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Friends United
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July/August 2008
ALLEN Terry Ray Allen, 75, April 21, 2008, Holly Spring Friends, North Carolina. Terry retired from Ramseur Interlock after 50 years of company service. He was preceded in death by his parents, William Allen and Mae Hodgin Allen, and also by his daughter, Terry Lynn Allen Brower. Survivors include his wife, Louise Hilliard Allen; son, Ricky (Lisa) Allen; daughter, Robin Allen; sister, Eloese Cox; son-in-law, Johnny Brower; one granddaughter; and one step-great-granddaughter. Funeral services were held April 24, at Holly Springs Friends with the Rev. Todd Brown presiding. Memorials may be made to Holly Spring Friends.
COX Ottie Katherine Bingham Cox, 94, May 4, 2008, Asheboro Friends, North Carolina. The youngest child of Julia Tant Bingham and Thomas Garfield Bingham, Ottie was born on May 19, 1913. Preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Arley Monroe Cox, she is survived by daughter, Sara (Roger) Cox Cates; and several nieces, nephews and their extended families. Funeral services were held May 8, at Asheboro Friends.
DAVIS Inez Matthews Brown Davis, March 26, 2008, Forbush Friends, North Carolina. Inez was born February 26, 1934, to Baxter and Bernice Matthews. She served as pastor to Siloam Friends Meeting from 1965-79. She taught Sunday school at Forbush Friends from 1979-88 and served as pastor of Friends Union Meeting until 1995. She also taught Sunday school at Pilot View Friends. Inez was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Alvin G. Davis; her first husband, Grady L. Brown; two brothers, Robert Matthews and Denny Matthews; her sister, Grace Matthews; and her beloved son, Robbie Brown. Surviving are her daughters, Brenda (Jay) Meenach, Glenda (Mike) Booker, Loretta (Haywood) Barker and Karen (Keith) Googe; three step-children, Rhonda (Ray) Vestal, Steve (Norma) Davis and Lisa (Bobby) Wishon; two sisters, Nelray Hutchens and Joann (Jack) Hobson; 11 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; nine step-grandchildren; and 10 stepgreat- grandchildren. The funeral service was conducted March 29, at Forbush Friends, with the Revs. Reece Wall, Steve Swain and Nelson Puffenbarger officiating. Memorials may be made to Mountain Valley Hospice, or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
DIENES Tessa Dienes, 85, October 17, 2006, Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia. Tessa was born in London, England, on November 18, 1920. It was there, when she was merely ten years old, that she met the charming Hungarian named Zoltan. Their life together took them through Europe, Australia, South America, the United States and Canada. Tessa had found faith in Jesus and was a deeply spiritual woman who was very moved by life. She is survived by Zoltan Dienes, her devoted husband of 68 years; four children, Corin Jasmine (Robert) Dienes, Jancis Dienes, Sarah Dienes and Bruce (Gwenyth) Dienes; eleven grandchildren; and eleven greatgrandchildren. Tessa, to her great sorrow, was predeceased by her son, Nigel, and two grandchildren, Bruce and Russell. A funeral service was held October 21, at the Wolfville United Baptist Church. The Rev. Barry Morrison and members of the Annapolis Valley Quaker Meeting led the service.
EARLES Calvin Thurston Earles, 87, March 19, 2008, Centre Friends, North Carolina. Born on June 10, 1920, Thurston attended Pleasant Garden School and lived his entire life in the Sumner community. As one of the “Greatest Generation,” he served his country with distinction during the war years 1941-45 in the ninth Signal Company, ninth Infantry Division. After the war, he continued to serve his country as a member of the National Guard. Upon returning home from the war, he operated a small business before going to work as an operator for Cone Mills at the White Oak Power House, working there for 14 years. He then worked for Duke Power for 23 years, retiring in 1983 as an “A” foreman in maintenance. Thurston was an active volunteer, giving of both his time and his resources, especially to the youth of the community. He separated from the National Guard so that he could devote his energies to coaching his sons and other youngsters in youth league baseball, and continued to coach for over 20 years with the Sumner Civitans and Sumner Jaycees. He avidly supported Sumner High School and then Southern Guilford High School athletics as an active volunteer, raising funds for an activity bus, construction of a field house and athletic field improvements. The community acknowledged his public service by nominating him for the Evon Dean Volunteer of the Year Award and awarding him the Robert E. Rayle Jr. Community Spirit Award. Thurston was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Lee Holland Earles; and his son, Johnny Thurston Earles. Surviving family includes two sons, David (Pam) Earles and James Matthew Earles; a brother, Harold (Ruby) Earles; sisters-in-law, Nancy Holland (Jim) Brumley and Jeanette Graham; and his best canine friend, Holt. A funeral service, celebrating his life, was conducted March 22, at Centre Friends, with Pastor Rusty Parsons presiding.
