Archived

Walter Cooper Gummere Jr.
Mr. Walter Cooper Gummere, Jr., 92, of Appalachian Brian Estates, Boone, died Monday evening, May 11, 2009, at his home.
He was born April 24, 1917 in Columbus, Ohio to Walter C. Gummere, Sr. and Glenn Becker Gummere.
Mr. Gummere earned his B.A. in English from Brown University and his M.B.A from the University of Louisville. He enjoyed a long career in business management, retiring as CEO and President of Vendo Corporation, a manufacturer of vending machines and equipment in Kansas City, MO. In his retirement, Mr. Gummere taught business courses at several colleges and universities, including the University of Utah, Clemson, Kent State, the University of Louisville, Centre College, and the American College in London. He was an avid collector of English sports and touring cars; loved to travel and kept up with many friends in many countries; was a creative remodeler of the numerous homes in which the family lived; remained a lifelong fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes; doted on his three daughters; adored his six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; and was utterly devoted to Virginia, his wife of 67 years. He was a kind man with a quick wit and a passion for life and adventure. He will be deeply missed by family and friends.
Survivors include his wife, Virginia Lee Jeffries Gummere; two daughters, Virginia Glenn Stewart, of Kansas City, Missouri and Rebecca Jane Gummere, of Sugar Grove; six grandchildren, Tricia Stewart Shiu, Cassie L. Stafford and husband, Brett, Joie L. Scott and husband, Jeff, Jeff Lilgendahl and wife, Jennifer, and Liam and Maggie Carey. Six great-grandchildren, and various nieces and nephews also survive.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Deborah Ann Lilgendahl; one sister, Betty Jane Luker; one brother, George Richard; and his father and mother-in-law, Charles Emmett and Stanley Goodin Jeffries.
A private Celebration of Life service with family will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to High Country Health Care Systems Hospice at www.highcountry hospice.org or to Opposing Abuse with Services, Information & Shelter, Inc at www.oasisinc.org.
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Gummere family.

James D. ‘Jim’ Payne
Mr. James D. ‘Jim’ Payne, 89, of 751 Dug Hill Road, Mountain City, Tenn., passed away on Tuesday, May 12, 2009, at the VA Nursing Home Care Unit, Mountain Home, Tenn.
He was a native of Johnson County and was born on June 9, 1919 to the late Dave and Donie Jones Payne.
Mr. Payne served three years in the United States Army 79th Infantry during the European Theater of Operations of World War II. He was in the invasion on Normandy Beach, where he was wounded twice and was awarded metals including the Purple Heart. The Purple Heart Award was presented to him 60 years later by U.S. Representative Bill Jenkins at the VA Nursing Home. Mr. Payne retired from the TVA in 1980 following 34 years of service. He was a member of Roan Creek Baptist Church for over 55 years. He loved his Church and was faithful in attendance and support as long as he was able.
Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Lynn Dunn Payne; one daughter, Phyllis Rominger of Boone, N.C.; one grandson, Wesley Rominger of Mountain City, Tenn.; two sisters, Blanche Greer of Quarryville, Pa. and Della Vanover of Mountain City, Tenn,; one brother, Elmer Payne and wife, Bernice, of Mountain City, Tenn.; one sister-in-law, Wanda Payne of Mountain City, Tenn.; several nieces and nephews; and Jim’s kitty cat Mutsie.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Bonnie Owens and Stella Simcox; one brother, Clay Payne; four brothers-in-law, Martin Greer, Howard Owens, Winston Vanover and Selmer Simcox.
The family will receive friends from 1-2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, 2009, from the Mountain City Funeral Home Chapel.
The funeral service will follow at 2:00 p.m. with Mr. Derl McCloud and Mr. Freddie Arnold officiating.
Graveside service and interment will follow from the Sunset Memorial Park. Military Honors will be conducted by the Johnson County Honor Guard.
Active Pallbearers will be, Christopher Pierce, Dan Taylor, Doug Taylor, Don Taylor, Junior Eastridge, Tom Payne and Jerry Payne.
Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Earl Taylor, the Rev. Howard Estep, the Rev. Leonard Fletcher, Mike Ashley, Steve Rominger, Jim Norris, Joe Sherwood and all of Jim’s nieces and nephews.
For those who wish, memorials may be made to the Roan Creek Baptist Church, 662 Lumpkin Branch Road, Mountain City, Tenn. 37683.
The family wishes to give their humble heartfelt thanks to Dr. Anglea May, Karen Gunn, each one of the nurses that took such loving care of Jim, everyone on the housekeeping staff and each roommate that Jim had. We learned to love all of you and you were like family.
At other times, friends may call at the residence, 751 Dug Hill Road, Mountain City, Tenn.
Condolences may be made online at www.mountaincityfuneralhome.com.
The family of James D. ‘Jim’ Payne has entrusted his service to Mountain City Funeral Home.

