John Newton Collins
John Newton Collins, 81, of Spring Arbor, Apex, died Saturday, Dec. 27, 2003, due to an extended illness. Mr. Collins was a retired watchmaker with Montgomery Ward and was a member of Woodhaven Baptist Church. A graveside service was held Monday, Dec. 29, at Apex Cemetery with the Rev. Jack Watson officiating.
Mr. Collins is survived by his sisters, Cynthia C. Furlong and husband Dr. N. Burr Furlong of Houston, Texas, Mattie C. Stephens and husband Charles H. of Clayton, and Genevieve C. Jones and husband B.C. Jones of Apex; his brothers, Fred T. Collins Jr. and wife Mildred of Bellevue, Texas, Ivey K. Collins and wife Betty of Seattle, Wash., and Vernon Q. Collins and wife Bernice of Poquoson, Va.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one's choice. Arrangements were by Apex Funeral Home.
Joe Patrick Garruba
Joe Patrick Garruba, 78, of Cary died Friday, Dec. 26, 2003, at Cary Health and Rehabilitation Center. Mr. Garruba was a tax assessor for Allegheny County, Pa. He was very active in local politics.
A funeral Mass was held Tuesday, Dec. 30, at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Raleigh. Burial followed at Apex Cemetery.
Mr. Garruba is survived by his niece, Gloria T. Crutchfield and husband Bob of Cary; great-nephew, Edward David Selzer and wife Richelle of Louisburg; great-niece, Gloria S. Gialenios and husband Michael of Charlotte; great-great nephews Damon Joseph Gialenios and Benjamin Gialenios of Charlotte; several other family members; sisters, Mary Jane Schneider and husband Lewis of Moon Township, Pa., and Theresa D’Ambrosia of Pittsburgh; and his wife, Frances Garruba of Raleigh.
The family received friends Sunday, Dec. 28, and Monday, Dec. 29, at Apex Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be given to American Diabetes Association, 434 Fayetteville St. Mall, 2 Hannover Square, Suite 1600, Raleigh, NC 27602-1764.
Mary Irene Moran
Mary Irene Moran, 90, of Cary, formerly of Martinsville, N.J., died Dec. 26, 2003, at Western Wake Medical Center surrounded by her loving family.
Mrs. Moran was a graduate of Brooklyn College. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. Her family was her greatest accomplishment. A funeral Mass was held Wednesday, Dec. 31, at St. Andrew The Apostle Catholic Church in Apex. Burial followed in Apex Cemetery.
Mrs. Moran is survived by her husband of 58 years, William J. Moran of Cary; daughters, Barbara Shearer and husband Dan of Springfield, Va., and Patricia McCarthy of Raleigh; grandchildren, David W. McCarthy, Kathleen L. McCarthy, Natasha D. Shearer and Alya I. Shearer; and several nieces and nephews.
The family received friends Tuesday evening, Dec. 30, at Apex Funeral Home. A prayer service also was held.
Beulah Varina Pollard Jones
Beulah Varina Pollard Jones, 97, of Penny Road, Raleigh, died Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2003, at Cary Health and Rehabilitation Center.
Born in Wake County on Nov. 8, 1906, she was the youngest child of James Robert Pollard and Martha Agnes Mann Pollard. She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Lee Reginald Jones; brother, David Pollard; and sisters, Alta Prince and Zula Eatman.
She is survived by a daughter, Laura Lee Jones Simpson and son-in-law Bobby Lee Simpson of Raleigh; three grandchildren, Sandra Leigh Simpson Denmark and husband David of Benson, Bobby Lee Simpson Jr. of Ferrum, Va., and James Reginald Simpson and wife Bobbi Carol of Simpsonville, S.C.; two great-grandchildren, Bailey Nicole Simpson and Cameron McKenzie Simpson; and special friend and housemate, Essie Simpson Edwards.
A funeral service was conducted Sunday afternoon, Dec. 28, at Swift Creek Baptist Church by the Rev. Billy Dennis. Burial followed in the church cemetery. The family received friends following the service and at other times at the home of Bobby and Laura Simpson.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the SPCA of Wake County, 219-B Garner Business Court, Garner, NC 27529.
Arrangements were by Apex Funeral Home.