GRANTHAM Ruth Harding Grantham, March 26, 2008, New Garden Friends, North Carolina. Ruth was born in Brooklyn, New York, on March 24, 1906, to Edward R. Harding and Mae Snyder Harding. She moved to Greensboro with her family in her youth, where she graduated from Greensboro Senor High School (now Grimsley) and completed the business course at Woman’s College (now UNCG). In 1924, she married William Gurney Grantham of Guilford College, with whom she celebrated 67 years of marriage before his death in 1991. Ruth worked for the YMCA in Greensboro, raised two daughters and was bookkeeper for Victory Chevrolet Company, the family-owned business in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. After retirement, the Granthams moved to Ashe County, where they built a home on the New River and lived until they became residents at Friends Homes Guilford in 1988. She participated in choral and hand bell groups and was a Girl Scout leader in the Greensboro-Guilford Council, receiving the Thanks Badge award for service, which is the highest badge awarded for adult service. During her lifetime, Ruth attended New Garden Meeting, Bethany United Methodist Church, (West Jefferson, N.C.) and most recently First Friends Meeting. Siblings predeceasing her were Dwight E. Harding, Winifred H. Bray, Sue H. Green and Jack M. Harding. She is survived by two children, Betty G. Holjes and Bobbe G. Jackson; one brother, Richard G. Harding; six grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. A memorial service was held March 29, at New Garden Friends Meeting. David Bills and the Rev. Margie Boyd presided. Memorials may be made to Friends Homes at Guilford or to Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro.
HOLDEN Ralph Newell Holden, 83, February 24, 2008, New Garden Friends, North Carolina. Ralph was born May 11, 1924. He was a World War II and Korean Navy Veteran, where he served on the Battleship USS North Carolina and later became an air traffic controller. He was preceded in death by one son, Stanley. Survivors include his loving wife of 61 years, Clarice; two sons, Michael Holden and Ralph C. Holden; two grandchildren; and one great-grandson. A memorial service was held March 1, at New Garden Friends. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to New Garden Friends.
JONES Robert Ernest Jones, 82, April 28, 2008, Somerton Friends, Virginia. Robert was the son of the late Clyde Vernon and Miriam Byrd Jones. He was predeceased by two sisters and a brother. Ernest was a veteran of World War II, having served in the Merchant Marines. He was a retired farmer and a sawmill superintendent for F. Perry Lumber County, with 30 years of service. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Peggie Rountree Jones; two daughters, Joanne (Jay) Gibble and Charlotte (Rich) Hesse; a son, Bert (Denise) Jones; a sister, Virginia (Odis) Willis; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. A service was held in Bethlehem Christian Church with the Rev. Dolan Talbert officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters, Norfolk, Virginia.
LINDLEY Bobby Lee Lindley, 71, May 3, 2008, South Fork Friends, North Carolina. Bobby was born July 4, 1936, the son of Roy Wayne and Elsie (Moon) Lindley. He worked for Orange Builders in Chapel Hill and was a very active member of the Ruritan Club in Silk Hope. He is survived by his wife, Ethel Covert Lindley; one daughter, Sharon Lindley Bowers; one son, Jamie Covert Lindley; one sister, Elaine Lebuhn; a step-son, Tony Gordon Wright; stepdaughter, Tammy Wright Bass; nephew, Jason Lindley Woody; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. The funeral was held May 6, at Rocky River Baptist Church, with the Revs. Gregg Burriss and David Hobson officiating. Memorials may be made to Silk Hope Ruritan Building Fund c/o Tom Smith or to Rocky River Baptist Church Building Fund.
MACKIE Russell Eaton Mackie, 80, April 12, 2008, Winston-Salem Friends, North Carolina. Russell was born to Henry Edward and Minnie Shugart Mackie on December 9, 1927. He graduated from Yadkinville High School in 1942 and served in the U.S. Army in Korea from April 11, 1946, to October 1, 1947. He retired from Lucent, formerly AT&T, after 36 years of service and worked for Taylor Oil for 17 years. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Syvileen Blankenship Mackie; three sons, Allan (Elizabeth), Keith (Pam) and Chris (Julie); five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The funeral service was conducted April 15, at Hayworth- Miller Kinderton Chapel, with Judith Dancy, pastor, and the Rev. Tom Southern officiating. Memorials may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care Center or Winston-Salem Friends Meeting.