Ruby P. Phillips
Ms. Ruby P. Phillips, 78, of Morganton, passed away Tuesday, May 12, 2009, at Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care.
She was born July 16, 1930 in Ashe County to the late George W. and Danford Stanly Phillips.
Ms. Phillips was a member of Hartland Baptist Church in Lenoir and was retired from Premiere Textile.
Survivors include nephews, Danny Hall, Kenneth Hall and wife, Deidra, Jerry Hall and wife, Doris, and David Dyson; niece, Mrs. Linda Livingston and husband, Ed, of Lenoir; great nephews, George Hall, Danny Hall Jr., Danny Joe Hall, Nathan Hall and Tim Hall; and great-nieces, Jennifer Livingston, Darlene Day, Patricia Ledford, Hannah Dega, Anita Brooks, Geraldine Goble, Elizabeth Price and Lisa Hall.
Services will be held Friday, May 15, 2009, at 2:00 p.m. at Hartland Baptist Church conducted by Dr. Steve Parker and the Rev. B.R. Whisnant. Interment will follow at the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends Thursday from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at Greer-McElveen Funeral Home.
Serving as pallbearers will be George Hall, Danny Hall Jr., Chris Chester, Dan Brooks, Allen Goble and Jamie Price.
Honorary pallbearers will be: Jerry Hall, Ken Hall, Danny Hall, Sr., and David Dyson.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hartland Baptist Church, Building Fund, 3730 Hartland Rd., Morganton, N.C. 28655.
Online condolences may be left at www.greer-mcelveenfuneralhome.com.
Greer-McElveen Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

May 13, 2009
Audrey Thomas ‘A.T.’ Barbee Jr.
Mr. Audrey Thomas (A. T.) Barbee, Jr., 76, of West Jefferson, N.C., passed away Sunday, May 10, 2009, at the Watauga Medical Center following several weeks of illness.
Mr. Barbee was born in Durham County on Oct. 28, 1932 to the late Audrey Thomas Barbee, Sr. and Fannie Lee O'Briant Barbee.
Mr. Barbee grew up in the Lowe's Grove Community and graduated from Lowe's Grove High School in 1951. He entered the U.S. Air Force in 1951 and served in the Korean Conflict and Japan in the photo reconnaissance unit with top security clearance until his discharge in 1955. Upon his return to Durham, he worked with the U.S. Army Research Office at Duke University prior to entering Guilford College in 1957.
He graduated from Guilford College in 1961 with a B.A. Degree in Economics and History. Following graduation he began his thirty-year banking career in the executive training program with the North Carolina National Bank, later NCNB, now Bank of America. Mr. Barbee served offices in Greensboro, Statesville and Morganton, before retiring from the bank in 1991. Following his retirement, the Barbee’s moved to Beaufort, N. C. Mr. Barbee served as Chief Financial Officer of Atlantic Veneer Corporation, where he managed funds for the international wood processing plant with plants in the U. S., Canada, Germany and Brazil.
During his career, Mr. Barbee was active on several boards and organizations including United Way, Chambers of Commerce, Community College Co-op Education, Junior Achievement, Jaycees, Community Concerts, Manufacturers Roundtable, Beaufort Business and Professional Association, Rotary Club and Trout Unlimited.
He met Millie Marshall at Guilford College and they were married on August 19, 1961.
Survivors include his wife, Millie M. Barbee; a beloved daughter, Elizabeth Barbee Shronce (Beth) and two beautiful granddaughters, Katherine Grace Shronce and Anna Elizabeth Shronce of Hickory. Mr. Barbee enjoyed taking his granddaughters on hikes and teaching them to appreciate the natural beauty of the mountains and the coast. Throughout their 47 year marriage, the Barbee’s have been avid preservationists of the natural environment and the state's historic resources. Mr. Barbee enjoyed sailing, painting, wildflower photography, trout fishing, golf and hiking along the Blue Ridge Parkway, the New River and the Appalachian Trail.
A memorial service in the Quaker tradition will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 23, 2009 at the White Plains Friends Meeting (Quaker), followed by fellowship with the family. The Meeting House is located in the White Plains community near Mount Airy. Graveside services will follow in the White Plains Friends Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 5:00-8:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 14, 2009, at the Boone Family Funeral Home in West Jefferson.
Moody Funeral Service of Mount Airy will assist with the burial.
Memorials may be made to the White Plains Friends Meeting and the Blue Ridge Rural Land Trust.
You may give the family your condolences at our website www.boonefuneralhome.com
Boone Family Funeral Home of West Jefferson is in charge of these arrangements.