Roger Wade Erwin
Roger Wade Erwin, a retired auditor for the U.S. Department of Defense and a resident of Angier, died Sunday, Dec. 14, 2003, after a courageous three-and-a-half-year battle with cancer. Mr. Erwin was born on Aug. 25, 1944, in Huntington, W.Va., the younger of two sons born to Robert Lee Erwin and Ruby Midkiff Erwin. He was a 1962 graduate of Barboursville High School, where he was class valedictorian. He attended Marshall University in Huntington, W.Va., and graduated magna cum laude with a degree in accounting. He also earned a master’s degree in business administration from Marshall in 1979.
Mr. Erwin served his country in the Army. He was on active duty from April 1968 to January 1970. Thereafter, he remained in the Army Reserves and attained the rank of staff sergeant.
He is survived by his mother, Ruby Midkiff Erwin; his brother, Robert L. Erwin; an uncle, Jerrell Wayne Erwin; an aunt, Virginia Pauline Bandy; and many cousins. He was interred in the Erwin family plot at Ridgelawn Cemetery in Huntington, W.Va.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Edwards Cancer Center, Cabell Huntington Hospital in Huntington, W.Va. Arrangements were by Apex Funeral Home.
Sarah Ann Simmons
Sarah Ann Simmons, 85, of Roanoke, Va., died of natural causes Tuesday morning, Dec. 23, 2003, at Oakwood Manor in Bedford, Va.
She is survived by two sons, Ted Simmons and wife Shirley of Bedford, and Wayne Simmons of Montvale, Va.; two daughters, Geraldine S. Hamilton and husband David of Cary, and Ruby Musselman of Fort Worth, Texas; two granddaughters, Ruth Ann Freeman and husband Mike, and Dee Glasl, all of Apex; and one great-granddaughter, Sara Ruth Glasl of Apex.
A graveside service was held on Saturday, Dec. 27, at 11 a.m. at the Lone Star Cemetery of Covington, Va.
Memorial contributions may be made to Patterson Memorial Grace Brethren Church, 5512 Hollins Road, Roanoke, VA 24019.
Margaret A. Grant Dukeman
Margaret A. (Grant) Dukeman, 80, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Monday, Dec. 29, 2003. She was born in Terre Haute, Ind., and lived most of her life in Illinois. Since 1993, she had lived in Apex with her son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Sandra Dukeman.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Donald B. and Altha Sellers Grant; two brothers, Robert Grant and Lawrence Grant; and her husband of 48 years, James Morris Dukeman, on Nov. 12, 1990.
Survivors include three sons, James C. Dukeman and wife Sandra of Apex, Terry G. Dukeman and wife Patti of Decatur, Ill., and Donald A. Dukeman of Shelbyville, Ill.; six grandchildren, Jeff Dukeman and wife Debbie of Sanford, Bill Dukeman and Bonnie Cooke of Pittsboro, Stacy Dukeman Johnson of Bellville, Ill., Chris Dukeman and wife Heather of St. Joseph, Ill., Anna Dukeman and Chris Parish of Decatur, Ill., and Kevin Dukeman and wife Erin of Decatur, Ill.; eight great-grandchildren, Joey and Kristen Dukeman, Bailey Dukeman, Taylor Dukeman, Hannah and Haley Dukeman, Kyle Parish and Braden Dukeman. Also surviving are six brothers, Larry Grant of Chickaska, Okla., Gary Grant of Shumway, Ill., Steve Grant of Nashville, Tenn., Ronnie Grant of Nashville, Tenn., John Grant of Stillwater, Okla., and Norman Grant of Sullivan, Ill. Margaret was a member of the Baptist Church, had been active in the American Legion Auxiliary for 55 years, was a past president of the Arthur, Ill., Legion Auxiliary, and was a Gold Star Sister, a member of the NC VFW and a member of the Sir Walter Raleigh Doll Club. She had many special talents including being an accomplished artist and a doll collector, and she loved to design floral and craft arrangements. Nearest and dearest to her heart was the love of her family and friends.
The family received friends Wednesday evening, Dec. 31, at the Apex Funeral Home.
Illinois visitation and funeral service were held in Arthur, Ill., at the Shrader Funeral Home. Visitation was held Friday afternoon, Jan. 2, followed by the funeral service and burial at the Arthur cemetery.
The family would like to thank friends, family and neighbors for all of their loving support and prayers during Margaret’s illness.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Heartland Hospice, 3117 Poplarwood Court, Ste. 115, Raleigh, NC 27604.
