Obituaries
Marian Elizabeth Saunders Kessler
Jan 10, 2023
Marian Elizabeth Saunders Kessler was born on October 8, 1931, on the farm of her parents, Clyde Raymond and Ruth Garner Gee Saunders, in Lunenburg County, Virginia. She attended Ferrum Junior College where she met her life partner, William (Bill) Troy Kessler. She received her BA from Lynchburg College in 1954 and her Masters in Christian Education from Emory University’s...
Debra Virginia Lewis Cureton
Jan 9, 2023
Debra Virginia Lewis Cureton, 65, of Marion, North Carolina, passed away Monday, January 9, 2023 at Memorial Mission Hospital.
A native of Marion, Debbie was born December 11, 1957 to the late John Frank Lewis and Virginia Irene Curtis Lewis.
Debbie worked for many years at Winn-Dixie in Marion as the manager of the deli and bakery. She...
William “Buddy” Ervin Martin
Jan 9, 2023
William “Buddy” Ervin Martin, 84, of Old Fort, passed away on Monday, January 9, 2023.
Buddy was born in McDowell County on September 10, 1938 to the late Washington Ervin Martin and Vallie Lucille Jaynes Martin. He was a charter member of Friendship Baptist Church. Buddy was a great youth baseball coach who was a huge Atlanta Braves and Clemson...
Johnny & Clara Walker
Jan 8, 2023
Johnny William Walker, 82, and Clara Ray Walker, 77, passed away Sunday, January 8, 2023 at their residence in Marion. They were married for 53 years.
Johnny was born February 25, 1940 in Polk County North Carolina to the late James Franklin Walker and Jessie Pearl McKinney Walker. Clara was born April 28, 1945 in Pickens County Georgia to...
Micah Wendell Carter
Jan 8, 2023
Micah Wendell Carter, 88, of Nebo, passed away Sunday, January 8, 2023, at the John F. Keever, Jr. Solace Center in Asheville.
Micah was born in McDowell County, NC on October 28, 1934, to the late Maurice S. Carter and Ola Lee Dayberry Carter. He was married to his late wife of fifty two years, Elsie...
Patricia Marie Queen Cline
Jan 7, 2023
Patricia Marie Queen Cline, 84, of Marion, passed away on the morning of Saturday, January 7, 2023 at Mission Hospital McDowell.
Patricia was born on May 14, 1938 to the late Arthur Earl Queen and the late Annie Pauline Cooper Queen. She was a very active member of Hankins Baptist Church, where she served as church clerk, Sunday School teacher...
Carroll "Dean" Owensby
Jan 7, 2023
Carroll “Dean” Owensby, 80, of Marion, North Carolina, passed away Saturday, January 7, 2023 at Atrium Health Pineville.
A native of Marion, Dean was born October 3, 1942 to the late William Ray Owensby and Margie Octavius Owensby.
Dean, who was also known by many as “Teddy Bear,” was a faithful and active member of Harvest Time Baptist...
Virginia "Ginny" Baumgardner
Jan 3, 2023
Virginia “Ginny” Baumgardner, age 92, of Marion, NC formerly of Wytheville, VA, passed away peacefully at Rose Hill Retirement Community in Marion, NC on January 3, 2023.
She was born in Wytheville on January 26, 1930 to the late Thomas A. Turley and Mae Painter Turley. Ginny was a graduate of Wytheville High School and retired from Sovran Bank....
Debra "Jackie" Faye Goode Webb
Jan 2, 2023
Debra “Jackie” Faye Goode Webb, 72, of Marion, North Carolina, passed away Monday, January 2, 2023 at UNC Health Blue Ridge.
A native of McDowell County, Debra was born December 9, 1950 to the late Jack Goode and Thelma Faye Haynes Goode.
Jackie retired from the Marion Correctional Institution as a correctional officer. Prior to this, she owned...
Thomas John Heideman
Jan 2, 2023
Thomas John Heideman, 68, of Marion, North Carolina, passed away Monday, January 2, 2023 at the Charles George VA Medical Center.
A native of Des Moines, Iowa, Thomas was born on June 14, 1954 to the late Col. Robert Heideman and Lorraine Koenigs Heideman.
