Matthew Hatch, Douglas Hatch and wife, Tara McGrath, and Katherine Hatch.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Nelson Hatch and Mary Stephens Burgess; and by an infant sister, Helen Hatch.
The family wishes to express their profound gratitude to all of the Glenbridge staff for their loving care over the past few years and particularly to Stephanie Williams and Larry Stout who wore their hearts on their sleeves. Robert Cobb also provided great comfort in the final hours.
In lieu of flowers, it is suggested that donations may be made to The Glenbridge Employees Fund.
Interment will be in The Dutch Reformed Church Cemetery in Belleville, New Jersey.

Cecil Paul Presnell
Mr. Cecil Paul Presnell, 83, of Paul Presnell Road, Sugar Grove, died Sunday evening, March 23rd 2008 at Watauga Medical Center.
He was born Jan. 20, 1925 in Watauga County to Paul and Okie Heaton Presnell.
Mr. Presnell was a disabled veteran, serving in the U.S. Army during World War II and was a member of Faith Mission Baptist Church.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Frances Townsend Presnell; one daughter, Charlotte Lake and husband, Gene, of Vero Beach, Fla.; three granddaughters, Lori Wygonik of Austin, Texas, Nicki Barney of Lafayette, Louisiana and Katy Lake of Columbia, S.C.; and one great-granddaughter, Emma Barney of Columbia, S.C.: two brothers, J. C. Presnell and wife, Donna, of Sugar Grove and Charles Len Presnell and wife,, Lena, of Lexington; and four sisters, Maybelle Cook of Sugar Grove, Mary Ruth Church of Foscoe, Pearl Tester of Blowing Rock, and Wanda Jaholkowski of Vero Beach, Fla.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Dayton and Ronda Presnell.
Services will be conducted Friday afternoon, March 28, 2008 at 2 o’clock at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by the Rev. Richard Trivette. Military graveside services and burial will be conducted Monday morning, March 31, 2008, at 11 o’clock at Mountain Home National Cemetery in Johnson City, Tenn.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to High Country Health Care Systems Hospice, 400 Shadowline Drive, Suite 100-B, Boone, N.C. 28607.
The family received friends Thursday evening from 6:30 until 8 o’clock at Austin & Barnes.
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Presnell family.

Clay Ward
Mr. Clay Ward, 79, of Holden Beach, N.C., a former resident of the Rominger Community, died Tuesday morning, March 25, 2008, at his residence.
He was born August 25, 1928 in Watauga County, a son of the late Robert Lee and Eliza Harmon Ward.
Mr. Ward was a retired carpenter and mechanic, and was a member of Zion Hill Baptist Church.
Survivors include one son, James C. Ward and wife, Zola, of Sugar Grove; one daughter, Martha Ward Davis of Banner Elk; one grandson, Billy Walters and wife, Stephanie, of Hickory; two granddaughters, Trixie Dancy and husband, Steve, of Granite Falls, and Holly Proctor and husband, Scott, of Banner Elk; three great-granddaughters, Robin Proctor of Banner Elk, Lillian Dancy of Granite Falls, and Madison Walters of Hickory; one great-grandson, Christopher Proctor of Banner Elk; one sister, Alma Harmon of Sugar Grove; three brothers, Linville Ward and wife, Orbie, of Boone, Tommy Joe Ward and wife, Louise, and Bob Ward and wife, Gail, all of Sugar Grove; and one sister-in-law, Mabel Ward of Boone. He is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Hazel Mast Ward; one son, John Clayton Ward; a granddaughter, Rosemary Elizabeth Walters; and one brother, Vance Ward.
Services will be conducted Friday afternoon, March 28, 2008, at 2:00 o'clock, at Zion Hill Baptist Church. The body will lie in state, at the church, from 1:00 until 2:00 o'clock. Officiating will be the Rev. Quincy Norris and the Rev. James Hagaman. Burial will follow in the Mast Family Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Thursday evening, from 6:00 until 8:00 o'clock, at Hampton Funeral Service.
The family respectfully requests no food.
Online condolences may be sent to the Ward family at www.hamptonfuneralservice.com
Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