Rudolph Carl Stone
Mr. Rudolph Carl Stone, 77, died Thursday, May 7, 2009 at his home in Blowing Rock.
He proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. He was retired from Sprint. During retirement he was active in St. Mary of the Hills Episcopal Church and Habitat for Humanity of Watauga County. Rudy also enjoyed gardening and creating works of art through painting and woodworking.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Audrey Lippoth Stone; daughters, Christine Hamrick and husband, Dennis, of Tarboro, N.C.; Linda Stone of Blowing Rock, Wendy Wilkinson and husband, Gregory. of Washington, N.C.; and brother, Thomas Stone of Shaftsbury, VT. He is also survived by grandchildren, Jessica Horbach and husband, Siarhei, of Nags Head, N.C., Elizabeth Hamrick of Nashville, Tenn., and Rebecca Hamrick of Tarboro, N.C.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Frederick and Ethel Stone of Danbury, CT.
A memorial service was held at St. Mary of the Hills Episcopal Church in Blowing Rock, Monday, May 11, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. Officiating was Father Rick Lawler. The family received friends following the service at the church.
Donations may be made to Watauga County Habitat for Humanity, Post Office Box 33 DTS, Boone, N.C. 28607 or to St. Mary of the Hills Episcopal Church, Post Office Box 14, Blowing Rock. N.C. 28605.
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Stone family.

Louise Townsend
Mrs. Louise Townsend, 83, of Townsend Road, Hickory, died Saturday morning, May 9, 2009, at Carolina Rehab in Icard.
She was born Feb. 4, 1926 in Watauga County, a daughter of the late Jason and Essie Townsend.
Mrs. Townsend was a homemaker and a member of Holy Communion Lutheran Church.
Surviving are two sons, Ray Townsend and wife, Tammy, and Jerry Townsend and wife, Judy, all of Hickory; two grandsons, Josh and Cody Townsend of Hickory; one sister, Rosa Greene and husband, Vernon, of Lenoir; and three brothers, Earl Townsend and wife, Betty, and Grady Townsend and wife, Hazel, of Lenoir, and Chester Townsend and wife, Virleen, of Hickory; and a number of nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ulas M. Townsend; one brother, Claude Townsend; three sisters, Gracie T. Mitchell, Cora, Macey, and Texie Townsend.
Services were conducted Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock at Holy Communion Lutheran Church, officiated by the Rev. Dr. Larry Campbell. Burial followed in the church cemetery.
Memorials may be made to WELCA of Holy Communion Lutheran Church, in care of J. B. Townsend, 1159-1 Bamboo Road, Boone, N.C. 28607.
Online condolences may be sent to the Townsend family at austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com.
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Townsend family.