Thomas was a proud veteran of the United States Navy. He worked as a...
Dr. Dan Edward Weitzenkorn
Dec 29, 2022
Dr. Dan Edward Weitzenkorn
July 11, 1956 - Dec. 29, 2022
Devoted son and proud father and grandfather Dr. Dan Edward Weitzenkorn passed away peacefully on Dec. 29, 2022, at the age of 66. Born on July 11, 1956 in Lakeland, Florida, he graduated from Lakeland Senior High School in 1974. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Medicinal...
Michael Gene McHenry
Dec 28, 2022
Michael Gene McHenry, 35, of Ellenboro, North Carolina, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, December 28, 2022 at his residence.
A native of Michigan, Michael was born on September 22, 1987 to Marilyn Royal Francisco and the late Edward Hyzer McHenry.
Michael was formerly employed as a shift leader at Taco Bell in Forest City. He honorably served in...
Betty Skeens Clayton
Dec 28, 2022
Betty Lois Skeens Clayton, 78, of Marion, passed away Wednesday, December 28, 2022 at Autumn Care of Marion.
Betty was born in Pikeville, Kentucky on August 6, 1944, to the late John Skeens, Sr. and Ruby Childers Skeens. In her younger days, Betty enjoyed traveling and going to antique stores. She loved spending time with her grandchildren....
Glenda Louise Smith
Dec 28, 2022
Glenda Louise Smith, 78, of Marion passed away on the morning of Wednesday, December 28, 2022 at Mission Memorial Campus in Asheville.
Glenda was born to the late Terrell Smith and Zola Mae Buchanan Smith on March 31, 1944 in Mitchell County.
She was known as a very loving sister and aunt who was always putting others before herself. It...
Thomas Monroe Howard, Jr.
Dec 28, 2022
Thomas Monroe Howard, Jr., 86, of Marion went to be with his Lord and Savior on the evening of Wednesday, December 28, 2022.
Thomas is preceded in death by his parents Thomas Monroe Howard, Sr. and Martha Lee Lockman Howard; brothers Carroll, Bart, Jack and Raymond Howard and sister Nancy Poteat.
Those left to cherish his memory are...
Ruby Leigh Allison Pack
Dec 28, 2022
Ruby Leigh Allison Pack, 83, of Old Fort, North Carolina, passed away Wednesday morning, December 28, 2022 at her residence.
A native of Old Fort, Ruby was born September 21, 1939 to the late Ernest Ervin Allison and Lillie Belle Wilson Allison. A son, Terry Curtis Gilliam; a sister, Virginia Allison precedes her in death.
Ruby formerly...
Michael Scott Baker
Dec 26, 2022
Michael Scott Baker, 40, of Nebo, North Carolina, passed away Monday, December 26, 2022.
A native of McDowell County, Michael was born March 26, 1982 to William Scott Baker and Rebecca Lewis Baker.
Michael, who was also known as Bubba, loved his family, especially his children. He had a heart for the outdoors and enjoyed fishing, camping, and...
Kenneth Wayne Ledbetter
Dec 25, 2022
****** The memorial service will be livestreamed on Bethel Baptist Church's FaceBook page. ******
Kenneth Wayne Ledbetter, 72, of Marion, North Carolina, passed away on Christmas morning, December 25, 2022 at his home surrounded by his family.
A native of McDowell County, Ken was born June 26, 1950 to the late Dib Jones Ledbetter and Fern Queen...
John Henry Godfrey, Jr.
Dec 25, 2022
John Henry Godfrey, Jr., 58, of Marion, passed away, Sunday, December 25, 2022, at his residence.
John was born in Marion, NC, on March 20, 1964, to Sarah Brown and John Henry Godfrey, Sr. He was a professional corrections officer who retired from the NC Department of Public Safety after 25 years of faithful service. John was...
SSgt William "Paul" Effler
Dec 25, 2022
SSgt William “Paul” Effler, 81, of Old Fort, North Carolina, passed away Sunday, December 25, 2022 at his home.
A native of McDowell County, Paul was born June 08, 1941 to the late George Adam Effler and Florence Shuford Effler.
Paul served in the United States Marine Corps, and he retired due to medical reasons after over nine...