March 26, 2008
Taft Broyhill
Mr. Taft Broyhill, 76, of Ransom Street, Blowing Rock, died Saturday, March 22, 2008, at Carolina's Medical Center in Charlotte.
He was born Nov. 1, 1931 in Watauga County, a son of the late Thomas and Nora Carlton Broyhill.
Mr. Broyhill was a retired carpenter, and served with the United States Navy during the Korean War.
Survivors include one daughter, Kitty Bumgarner of Oklahoma; one son, Norman Broyhill of Lenoir; one sister, Cleo Ford and husband, Steve, of Blowing Rock; two brothers, Ralph Broyhill and wife, Marie, and John D. Broyhill, all of Blowing Rock; and a special friend, Debbie Bullard of Deep Gap. He is also survived by one grandchild, one great-grandchild, and a number of nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Catherine Moody Broyhill; one sister, Lydia Mae Lentz; and one brother, Glenn Roger Broyhill.
Graveside services and burial were conducted Tuesday afternoon, March 25, 2008, at Boone Fork Community Cemetery. Officiating was Pastor Darrell Miller.
Online condolences may be sent to the Broyhill family at www.hamptonfuneralservice.com
Hampton Funeral Service was in charge of the arrangements.

Deane Holman Wilcox
Mrs. Deane Holman Wilcox, 85, of Todd, passed away Friday, March 21, 2008 at her residence.
She was born in Ashe County on Nov. 12, 1922 to the late George Spurgeon Holman and Mary McCorkle Greer Holman.
Survivors include one daughter, Janet Sturgill of Jefferson; one brother, Greer Holman of Boone; and one sister, Mossie Davis of Blowing Rock. Also surviving are three grandchildren, Jeff Sturgill of Marion, Va., Logan Sturgill of Wilmington, Dela., and Cliff Sturgill; five great-great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
She was also preceded in death by her husband, Clifford Rayburn Wilcox; five brothers, Coolidge, Freeman, Rodger, Joe and Jesse Holman; three sisters, Mabel Wilcox, Ruth Prince and Mary Barr.
Services were held on Monday, March 24, 2008 at 2 p.m. at Laurel Knob Baptist Church with the Rev. Jim Rash officiating. Burial followed in the Ashelawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Laurel Knob Baptist Church, c/o Imogene Goodman, P.O. Box 1703, Jefferson, N.C. 28640.
Condolences may be made at www.boonefuneralhome.com.
Boone Family Funeral Home of West Jefferson is in charge of these arrangements.

March 24, 2008
Edith Coffey
Mrs. Edith Daisy Phillips Coffey, 88, of Lenoir, passed away Friday, March 21, 2008 at her residence.
She was born Sept. 18, 1919 in Caldwell County, to the late James Phillips and Lonsie Nelson Phillips.
Mrs. Coffey was a homemaker and a seamstress and was a member of Central Baptist Church.
Survivors include her son, Gregory Coffey of Lenoir; her daughters, Barbara C. Gragg and husband, Ronnie, of Morganton and Sherry Emory and husband, Stev,e of Wake Forest, N.C.; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, William “Bill” Coffey; her daughter Sandra C. Greene; her son, Gerald W. Coffey; her sisters, Lilly Hartston and Bea Holman; her brothers, Clyde Phillips and Blaine Phillips; and her grandson, David Gragg.
Services will be held Monday, March 24. at Pendry’s Chapel at 2:00 p.m. with the Rev. John Jernigan officiating. Burial will follow at Blue Ridge Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 12 to 2:00 prior to the service.
Memorials may be made to Caldwell Hospice & Palliative Care at 902 Kirkwood St. NW Lenoir, N.C. 28645.
Condolences may be placed online at www.mem.com
Pendry’s Funeral Home & Crematory, Lenoir, N.C., is assisting the family with arrangements.

