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John Sunday
MOORESBORO - Mr. "John" Leroy Howard Sunday, 80, of 3332 Belaire Road, died Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2001, at Cleveland Regional Medical Center. A native of Harrisburg, Pa., he was a son of the late Parker Blake and Elizabeth Eisenhower Sunday. He was a 1938 graduate of Milton S. Hershey High School in Hershey, Pa. He was a high school track star and played hockey on the M.S. Hershey High School team as a defenseman. He was a World War II veteran, who served in the Army Corps of Engineers 367th, Engineer Combat Battalion Division, serving in Sicily, Algeria, Naples, Rome, the Rhineland and Central Europe. He received the Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Medal, European African Middle Eastern Champaign Medal with five Bronze Stars. He was a former employee of Phoenix Steel Corp. in Harrisburg and was a retired shop mechanic from Cone Mills Corp. in Cliffside. He was a member of Florence Baptist Church in Forest City. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Louise Givens Sunday of the home; one son, Tom Sunday of Mooresboro; two grandchildren, Leighann Sunday Clark and Tommy Sunday; and a great-grandchild, Sean Thomas Clark. A graveside service was held Thursday at Sunset Memorial Park in Forest City with Dr. Bobby Gantt officiating. McKinney-Landreth Funeral Home in Cliffside is in charge of arrangements.
Rev. Edward Downs
CASAR - The Rev. James Edward Downs, 75, of 158 Ed Downs Road, died Thursday, Jan. 18, 2001, at Britthaven. Born Oct. 9, 1925 in Cleveland County, he was the son of Clarence Dover and Maggie Ophillia Johnson Downs. He was a retired pastor. He was the former pastor of Zion Road Baptist Church in Morganton for 25 years and a community pastor for more than 40 years. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by four brothers. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Lula Mae Hudson Downs of the home; three daughters and three sons-in-law, Frances and the Rev. Jerry Hudson and Kay and Bill Warlick, all of Casar, and Joyce and Danny Hester of Lincolnton; one brother, Herman Downs of Lawndale; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. The funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at the chapel of Stamey Funeral Home with the Revs. Jerry Hudson, Allen Fredell and Fred Tyler officiating. Burial will follow in Saint Paul Baptist Church cemetery. The family will receive friends tonight from 6 to 8 at Stamey Funeral Home in Fallston. Memorials may be made to Hudson Memorial Baptist Church, 762 Warlick Road, Lawndale, NC 28090 or to Alzheimer's Association, Southern Piedmont Chapter, 3420 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte, NC 28215-3298.
Miles Nodine
ELLENBORO - Mr. Miles Odell Nodine, 83, of 113 Beacon Drive, formerly of Boiling Springs, died Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2001, at his home. A native of Rutherford County, he was the son of the late Charlie and Mary Hester Owens Nodine. He was a retired carpenter. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Elizabeth Marshall Nodine and a second wife, Marjorie Moore Nodine. He is survived by one son and one daughter-in-law, James and Judy Nodine of Marion; two daughters and one son-in-law, Carolyn and Bryson Luckadoo of Mooresboro and Shirley Drewery of Boiling Springs. The funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at McKinney-Landreth Funeral Home with the Rev. Tim Hendrick officiating. Burial will be at Cleveland Memorial Park. The family will receive friends an hour before the funeral on Saturday.
Catherine Ifft
WINSTON-SALEM - Mrs. Catherine Bridges Ifft, 80, of 114 Garden St., died Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2001, at Forsyth Medical Center. A native of Cleveland County, she was the daughter of the late Amon Tavo and Myrtle Mintz Bridges. She was a homemaker and a member of Northwood Baptist Church in Winston-Salem. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Ifft. She is survived by two nephews, Steve Bridges and Jerry Bridges, both of Polkville; and three nieces, Deborah Bridges and Darlene Bridges, both of Salisbury, and Mary Bridges of China Grove. The funeral will be today at 11 a.m. at the chapel of Cleveland Funeral Services in Shelby, with the Rev. Alton Martin officiating. Burial will follow at the Polkville Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends an hour before the funeral.
George Blanton Jr.
SHELBY - Mr. George Blanton Jr., 86, of 319 N. Lafayette St., died Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2001, at his home.
Born Sept. 3, 1914, in Shelby, he was a son of the late George and Ida Wood Blanton. He attended the Shelby Schools, graduated from McCallie School at Chattanooga, Tenn., in 1931 and enrolled in the University of North Carolina, where he received a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1935. After an apprenticeship with the American Trust Co. in Charlotte, he returned to Shelby in 1936 to work with First National Bank. He is the third direct generation of the Blanton family to make banking his lifetime career. In 1947, he became the president of First National Bank at the age of 32 and was said to be the youngest president of a national bank in the United States at that time. He was named president and chairman of the board in 1959, becoming chief executive officer and chairman of the board in 1979. In 1996, he became chairman emeritus. He was recognized in 1997 for 60 years of membership in the North Carolina Bankers Association.
