March 1 Obituaries of the Swannanoa Valley
Billy Allen Pinyan
Black Mountain
Billy Allen Pinyan, 87, of Black Mountain, passed away February 20, 2018.
Billy was born April 11, 1930 in Cherokee County, GA to the late Henry Sherman Pinyan Sr. and Sallie Pinyan. He graduated from Canton High School and spent four years in the Naval service during the Korean Conflict. He was a graduate of Southern Tech and spent 37 years in the textile industry in many places including Helensburgh, Scotland; Louiseville, Canada; Connecticut; South Carolina; Massachusetts; and made his home in Black Mountain, NC.
Mr. Pinyan was a member of the Kiwanis Club in both Black Mountain, NC and Rock Hill, SC. He was on the board of textile arbitrations in New York City and attended two Senate hearings. Billy’s favorite hobby was to travel, where he had the opportunity to visit all 50 states and 36 countries. He had a great life and never met a stranger.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife, Ila Pinyan; four sisters; and seven brothers. Billy is survived by several nieces and nephews; and numerous great nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life service was held Saturday, February 24, 2018 at 12 noon at Black Mountain United Methodist Church. The family received friends one hour prior to the service at the church. A graveside service was Sunday, February 25, 2018 at 2 p.m. at Orange Hill Cemetery in Hawkinsville, GA.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to a charity of their choice; Black Mountain United Methodist Church, PO Box 517, Black Mountain, NC 28711; Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry, PO Box 235, Black Mountain, NC 28711; or Hawkinsville United Methodist Church, 44 Merritt Street, Hawkinsville, GA 31036.
Arrangements by Harwood Home for Funerals, harwoodhomeforfunerals.com.
Patricia Anne Stracke Eshleman
Deland, Florida
Patricia Anne Stracke Eshleman entered into eternal rest on Feb. 12, 2018.
Patricia was born July 6, 1936, in Adel, Georgia, to parents Donald and Juanita Stracke. Her brother, Tony Stracke, predeceased her. She graduated from Largo High School, Largo, Florida, St. Petersburg Junior College, and Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Pat married her husband, Fred R. Eshleman, in St. Petersburg. She worked parttime for the St. Louis Cardinal baseball team spring training in St. Petersburg before she was employed with General Telephone in marketing. She left General Telephone to purchase and operate the award-winning Red Rocker Country Inn in Black Mountain, NC.
While there, for 16 years, every day she made 11 desserts from scratch for the guests who came for lunch or dinner. Evangelist Billy Graham came so often to eat blackberry cobbler that the private dining room was named in his honor.
Retiring, she and Fred moved to Deland, Florida, in 1999, where she became a president of the Daisy Garden Club. She was on the executive board of the Museum of Florida Art and was a president of the museum's guild. She was also a member of the Krewe of Amalee.
Pat was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Deland, serving as clerk of session, and a member of the chancel choir. She and Fred were very active in recruiting Stetson University music students to sing with the adult church choir and helped raise the necessary scholarship money for the 36 students who sang.
She is survived by son Robert Perry Webster of Greeneville, Tennessee, stepsons Martin Eugene Eshleman of Tampa, Florida and David Mark Eshleman of Muncy, Pennsylvania.
Lillie H. Cole
Candler
Lillie Marie Hutchison Cole, 96, passed away on Tuesday, February 20, 2018 at John F. Keever Solace Center.
A native and lifelong resident of Buncombe County, she was a daughter of the late James George and Maudie Mabell Stephenson Hutchison. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Furman Cole, Jr., who died in 1999; one daughter, Beverly Passmore; and two brothers, Virge and John Hutchison; and one sister, Cora Sorrells. Lillie retired from American Enka in 1983 with 35 years of service and was a member of Pole Creek Baptist Church. She was also a member of Aglow of Asheville.
She is survived by one daughter, Brenda Reese of Banner Elk; one son, Gary Cole of Orangeburg, South Carolina; four grandchildren, Tina and Scott Jameson, Christopher and Lauren Cole; two great-grandchildren, Erika and Hunter Jameson; one great-great-grandchild, Gracie Jameson; and several nieces and nephews.
A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 3, 2018 at Snow Hill United Methodist Church Cemetery with the Reverend Keith Hutchison, Reverend Dennis Thurman and grandson, Reverend Christopher Cole officiating. Wells Funeral Homes is taking care of the family. Its online memorial register is at wellsfuneralhome.com.
Bill to: Wells Funeral Homes, Inc. & Cremation Services, P.O. Box 1469, Canton, NC 28716