MCBANE Christopher Michael McBane, 35, April 17, 2008, Spring Friends, North Carolina. A native of Alamance County, Chris was the husband of Karen Locklear McBane and the son of Steve and Cheryl McBane, all of whom survive. He was employed by Paul McBane Farm and Fertilizer and passed away following a car accident. In addition to his wife and parents, survivors include a son and a daughter, Andrew McBane and Sarah McBane; a sister, Tracy Cobb; and grandparents, Paul and Shelby McBane. He was preceded in death by grandparents, Clinton and Katherine Stout. The funeral was conducted at the Rich & Thompson Chapel, April 21. Memorials may be made to Spring Friends Meeting.
NEWLIN Pat Newlin, 84, April 9, 2008, New Garden Friends, North Carolina. Pat was active in New Garden Friends Meeting and served on the Board of Trustees of Friends Homes. She also served as assistant treasurer for the North Carolina Yearly Meeting of Friends. An avid gardener and floral arranger, she was active for many years in the family business of New Garden Landscaping and Nursery. Pattie was preceded in death by her beloved husband, James W. Newlin; her twin sisters, Eleanor Powell and Ellen Willis; and her brother, Lawrence Southerland. She is survived by her son, Morris (Judy) Newlin; daughter, Susan (Ira) Newlin Fowler; son, Larry (Lee) Newlin; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and her sister, Mary Beth Gaylor. A Memorial Service was held April 11, at New Garden Friends. Memorial contributions may be made to Friends Homes at Guilford Residence Assistance, Greensboro Beautiful or New Gardens Friends Scholarship Fund.
POWERS Patsy West Powers, 69, May 2, 2008, Back Creek Friends, North Carolina. Patsy was born March 25, 1939, the daughter of Lacy Troy West and Unice Mae Rainey West. She was a retired teacher’s assistant from the Asheboro City School System. In addition to her parents, Pat was preceded in death by her sister, June West Heaton; and brothers, William Robert Snake West, Lacy Troy West Jr. and Joseph Dink West. She is survived by her husband, Charles Buddy Powers; one daughter, Cathy (Mike) Thompson; three sons, Doug (Sandy), Steve and Todd; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and one sister, Nancy West Rossiter. The funeral was May 5, at Back Creek Friends with the Rev. Jon Reece officiating. Memorials may be made to Back Creek Friends Meeting, Youth Program.
SIMPSON Billy Lawrence Simpson, 77, April 9, 2008, White Plains Friends, North Carolina. Billy was born June 15, 1930, to the late John and Mae McMillian Simpson. He was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and retired as a superintendent in asphalt construction after many years of service. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Kenneth Lawrence Simpson; and seven brothers, Sherman Dallas Simpson, Herman Gilbert Simpson, Johnny Carroll Johnson, John Jack Simpson, Cirgus Simpson, Gurnie Ross Simpson and Troy Simpson. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Irene “Rennie” Dunbar Simpson; a daughter, Kimberly Simpson; three grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two sisters, Frances Simpson Atkins and Polly Simpson Watson; and a brother, Glenn David Simpson. The funeral service was held April 12, 2008, at Moody Funeral Home Chapel in Mount Airy, conducted by the Rev. George Jones Jr.
UNDERWOOD William Henry Underwood, 80, April 29, 2008, Asheboro Friends, North Carolina. Bill was born on July 11, 1927, to Charles and Carrie Hamlin Underwood. He was a self-employed masonry contractor, taught brick laying at Asheboro High School in the ‘70s and ran a band saw for a time for Parris Frames. He served as an usher for 40 years with Asheboro Friends, as well as a trustee, elder, superintendent of Sunday school, house and grounds committee and Quaker men. He served as guardian ad litem for abused children until his health began to fail. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Martha Jean Jeffries; and a brother, Alston Underwood. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Esther Walker Underwood; daughters, Vikki Parris and June (Rusty) Bissette; sons, Gil (Bonnie) Underwood and Jeff (Alice) Underwood; and four grandchildren. Funeral services were held May 3, at Asheboro Friends with the Revs. Ken Thames and Pat Thames officiating. Memorials may be made to Asheboro Friends or Quaker Lake Camp, North Carolina Yearly Meeting.