A strong community builder, he was an advocate of the county's business and industrial life. He was instrumental in the development and organization of a number of businesses and industrial enterprises in Cleveland County. On a broader level, he became the first chairman of the N.C. Young Bankers Association and served as a member of the board of directors of the Fifth Federal Reserve District. He was a member of the Fifth Regional Advisory Committee of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
He served in the Navy during World War II as a Ship Service Officer of the Naval Receiving Station at Anacostia, D.C., retiring as lieutenant, junior grade, in 1946. He has been the volunteer chairman of the Cleveland County U.S. Savings Bond program.
In 1964, he was appointed to the Board of the Federal Reserve Bank in Richmond and served as a member of the Federal Advisory Commission to the U.S. Comptroller of the Currency. In 1966, he was named by Gov. Dan Moore, to the board of trustees of the N.C. Orthopedic Hospital in Gastonia.
He was a charter member and officer in the Shelby Junior Chamber of Commerce as well as director and vice president of the Shelby Chamber of Commerce. He was a former president and director of the Shelby Downtown Improvement Corp., a charter member and past president of the Cleveland County Historical Association and was a past president of the Shelby Lions Club. He was a lifelong member of First Baptist Church of Shelby and was twice president of the Cleveland County United Fund. The press box at the Shelby High School stadium is named in his honor. He was recognized in 1999 with a Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Foothills Merry-Go-Round Festival.
He was elected twice as chairman of the board of advisors at Gardner-Webb University and served as a trustee of Gardner-Webb University at the time he became ill two years ago. He was awarded a doctorate of humanities from Gardner-Webb in 1997 and was named Trustee Emeritus in 1999. The auditorium of Hamrick Hall was named in his honor in 2000.
He has lived in his home since 1936. The house is on the National Historic Register and eventually the home will be donated to the North Carolina Historic Preservation Association.
He has been associated with the promotion of agriculture in Cleveland County and the state. At Blanton Farms, he developed one of the outstanding herds of Jersey cattle in the United States, receiving recognition locally and nationally. Since the dispersal of the dairy in 1971, he continued his interest by raising beef cattle.
He served as director and treasurer of the N.C. Jersey Cattle Breeders Association, director of the N.C. State Agricultural Association and director and vice president of the Cleveland County Fair Association.
He enjoyed horses, and his hobbies included flying his own airplane, fine furniture craftsmanship, bird hunting and tennis.
In addition to being president, chief executive officer and chairman of the board of First National Bank, he was past president of Eagle Roller Mill, past director of Dover and Ora Mills, Shelby Cotton Mills, P and M Warehouse Co., Star Publishing Co., past secretary and director of Shelby Radio Corp. and past vice president and director of both Seal Wire Co. and Artee Industries. He was a charter member of the board of advisors of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Nancy Dicks Blanton Siegel, and his sister, Millicent Blanton Thompson.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy Coltrane Dicks Blanton; two daughters and a son-in-law, Catherine Wood Blanton Freedberg, Ph.D., of Washington, D.C., and Lydia Lee Blanton and W. Neil Farfour of Aiken, S.C.; and three grandchildren, Sydney Joseph Freedberg Jr., Charles Rush Hamrick IV and George Blanton Hamrick; and a sister, Caroline Blanton Thayer Bland of Boston.
The funeral will be Friday at 2 p.m. in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church with the Rev. Tony Tench officiating.
Burial will be in Sunset Cemetery with the Rev. Gene McDowell officiating.
The family will receive friends tonight from 5 to 7 at Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.
Nellie Lavender
SPINDALE - Ms. Nellie Emiline Lavender, 75, of 1208 Hollins St., died Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2001, at Rutherford Hospital.
A native of Rutherford County, she was born July 5, 1925, a daughter of the late Edward Mills and Nancy Elizabeth Silvers Lavender. She was a retired textile employee and a member of Spindale United Methodist Church.
She is survived by a brother, Lewis Lavender of Spindale, and a number of nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Crowe's Funeral Home with the Rev. Dan Ramsey officiating.
Burial will be in Gilkey United Methodist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends an hour before the funeral at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.
Estelle Walker
SHELBY - Mrs. Estelle Muriel White Walker, 65, of 1664 Fallston Road, died Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2001 at Hospice of Wendover.
A native of Cleveland County, she was born Jan. 8, 1936, a daughter of the late Woodrow Franklin and Thelma Nursey Cook White. She retired from Ora Mills after 26 years of service. She was a member of Davidson Memorial Baptist Church in Shelby.