Marian Elizabeth Saunders Kessler
Jan 10, 2023
Marian Elizabeth Saunders Kessler was born on October 8, 1931, on the farm of her parents, Clyde Raymond and Ruth Garner Gee Saunders, in Lunenburg County, Virginia. She attended Ferrum Junior College where she met her life partner, William (Bill) Troy Kessler. She received her BA from Lynchburg College in 1954 and her Masters in Christian Education from Emory University’s...
Debra Virginia Lewis Cureton
Jan 9, 2023
Debra Virginia Lewis Cureton, 65, of Marion, North Carolina, passed away Monday, January 9, 2023 at Memorial Mission Hospital.
A native of Marion, Debbie was born December 11, 1957 to the late John Frank Lewis and Virginia Irene Curtis Lewis.
Debbie worked for many years at Winn-Dixie in Marion as the manager of the deli and bakery. She...
William “Buddy” Ervin Martin
Jan 9, 2023
William “Buddy” Ervin Martin, 84, of Old Fort, passed away on Monday, January 9, 2023.
Buddy was born in McDowell County on September 10, 1938 to the late Washington Ervin Martin and Vallie Lucille Jaynes Martin. He was a charter member of Friendship Baptist Church. Buddy was a great youth baseball coach who was a huge Atlanta Braves and Clemson...
Johnny & Clara Walker
Jan 8, 2023
Johnny William Walker, 82, and Clara Ray Walker, 77, passed away Sunday, January 8, 2023 at their residence in Marion. They were married for 53 years.
Johnny was born February 25, 1940 in Polk County North Carolina to the late James Franklin Walker and Jessie Pearl McKinney Walker. Clara was born April 28, 1945 in Pickens County Georgia to...
Micah Wendell Carter
Jan 8, 2023
Micah Wendell Carter, 88, of Nebo, passed away Sunday, January 8, 2023, at the John F. Keever, Jr. Solace Center in Asheville.
Micah was born in McDowell County, NC on October 28, 1934, to the late Maurice S. Carter and Ola Lee Dayberry Carter. He was married to his late wife of fifty two years, Elsie...
Patricia Marie Queen Cline
Jan 7, 2023
Patricia Marie Queen Cline, 84, of Marion, passed away on the morning of Saturday, January 7, 2023 at Mission Hospital McDowell.
Patricia was born on May 14, 1938 to the late Arthur Earl Queen and the late Annie Pauline Cooper Queen. She was a very active member of Hankins Baptist Church, where she served as church clerk, Sunday School teacher...
Carroll "Dean" Owensby
Jan 7, 2023
Carroll “Dean” Owensby, 80, of Marion, North Carolina, passed away Saturday, January 7, 2023 at Atrium Health Pineville.
A native of Marion, Dean was born October 3, 1942 to the late William Ray Owensby and Margie Octavius Owensby.
Dean, who was also known by many as “Teddy Bear,” was a faithful and active member of Harvest Time Baptist...
Virginia "Ginny" Baumgardner
Jan 3, 2023
Virginia “Ginny” Baumgardner, age 92, of Marion, NC formerly of Wytheville, VA, passed away peacefully at Rose Hill Retirement Community in Marion, NC on January 3, 2023.
She was born in Wytheville on January 26, 1930 to the late Thomas A. Turley and Mae Painter Turley. Ginny was a graduate of Wytheville High School and retired from Sovran Bank....
Debra "Jackie" Faye Goode Webb
Jan 2, 2023
Debra “Jackie” Faye Goode Webb, 72, of Marion, North Carolina, passed away Monday, January 2, 2023 at UNC Health Blue Ridge.
A native of McDowell County, Debra was born December 9, 1950 to the late Jack Goode and Thelma Faye Haynes Goode.
Jackie retired from the Marion Correctional Institution as a correctional officer. Prior to this, she owned...
Thomas John Heideman
Jan 2, 2023
Thomas John Heideman, 68, of Marion, North Carolina, passed away Monday, January 2, 2023 at the Charles George VA Medical Center.
A native of Des Moines, Iowa, Thomas was born on June 14, 1954 to the late Col. Robert Heideman and Lorraine Koenigs Heideman.