Andrew L. Dickinson
Mr. Andrew L. Dickinson, 25, of Boone, died Thursday, March 20, 2008, at his home.
He was born August 20, 1982 in Laramie, Wyo.
Mr. Dickinson was a chef at Appalachian Ski Mountain and Linville Ridge Country Club.
Survivors include his father and mother, Eugene R. and Gail Grohs Dickinson of Lenoir; two sisters, Tamara Dickinson and Jessica Dickinson, both of Boone; two half sisters, Debra Buonincotra of Shelton, Ct. and Cynthia Dickinson of Fairfield, Ct.; two half brothers, Chip Dickinson of Waterburry, Ct. and Bob Dickinson of Maryland; his maternal grandparents, Harry and Betty Skinner of Pinellas Park, Fla. and Easton, Conn.; and his paternal grandmother, Margaret Dickinson of Fairfield, Conn., and also four nieces and two nephews.
Services will be conducted Monday afternoon, March 24, 2008, at 2:00 o'clock, at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. The body will lie in state, at the chapel, from 12:30 until 2:00 o'clock. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Blowing Rock.
The family will receive friends Monday afternoon, from 12:30 until 2:00 o'clock, at the funeral home, prior to the service.
Online condolences may be sent to the Dickinson family at
www.hamptonfuneralservice.com
Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Alvin Leonard Hardy
Mr. Alvin Leonard Hardy, 60, of Cherokee Street, Boone, died Wednesday evening, March 19, 2008 at Watauga Medical Center.
He was born Oct. 4, 1947, in Watauga County, to Leonard Edward and Anna Belle Mays Hardy.
Mr. Hardy was a member of Oak Grove Baptist Church. He was owner and operator of Ed Hardy Trash Company and retired as general manager of GDS. Mr. Hardy was past Master of Snow Lodge #363 and served as Secretary of the Lodge for the past six years. He received the Montford Medal for services rendered. Mr. Hardy was a 33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason and for three years he served as District Deputy Grand Master of the 33rd Masonic District and also served as Venerable Master of the Winston-Salem Scottish Rite. For the past ten years he served as Web Master of the North Carolina Grand Lodge.
He was a loving husband to his wife of 39 years, Carole Parker Hardy; a devoted father to his two daughters, Raven Annette Hardy of Raleigh and Amanda Lee Hardy of Boone; and a faithful grandfather to his granddaughter, Madison Lee Mast of Boone. He is also survived by his brother, Allen Edward Hardy and wife, Marie, of Charlotte; and a special friend, Michelle Banner of Raleigh.
He was preceded in death by one daughter, Racheal Anne Hardy.
Services were conducted Saturday, March 22, 2008, at 2:00 p.m. at Oak Grove Baptist Church, officiated by the Rev. Scott Courtney and the Rev. Richard Holshouser. Masonic graveside rites and burial followed at Mount Lawn Memorial Park & Gardens.
Memorials may be made, in memory of Alvin, to the Summer Day Camp Program at Oak Grove Baptist Church, 306 Oak Grove Road, Boone, N.C.
Online condolences may be made to the Hardy family at austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Hardy family.

Fred Lee Reece
Mr. Fred Lee “Freddie” Reece, 59, of Trade, Tenn., passed away Tuesday, March 18, 2008, in Sycamore Shoals Hospital.
He was born on May 18, 1948 in Johnson County, to the late Oscar and Maude Brown Reece.
Mr. Reece was an employee of Rays Construction Co. of Boone. He liked car racing, football and basketball, especially the Tennessee Vols. Freddie liked to fish and the outdoors. He was a member of the Taylorsville Masonic Lodge # 243. He was of the Baptist faith and attended the Trade United Methodist Church.
Survivors include two sons, Scottie Reece and Michael Reece; two step-daughters, Sheila McFadden and husband, Doug, and Kristy Tipton, all of Butler; five sisters, Emogene Miller and husband, Bob, of Zionville, N.C., Louise May and husband, Arvilee, of Nottingham, Pa., Faye Warren and husband, Claude, of Mountain City, Virginia Oliver and husband, Albert, of Zionville, N.C. and Becky Wilson and husband, Kenny, of Mountain City; two brothers, Bobby Reece of Trade and Lynn Reece and wife, Pat, of Zionville, N.C.; brother-in-law, John Johnson of Todd, N.C.; granddaughter, Autumn Reece; three step-grandchildren, Gary McFadden, Carissa McFadden and J. W. Tester; step-great-granddaughter, Bethany McFadden; four uncles; several nieces and nephews; several great-nieces and nephews; and special friends, R. D. and Nell Oliver, Jim Brown and many others.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Pauline Johnson.
Services were conducted at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 22, 2008 at Mountain City Funeral Home with the Rev. Eddie Porter and Rev. Carl Johnson officiating. Masonic Rites were conducted by Taylorsville Masonic Lodge # 243. Burial followed in Trade United Methodist Church Cemetery.
Condolences may be made online at www.mountaincityfuneralhome.com.
Mountain City Funeral Home is serving the Reece family.