In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her brother, Delbert White.
She is survived by her husband, Paul Warren Walker; one son and a daughter-in-law, Michael and Veronica Walker of Mooresboro; one daughter and a son-in-law, Martha and Flay Washburn of Shelby; one brother, Walter White of Rutherford College; one sister, Linda Edwards of Shelby; and four grandchildren, Sarah Washburn, Joseph Walker, Kelly Washburn and Haley Walker.
The funeral will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Davidson Memorial Baptist Church with the Revs. Bobby Ridge and Billy Towery officiating.
The body will be placed in the church 30 minutes before the service.
Burial will be in Cleveland Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends tonight from 7 to 9 at Stamey Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Cleveland-Rutherford Kidney Association, 1017 N. Washington St., Shelby, NC 28150; or to Hospice of Cleveland County, 951 Wendover Heights Drive, Shelby, NC 28150.
Mary Frances Wright
GAITHERSBURG, Md. - Mrs. Mary Frances Trogdon Wright, 75, of 101 Oden Hall, formerly of Kings Mountain, died Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2001, at her home.
The funeral will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Ollie Harris Memorial Chapel in Kings Mountain with Dr. John Sloan officiating. Burial will be in Mountain Rest Cemetery.
The family will receive friends tonight from 7 to 8:30 at Harris Funeral Home in Kings Mountain.
Charlie Brown
BOSTIC - Mr. Charlie Brown of Harris Street died Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2001, at his home.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by the Thompson Brothers Funeral Home, Forest City.
Mamie Roper
KINGS MOUNTAIN - Mrs. Mamie King Roper, 92, of 212 Fairview St., died Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2001, at Kings Mountain Hospital.
A native of Jackson County, she was a daughter of the late John Claude and Sally Cunningham King. She was a Baptist.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband William Ivy Roper; one daughter, Lorena Roper Falls; five sisters, Annie Keener, Geneva Wood, Bertha Hullender, Sadie Burton and Reba Wilson; and two brothers Ellis King and Ullis King.
She is survived by six sons and four daughters-in-law, William Jr. and Betty Roper, Paul Roper, Nelson and Billie Roper and Michael and Gloria Roper, all of Kings Mountain, James Harold and Barbara Roper of Cedar Mountain and Donald Roper of Grover; four daughters and four sons-in-law, Margaret and Lee Payne, Ivory and George Nolen and Mary and Lafayette Pearson, all of Kings Mountain, and Mildred and Tom Shytle of Blacksburg, S.C.; one brother, Willis King of Kings Mountain; one sister, Jeanette Kiser of Kings Mountain; 27 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
The funeral will be Friday at 4 p.m. at Ollie Harris Memorial Chapel with the Revs. Mitchell Pruitt and Odus Shelton officiating. Burial will be in Chestnut Ridge Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends tonight from 7 to 9 at Harris Funeral Home and at other times at the home of a daughter, Ivory Nolen, 206 Katherine Ave., Kings Mountain.
Memorials may be made to the Kings Mountain Senior Center, P.O. Box 429 Kings Mountain, NC 28086.
Howard Neill Sr.
CHERRYVILLE - Mr. Howard F. "Sonny" Neill Sr., 59, of 2268 N.C. 150 East died Monday, Jan. 8, 2001.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Carpenter's Funeral Home.
Hal Patterson
KINGS MOUNTAIN - Mr. Hal Patterson, 71, died Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2001, at Century Care in Cherryville.
A native of Cleveland County, he was a son of the late Dewitt and Eva Sheppard Patterson. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Kings Mountain.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Charles W. Patterson and Jack Patterson.
He is survived by one brother, Dr. Bob E. Patterson of Waco, Texas.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 786 Kings Mountain, NC 28086.
Harris Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Betty Camp
GROVER - Mrs. Betty Page Camp, 68, of 818 Cleveland Ave., died Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2001, at Hospice of Cleveland County.
A native of Cleveland County, she was a daughter of the late David Jeff and Georgia Glover Page. She was a member of Shelby Freewill Baptist Church. She retired from Grover Industries, where she was a warper.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by four brothers, Ollie Page, Wilburn "Bang" Page, Bud Page and Bill Page.
She is survived by her husband, Oren Camp of the home; three sons, Michael Oren Camp of Blacksburg, S.C., and Ty Rydell Camp and Todd Clyde Camp, both of Grover; one sister, Louise "Dinah" Wease of Shelby; two grandsons, Michael Kelly Camp of Blacksburg and David Rydell Camp of Shelby; three granddaughters, Sabrina Camp of Blacksburg, Joni Beth Camp of Shelby and Brandy Camp of Grover; and two great-grandsons, Michael Kelly Camp Jr. and Jesse James Bledsoe Jr., both of Blacksburg.