Michael Scott Pearce
Michael Scott Pearce, 32, of Clayton died Monday evening, Dec. 29, 2003 at WakeMed in Raleigh. He was a former lance corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps.
A service celebrating his life and homegoing was held Friday, Jan. 2, at 11 a.m. in the Grey Stone Baptist Church in Durham. Burial was in the Apex Cemetery. Surviving are his son, Justin D. Pearce of the home; his father, Zebedee Pearce and wife Grace of Pittsboro; his mother, Brenda Sorrell and husband C. G. of Durham; two sisters, Lisa Pearce Jacobs and husband Andrew of Mebane, and Stefanie Pearce of Pittsboro; and his maternal grandmother, Goldie Pearce of Durham. Also surviving are a stepsister, DaNita Lehman, and two step-brothers, Jason Sorrell and Chris Sorrell; and an uncle, Johnnie Gurley of Goldsboro.
The family received friends Thursday evening, Jan. 1, at Apex Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the Marine Corps Toys for Tots, U.S. Marine Corps Reserves, 2725 Western Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27606.
Richard Edwin Kennedy
Richard Edwin Kennedy, 90, of Cary died Thursday, Jan. 1, 2004 at Western Wake Medical Center.
Mr. Kennedy was a native of Montgomery County. He was predeceased by his wife, Connie Spivey Kennedy, and his parents, Daniel Alexander and Mary Jane Spivey Kennedy. He is survived by his daughter, Edna Cole of Cary; his son, Douglas R. Kennedy of Star; his brother, Warren Kennedy of Robbins; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and two step-great-grandchildren.
Visitation was held Saturday evening, Jan. 3, at Phillips Funeral Home in Star. The family also received friends at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home in Cary on Friday evening, Jan. 2.
Funeral services were conducted by Dr. Don Davis on Sunday afternoon, Jan. 4, at Dover Baptist Church in Seagrove. Burial followed in the church cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Dover Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 2527 Dover Church Road, Seagrove, NC 27341, or to the charity of one’s choice.
Kerstin Froberg
Kerstin Froberg, 66, of Cary, died Dec. 31, 2003 at Western Wake Medical Center.
Kerstin was born in Karlskoga, Sweden to Bertil and Britta Bohl.
A funeral service was held on Friday afternoon, Jan. 2, in the chapel of Brown-Wynne Funeral Home in Cary. The family received friends following the service at the funeral home.
Surviving are her husband, Sven Froberg; children, Linda Froberg and John Froberg, and daughter-in-law, Kara Froberg, all of Cary; sisters, Inga-Britta Engman, Ulrika Bohl and Kristina Sundqvist, all of Sweden; and grandchildren, Kristina and Reed Russell and Jakob Froberg of Cary.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be sent to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 27624, Raleigh, NC 27611-7624. Condolences may be sent to the family at MeM.com.
Lucille R. Price
Lucille R. Price of Raleigh passed away Jan. 4, 2004. Mrs. Price was the daughter of Jodie and Lillie Wooten Ragan. The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 6, at Apex Funeral Home with the Rev. William Green officiating. Burial followed in the Apex Cemetery. The family received friends prior to the funeral service.
Mrs. Price is survived by her brother, Jodie (J. B.) Ragan of Pinehurst, and sister-in-law, Clyde Stone Ragan of Apex. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews, Marjorie T. Britt and husband John of Cary, Judith T. Woodell of Apex, Ferman Ragan of Lexington, Bryant Ragan and wife Barbara of Thomasville, Brenda R. Jones and husband Glenn of Apex, and Woodrow Ragan and wife Debra of Garner. Her husband, Lewyn (Jack) Wilder Price, died on Sept. 19, 1996.
Ruth Cole Boling
Ruth Cole Boling, 89, of Cary died Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2004. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Cary and a longtime member of Edith Chapter No. 160 Order of the Eastern Star in Cary.
Surviving are son David Lee Boling and wife Dollie, and grandson Christopher Boling of Raleigh; and son, Arthur Franklin Boling. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clyde Boling.
Graveside services will be held today, Thursday, at 2 p.m. at Restlawn Memorial Gardens. The family received friends Wednesday evening at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home in Cary.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Masonic Home for Children, 600 College St., Oxford, NC 27565.