May 11, 2009
Doris Younce Bunten
Mrs. Doris Younce Bunten, 98, of 1854 Campbell Road, Mountain City, Tenn., passed away on Friday, May 8, 2009, from the Mountain City Care Center.
She was a native of Avery County, N.C., and was the oldest child of the late Thomas Marion and Bonnie B. Reece Younce.
Mrs. Bunten spent most of her childhood years in Raleigh and Little Washinton, N.C. before moving to Elizabethton, Tenn. and then to Doe Valley Community in 1950. She was manager of the Shoe Store in Mountain City for many years. She was the oldest member of Bethany Baptist Church where she loved to sing in the choir and was the Ladies Adult teacher for many years. She was a past member of the Home Demonstration Club and loved cooking, canning and her family.
Survivors include one daughter, Carolyn M. Bunten of Mountain City, Tenn.; one son and daughter-in-law, Robert H. “Bob” Bunten and wife, Barbara, of Mountain City, Tenn.; two granddaughters, Denice Bunten Norris of Mountain City, Tenn., and Deborah Bunten Swift and fiancé, Dion Hensley of Mountain City, Tenn.; one grandson, David H. Bunten of Mountain City, Tenn.; two great-granddaughters, Lakisha Bunten Morley of Johnson City, Tenn. and Dessari Norris of Mountain City, Tenn.; one great-grandson, Daniel Swift of Mountain City, Tenn.; one brother, Dennis Younce and wife, Mildred, of Elizabethton, Tenn.; one sister, Frances Younce Reece of Elk Park, N.C.; and one sister-in-law on the Bunten side, Mrs. Rose Bunten of Elk, Park. N.C. Several nieces, nephews and cousins also survive. Special friends are many and are too numerous to mention by name.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Paul H. Bunten; two brothers, Melvin Younce and Burette Younce.
Services were conducted Sunday, May 10, 2009, at 7 p.m. at Bethany Baptist Church with the Rev. Ralph Howard and the Rev. Harold Mains officiating. Graveside service and interment was conducted Monday morning at 11 a.m. in the Sunset Memorial Park of Mountain City.
Online condolences may be viewed and sent to the family through the website at www.hensonfuneralhome.com.
Henson Funeral Home of Mountain City is serving the Bunten family.

Edna Mae Brown Michael
Ms. Edna Mae Brown Michael, 92, of 263 Oak Street, Mountain City, Tenn., passed away peacefully Thursday morning, May 7, 2009, at the home of her daughter and son-in-law in Bel Air, Md.
She was born in Boone, N.C., the daughter of the late Mastin Clyde and Ola Rhoda Blackburn Brown. She married Albert W. Michael and they moved to Mountain City in 1947 where they made their home and were owners of Michael’s Department Store. Ms. Michael continued to manage the store after Albert’s death in 1988 until she retired in 2001 after 54 years in business.
She was a long-time member of the First Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school, sang in the choir and was active in Women in Mission. She was a member of the Mountain City Rotary Club and was the club president in 1995-1996. She was a member of the Chamber of Commerce and was named a 1997 “Person of the Year”. She was active on many community boards.
Survivors include her daughter, Ava Michael Shaver and son-in-law, William G. Shaver, of Bel Air, Md.; two grandchildren, Lezlie and husband, Stephen McBride, of McLean, Va. and Eric Shaver and his wife, Jessica, of Burke, Va.; three great-grandchildren, Savannah and Reilly McBride and Thomas Shaver; a nephew, David Dietz and wife, Kathleen, of Hickory, N.C.; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents and husband, Ms. Michael was preceded in death by her two sisters, Faye Brown Hodges and Lucy Brown Deitz.
The family will receive friends from 6-9 p.m., Monday, May 11, 2009, in the Charles B. Hux Memorial Chapel of the Hux-Lipford Funeral in Mountain City.
The funeral service will be held Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church with a visitation from 1-2 p.m. prior to the service with Mr. Norman Reece and the Rev. Ricky Campbell to officiate. Graveside service and burial will follow in the Sunset Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a charity of your choice or to one of the following: First Baptist Church Building/Renovation Fund, 421 West Main Street, Mountain City, Tenn. 37683 (423-727-9424); or the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company, 109 South Hickory Avenue, Bel Air, Md. 21014 (410-638-4401).
Online condolences may be viewed and sent to the family though our website at www.hux-lipford.com
Schimunek Funeral Home in Bel Air, Md. and Hux-Lipford Funeral Home of Mountain City, Tenn. are in charge of the arrangements.

Kenneth A. Reece
Mr. Kenneth A. Reece, 71, of Swansea, S.C., a former native and resident of Watauga County, N.C., died Thursday, May 7, 2009, at Lexington Medical Center.
Survivors include his wife, Eva Reece; sons, Ken, Jr. and wife, Rita Reece, of Clemmons, N.C., Jeff Reece of Yadkinville, N.C. and Brandon Morris of Leesville, S.C.; sisters, Delene and Ronnie Coffey of Granite Falls, N.C., Lynn Reece of Gaston, N.C; brother, Marty and Vicky Reece of Zionville, N.C.; grandchildren, Nathan Reece of Yadkinville, N.C. and Lucas Reece of Clemmons, N.C.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Herman and Marjorie Reece; a sister, Frieda Brown; and an infant brother, Arvin Reece.
Per Mr. Reece’s request, there will be no service.
Memorials may be made to a local Hospice.
Online register at Barr-Price.com.
Barr-Price Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.