The funeral will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Shelby Freewill Baptist Church with Dr. Ed Hutchinson officiating. Burial will be in Grover Cemetery.
The family will receive friends tonight from 6:30 to 8:30 at Cleveland Funeral Services and at other times at the home.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Cleveland County, 951 Wendover Heights, Shelby, NC 28150; or to Shelby Freewill Baptist Church, 403 College Ave., Shelby, NC 28152.
Carrie Angel
SHELBY - Mrs. Carrie Sneed Angel, 89, of 2842 Waco Fallston Road, died Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2001, at White Oak Manor in Shelby.
A native of Cleveland County, she was born March 3, 1911, a daughter of the late William Clarence and Margaret Brown Sneed. She was a member of Waco Baptist Church and retired as a winder with Houser Spinning Co. in Cherryville.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Richard James Angel; two daughters, Carolyn Millwood and Patricia Ann Angel; two brothers, Olin Sneed and Hubert Sneed; and one sister, Ruth Sneed.
She is survived by one son, Glenn Angel of Shelby; one daughter, Linda Lail of Shelby; one brother, Bill Sneed of Shelby; two sisters, Sue Dalton and Aileen Black, both of Shelby; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
The funeral will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Waco Baptist Church with the Rev. Charles E. Moss officiating.
The body will be placed in the church 30 minutes before the service. Burial will be in Capernaum Cemetery in Waco.
The family will receive friends tonight from 7 to 8:30 at Carpenter's Funeral Home and at other times at the home of a daughter, Linda Lail, 703 Old Stubbs Road, Cherryville.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Cleveland County, 951 Wendover Heights Drive, Shelby, NC 28150.
Rush Suther
CONCORD - Mr. Otho Rush Suther, 92, of 1919 Old Salisbury Road, died Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2001.
A native of Cabarrus County, he was born Aug. 12, 1908, a son of the late Edgar Lafayette and Fannie Earnhardt Suther. He served as superintendent for Hoover Hosiery Co. for many years and later retired from Stonewall Jackson School. He was a member of the Concord Lions Club and had perfect attendance for 35 years. He was instrumental in promoting the Cabarrus County Boys and Girls Club and assisted in securing contributions for teaching Bible in the public schools. He was a lifelong member of the New Gilead Reformed United Church of Christ and served on the Consistory and on various church committees. He was a former member of the choir.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Viola Cochran Suther; one sister, Ruby S. Goodman; and two brothers, Hilbert C. Suther and Robert M. Suther.
He is survived by three daughters and two sons-in-laws, Anne S. and Barry Hough of Concord, Doris S. McGinnis of Kings Mountain and Janice S. and Heywood Sobel of Los Angeles; three brothers, Fred W. Suther, Ray H. Suther and Gene Y. Suther, all of Concord; one sister, Evelyn S. Shinn of Concord; six grandchildren, Daphne L. Rankin, William "Chuck" Long, Elizabeth A. McGinnis, Laura M. Titshaw, Julie M. Simmons and Nola Kennedy; nine great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at New Gilead Reformed United Church of Christ with the Revs. James L. Peeler and Lawrence Bolick officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Wilkinson Funeral Home and at other times at the home.
Pallbearers will be William "Chuck" Long, Alan Goodman, Daryl Suther, Ryan Suther, Arnold Suther, Bob Misenheimer, Mike Walter, Gene Earnhardt and Jerry McClellan.
Memorials may be made to New Gilead Reformed United Church of Christ Cemetery Fund, 2400 Old Salisbury Road, Concord, NC 28025.
Keith Goodman
SHELBY - Mr. William Keith Goodman, 62, of 1011 Borders Road, died Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2001, at his home.
A native of Cleveland County, he was born March 31, 1938, a son of the late William Roy and Fannie Jane Swink Goodman. He worked at Condrey's Heating & Air Conditioning and was a member of Knob Creek United Methodist Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Laray Goodman, and a brother, Benny Goodman.
He is survived a son, Ricky Goodman of Kings Mountain; a daughter and son-in-law, Teresa and Tony Ruppe of Kings Mountain; two brothers, Larry Goodman of Belwood and Charlie Goodman of Casar; two sisters, Jean Street of Erwin, Tenn., and Helen Hoyle of Forest City; and three grandchildren, Kevin Green and his wife, Sherri, and Heather Ruppe and Dustin Ruppe.
The funeral will be Friday at 2:30 p.m. at Stamey Funeral Home Chapel in Fallston with the Rev. Jimmy Black officiating. Burial will be in Knob Creek United Methodist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends tonight from 6:30 to 8 at the funeral home.
Lula Allen
GROVER - Mrs. Lula Ruth Allen, 75, of 114 Jackson Road, died Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2001, at Cleveland Regional Medical Center.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home.