Thomas was a proud veteran of the United States Navy. He worked as a...
Dr. Dan Edward Weitzenkorn
Dec 29, 2022
Dr. Dan Edward Weitzenkorn
July 11, 1956 - Dec. 29, 2022
Devoted son and proud father and grandfather Dr. Dan Edward Weitzenkorn passed away peacefully on Dec. 29, 2022, at the age of 66. Born on July 11, 1956 in Lakeland, Florida, he graduated from Lakeland Senior High School in 1974. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Medicinal...
Michael Gene McHenry
Dec 28, 2022
Michael Gene McHenry, 35, of Ellenboro, North Carolina, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, December 28, 2022 at his residence.
A native of Michigan, Michael was born on September 22, 1987 to Marilyn Royal Francisco and the late Edward Hyzer McHenry.
Michael was formerly employed as a shift leader at Taco Bell in Forest City. He honorably served in...
Betty Skeens Clayton
Dec 28, 2022
Betty Lois Skeens Clayton, 78, of Marion, passed away Wednesday, December 28, 2022 at Autumn Care of Marion.
Betty was born in Pikeville, Kentucky on August 6, 1944, to the late John Skeens, Sr. and Ruby Childers Skeens. In her younger days, Betty enjoyed traveling and going to antique stores. She loved spending time with her grandchildren....
Glenda Louise Smith
Dec 28, 2022
Glenda Louise Smith, 78, of Marion passed away on the morning of Wednesday, December 28, 2022 at Mission Memorial Campus in Asheville.
Glenda was born to the late Terrell Smith and Zola Mae Buchanan Smith on March 31, 1944 in Mitchell County.
She was known as a very loving sister and aunt who was always putting others before herself. It...
Thomas Monroe Howard, Jr.
Dec 28, 2022
Thomas Monroe Howard, Jr., 86, of Marion went to be with his Lord and Savior on the evening of Wednesday, December 28, 2022.
Thomas is preceded in death by his parents Thomas Monroe Howard, Sr. and Martha Lee Lockman Howard; brothers Carroll, Bart, Jack and Raymond Howard and sister Nancy Poteat.
Those left to cherish his memory are...
Ruby Leigh Allison Pack
Dec 28, 2022
Ruby Leigh Allison Pack, 83, of Old Fort, North Carolina, passed away Wednesday morning, December 28, 2022 at her residence.
A native of Old Fort, Ruby was born September 21, 1939 to the late Ernest Ervin Allison and Lillie Belle Wilson Allison. A son, Terry Curtis Gilliam; a sister, Virginia Allison precedes her in death.
Ruby formerly...
Michael Scott Baker
Dec 26, 2022
Michael Scott Baker, 40, of Nebo, North Carolina, passed away Monday, December 26, 2022.
A native of McDowell County, Michael was born March 26, 1982 to William Scott Baker and Rebecca Lewis Baker.
Michael, who was also known as Bubba, loved his family, especially his children. He had a heart for the outdoors and enjoyed fishing, camping, and...
Kenneth Wayne Ledbetter
Dec 25, 2022
****** The memorial service will be livestreamed on Bethel Baptist Church's FaceBook page. ******
Kenneth Wayne Ledbetter, 72, of Marion, North Carolina, passed away on Christmas morning, December 25, 2022 at his home surrounded by his family.
A native of McDowell County, Ken was born June 26, 1950 to the late Dib Jones Ledbetter and Fern Queen...
John Henry Godfrey, Jr.
Dec 25, 2022
John Henry Godfrey, Jr., 58, of Marion, passed away, Sunday, December 25, 2022, at his residence.
John was born in Marion, NC, on March 20, 1964, to Sarah Brown and John Henry Godfrey, Sr. He was a professional corrections officer who retired from the NC Department of Public Safety after 25 years of faithful service. John was...
SSgt William "Paul" Effler
Dec 25, 2022
SSgt William “Paul” Effler, 81, of Old Fort, North Carolina, passed away Sunday, December 25, 2022 at his home.
A native of McDowell County, Paul was born June 08, 1941 to the late George Adam Effler and Florence Shuford Effler.
Paul served in the United States Marine Corps, and he retired due to medical reasons after over nine...
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