Colondia Marie Credeur Robinson
Mrs. Colondia Marie Credeur Robinson, 64, of Dallas, N.C., died March 19, 2008, at her residence.
She was born June 4, 1943, in Cleburne, Texas, a daughter of the late Charles and Flora Grace Horton Credeur.
Mrs. Robinson was a homemaker and a member of Bethlehem Church.
Survivors include her husband of 46 years, Douglas E. Robinson; two daughters, Regina Gaye Hovis and husband, Frank, of Dallas, N.C., and Jessica Marie White and husband, Anthony, of Gastonia; a son, Douglas Wayne Robinson and wife, Cindy Kaye, of the U.S. Army, Hawaii; grandchildren, Charles David Robinson, Kayzia Grace Robinson, Caleb DuWayne White, Kevin Scott Hovis and Brittney White; a niece, Blaine Credeur; and a nephew, Chaney Credeur of Texas.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Charles Credeur.
A Celebration of Life Service was held Saturday, March 22, 2008, at 11 a.m. at Bethlehem Church Family Life Center with Pastors Dickie Spargo and Dale Lawing officiating. Interment will follow Wednesday, March 26, 2008, at Owensville Cemetery in Owensville, Ark.
Pallbearers will be John Lillis, Deacons and Elders of Bethlehem Church, those who have served since 2004.
Memorials may be made to Bethlehem Church, P.O. Box 551387, Gastonia, N.C. 28055-1387.
Ward Funeral Service in Gastonia, are in charge of the arrangements.

Barbara L. Schroeder
Mrs. Barbara L. Schroeder, 52, of 130 Marsh Landing, Boone, died March 21, 2008.
She was born Oct. 22, 1955 in Santa Barbara, Calif., a daughter of Mrs. Donna Osterfeld Langford and of the late Bruce Hay Langford.
Mrs. Schroeder was employed at Samaritans Purse, and attended Alliance Bible Fellowship Church.
Survivors include her husband, Mark A. Schroeder; two sons, David B. Schroeder of New York City, Matthew J. Schroeder of Boone; her mother, Donna Langford of Boone; one sister, Bonnie L. Glidden and husband, Dan, of Hot Springs, Ark. She is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her father, Bruce H. Langford.
A memorial service will be conducted Wednesday, March 26, 2008, at 11:00 o'clock, at Alliance Bible Fellowship Church. Officiating will be Pastor Scott Andrews.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Cait Bible Institute in Beirute, Lebanon, in care of Samaritans Purse; 801 Bamboo Road, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, N.C. 28607.
Online condolences may be sent to the Schroeder family at www.hamptonfuneralservice.com
Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Bina Lewis Woodring
Mrs. Bina Lewis Woodring, 96, of Glenn Woodring Drive, Boone, died Sunday, March 23, 2008, at her residence.
She was born Dec. 29, 1911 in Watauga County, a daughter of the late Adolphus William and Sarah Winebarger Lewis.
Mrs. Woodring loved spending time with her husband, children, grandchildren, and other family and friends. SHe loved people and enjoyed working in various retail stores and restaurants in downtown Boone, and later retired from TRW. She loved flowers, knitting, crocheting, reading, gospel music, playing UNO, yard sales, and good ole Mountain Dew.
Survivors include two sons, Ronda Woodring of Sawmills, and Earl Woodring and wife, Rachel, of Zionville; three daughters, Pearl Watson and husband, Nulan, Thelma Taylor, and Wilma Sutherland, all of Boone; one son-in-law, Bill Idol of Deep Gap; and one daughter-in-law, Lona Woodring of Boone. She is also survived by 16 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 77 years, Glenn Howard Woodring; one daughter, Ruby Idol; one son, Odell Woodring; one son-in-law, Rabon Taylor; three grandsons, Ricky Watson, Ronnie Woodring, and Richard Woodring; six sisters, and four brothers.
Services will be conducted Wednesday afternoon, March 26, 2008, at 3:00 o'clock, at Oak Grove Baptist Church. The body will lie in state, at the church, from 2:00 until 3:00 o'clock. Officiating will be the Rev. Scott Courtney and the Rev. Herbert McCoy. Entombment will follow in the Mount Lawn Memorial Park and Gardens Mausoleum.
The family will receive friends Tuesday evening, from 6:00 until 8:00 o'clock, at Hampton Funeral Service.
Flowers are appreciated, or memorial contributions may be made to High Country Health Care System/Hospice, 400 Shadowline Drive, Suite 100-B, Boone, N.C. 28607, Watauga County Home Health, 132 Poplar Grove Connector, Boone, N.C. 28607, or the Oak Grove Baptist Church Annie Armstrong Easter Offering, in care of Oak Grove Baptist Church, 306 Oak Grove Road, Boone, N.C. 28607.
The family wishes to express their gratitude to Karen Dancey, a special friend and caregiver; for her dedication to their mama. They would also like to express appreciation to Hospice, Home Health and Project on Aging for the services they provided. Online condolences may be sent to the Woodring family at www.hamptonfuneralservice.com
Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.