Obituaries of the Swannanoa Valley
Joice Regina Newman
Nebo
Joice Regina Newman, 51, of Nebo passed away Thursday, April 30, 2015.
Joice was born March 9, 1964 in Ohio. Her parents use to own a restaurant in Black Mountain, and she and her family are well known in the Valley.
She is preceded in death by her aunt, Tina Hughes. Joice is survived by her daughters, Brittany Rollins and husband, Ryan, and Tyler Newman; parents, Joyce and Tim Wheeler; brother, Jimmy Newman; two grandchildren, Riley and Adalyn Rollins; aunt and uncle, Ruby Taff and Gary Dugger; nephew, Andrew Newman and her beloved pet, Snowball.
A Celebration of Life service was held Monday, May 4, 2015 at 7 p.m. in the chapel of Harwood Home for Funerals with the Rev. Tommy Hall officiating. The family received friends one hour prior to service time. Burial was Tuesday, May 5, 2015 at 11 a.m. in Dugger Cemetery, Roan Mountain, TN.
Joseph A. Pecor
Winter Park
Joseph A. Pecor, age 83, of Winter Park, Fla., passed away Wednesday, April 29, 2015. Pecor, who lived in the Black Mountain area, was born August 23, 1931 in Woodstock, Vermont. He is survived by his sons, Shawn and Greg Pecor, and two grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife, Helen J. Pecor. A Mass of Christian Burial was held 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 5, 2015 at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, 5300 Old Howell Branch Road, Winter Park, Florida. Interment followed at All Faith’s Memorial Park in Casselberry, Florida. Please view and sign the guestbook at www.baldwinfairchild
Raymond Faulkner
Swannanoa
Raymond Faulkner, 66, of Swannanoa, passed away Tuesday, May 5, 2015.
Mr. Faulkner was born September 3, 1948 in Buncombe County to the late William and Fannie Faulkner.
Raymond enjoyed fishing and sitting in the sun. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, and he retired from U.S. Gear Tools with over 30 years of service. Raymond was a member of Wilkey Baptist Church of which he pastored.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his son, Matthew Faulkner.
Raymond is survived by his wife of 47 years, Melinda Wiseman Faulkner; siblings, Norma Jean Taylor (Robert), Linda Grogan, Joann Morrow (Tom), Ralph Faulkner, and Ricky Faulkner; grandchildren, Chase Faulkner, Tyler Hensley, Trevor Whitaker and Taleah Faulkner.
A Celebration of Life Service was held Monday, May 11, 2015 at 12:30 p.m. in the Chapel of Harwood Home for Funerals. The family received friends one hour prior to service time at the funeral home. Burial followed at 2 p.m. at the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery. Arrangements are in the care of Harwood Home for Funerals.
Michael “Emil” Liptak
Black Mountain
Michael “Emil” Liptak, 73 of Black Mountain, NC passed on Saturday, May 2, 2015 at Memorial Mission Hospital. A native of Pittsburgh, PA, he was the son of Angelina “Angie” Antignani of Seaford, DE and the late Charles Emil Liptak. He was also preceded in death by his brothers, Chuck and Dennis Liptak and brother-in-law, Johnny Kuckinskas.
A 1960 graduate of Allegheny High School in Pittsburgh, PA. He joined the US Navy in 1961 and served as an Aviation Structural Mechanic. In 1975, Emil received his masters from Lawrence Institute of Technology in Detroit, MI. He enjoyed a career as a Physicist working in Aerospace. While working for NASA, he drafted designs for the Hubble Telescope and Voyager projects. He retired to NC in 2005.
In addition to his mother, Emil is survived by his loving wife of 30 years, Carol Liptak; three children, Faith Knowles (Richard) of Kansas City, MO, Bonnie Peaslee of Atlanta, GA and Michael Liptak (Jenny) of Redmond, OR; five grandchildren, Joshua Knowles, Dr. Cynthia Thompson. Angelina Allen, Bethany Knowles and Eric Dylan Peaslee; six great-grandchildren, Shaun, Charlotte. Alexandria, Genevieve, Deon and Serraya; a brother, Glen Liptak (Jeff) of Tucson, AZ, a sister, Karen Kuckinskas of Seaford, DE; many nieces and nephews including, Gale Kelly, Leasa Penny, Audrey Flamos, Christina White, Chuckie Liptak, Mark Liptak, Renee Raffaele and Laurie Sauls; and his very special four-legged companion, Gracie.
A graveside service was held 12 p.m. Friday, May 8, 2015 at the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Black Mountain. An outdoor memorial celebration of Emil’s life was hosted by dear friends, Mimi and John Crognale on at 3 p.m. May 9.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Kairos Prison Ministry International, 100 DeBary Plantation Boulevard, DeBary, FL 32713. Morris Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be sent through the website www.morrisfamilyfuneral
Patricia Ann Wright
Black Mountain
Patricia Ann Wright, 66, passed away at her home on Tuesday, May 5, 2015. She is survived by her husband of 38 years Wade M. Wright, children Billy L. Biddix of Marion and Elaine Shook of Marion, grandchildren Brandi Robinson, Heather King, Bobby King, Sean Biddix, and Colton Biddix, and great-grandchildren Brandon Hensley, Charles McGhee, Tylor Robinson, Lacy Robinson, and Wyatt Robinson.
Patricia was born on April 11, 1949 to the late Joseph and Katherine Jenkins. She had many loves in this world, including the outdoors and fishing. Before she passed she wanted to see the flowers bloom one last time. She also loved her pets, and animals. She loved watching the birds, and loved her two terriers Scruffy and Cody. Patricia felt that God put it on her heart to minister to churches and her community.
She was a member of Chestnut Hill Baptist Church. She loved her family, and was a loving mother, grandmother, and she treated all children as if they were her own. She will be greatly missed by all that knew and loved her.
Visitation was on Wednesday, May 6 from 6-8 p.m. at Wilson Family Funeral Service in Black Mountain. Funeral service was 11 a.m. Thursday, May 7 at Chestnut Hill Baptist Church with Rev. James Lamb, and Rev. Norris Wright officiating. Those who would like to leave words of comfort for the family may do so at www.wilsonfamilyfuneral