Obituaries of the Swannanoa Valley
Ray Malone Kirstein
Black Mountain
Ray Malone Kirstein of Black Mountain, NC passed away on Tuesday, August 25, 2015.
He is survived by his wife, Almeta Parker Kirstein; son, Ronnie Wheeler and Sissy; grandson, Christopher Wheeler and Natalie; great-grandson, Mason Wheeler; sisters, Florence Mercer of Los Alamos, NM and Berniece K. Donaldson and Bill of Arlington, VA; and special cousin, Bill Garrison.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents, Harriet and Emil Kirstein; sister, Lillian Bahrich; and first wife, Virginia Helms Kirstein.
He was a veteran of World War II, and Ray was a participant in the invasion of Normandy.
A Celebration of Life Service was held Saturday, August 29, 2015 at 2 p.m. in the Chapel of Harwood Home for Funerals with Reverend James Kirstein officiating. Burial followed in Mountain View Memorial Park. The family received friends on Friday, August 28, 2015 from 6-8 p.m. at Harwood Home for Funerals. Arrangements by Harwood Home for Funerals, harwoodhomeforfunerals.com.
Jack William
“Banny” Ward
Swannanoa
Jack William “Banny” Ward, 78, of Swannanoa passed away Saturday, August 22, 2015.
Mr. Ward was born October 1, 1936 in Buncombe County to the late James and Hiawatha Ward. He enjoyed gardening and loved his dog “Trouble.” Banny retired in 1988 from Eastern Airlines and continued to operate Ward’s Painting and Decorating. He was a veteran of the US Air Force and member of First Baptist Church Swannanoa.
Banny is survived by his wife of 58 years, Lula Osteen Ward; daughter, Chiquita Crowe (Edward); son, Ron Ward (Jennifer); sister, Marilyn Huntsinger; brother, Jim Ward; grandchildren, Nikki Crowe, Garrett and Grayson Ward; great-grandchildren, Mason York and Walela Lambert; best friend from childhood, Marlon Patton; numerous nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life Service was held Wednesday, August 26, 2015 at noon in the Chapel of Harwood Home for Funerals with Rev. James Lamb and Rev. Dan Snyder officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the service at the funeral home. Burial followed at 2 pm at the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery.
Flowers are accepted and appreciated, those desiring to make a memorial contribution are encouraged to consider CarePartners Hospice, 68 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville, NC 28803 or Charles George VA Medical Center, Valor Hospice, 1100 Tunnel Road, Asheville, NC 28805.
Arrangements by Harwood Home for Funerals, harwoodhomefor
Wallace Lattie Davis
Barnardsville
Wallace Lattie Davis, 87, died Monday, August 17, 2015, at the North Carolina State Veteran’s Home.
A native of Barnardsville, Mr. Davis was a son of the late Benjamin Walter and Misha Haynes Davis. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Leila Lawing Davis, who died in 1986.
Mr. Davis was a retired Master Sergeant with the U.S. Army. He had been a long-time member of Sunrise Baptist Church and was a charter member of Covenant Community.
Mr. Davis is survived by his daughters, Linda Franklin (Larry), Sherry Penland (Thomas), Regina Lambert (Ted), and Cindy Bowman (Kim); son, James Davis (Gwen); sisters, Etta Powers, Novella Pegg, and Grethel Rickman of Swannanoa; brother, Rollins Davis; and his beloved 12 grandchildren: Chad Franklin and wife Charity, Travis Franklin and wife Tiffany, Kimberly Robinson, Brent Robinson and wife Charlotte, Stephanie Penland, Jake Lambert and wife Jenni, Tyler Lambert, Brooke Scott and husband Lee, Jillian Bowman, Ashley McKinney and husband Lee, Adam Davis and wife Kendall, and Justin Davis. He is also survived by his six beloved great-grandchildren: Ava Franklin, Davis Franklin, Lilly Kate Franklin, Anna Lee Franklin, Braylee Lambert, and Makayla Zaludek.
Funeral services were held on Friday August 21 at Groce Funeral Home Chapel on Patton Ave. The Revs. Dean Clontz, Charles Phillips and Bryan Buchanan officiated. Interment followed at Forest Lawn Memorial Park with military honors provided by the N.C. National Guard Honor Guard. His grandsons served as pallbearers. Flowers are appreciated or memorials may be made to Sunrise Baptist Church, 419 Deaverview Rd., Asheville, NC 28806.
Erna Dysart Baker
Black Mountain
Mrs. Erna Dysart Baker, age 91, died peacefully on August 22, 2015 at her mountain home outside of Black Mountain. Erna was born to the late Ernest G. and Hannie Biddex Dysart on June 18, 1924 in Lenoir, NC. She was preceded in death by her six siblings: Bulow Dysart, Harold Dysart, Gene Dysart, Troyell Dysart, Frank Dysart and Frances Dysart Miller.
Erna lived in Pleasant Gardens during her elementary and high school years, and graduated from Greensboro Women’s College. She married Lewin T. Baker of Port Allegany, PA in 1946. Over the 69 years of their marriage, they lived in Pennsylvania, Florida, and New York, retiring to North Carolina in 1984.
Erna was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was a marvelous cook, an accomplished seamstress and the “glue” of the family. She will be greatly missed and remembered for her gentle and caring ways, beautiful smile and kind heart.
Erna is survived by her husband, Lee, their three children and spouses, ten grandchildren and spouses and nine great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Erna’s name, to the Four Seasons Compassion for Life hospice organization (fourseasonscfl.org), Alzheimer’s research at BrightFocus Foundation (brightfocus.org) or the Black Mountain United Methodist Church (blackmountainumc.org).
A celebration of Erna’s life will be held at the Black Mountain United Methodist Church on Sunday, September 6, 2015, at 4 p.m. She will be buried in the Dysart family plot at Oak Grove Cemetery, in Marion, North Carolina. Arrangements by Harwood Home for Funerals. www.harwoodhomefor
Carmen Teems
Scroggs
Swannanoa
Carmen Teems Scroggs, 92, of Swannanoa passed away, Monday, August 24, 2015.
Mrs. Scroggs was born April 3, 1923 in Clay County to the late John and Fannie Sneed Teems and had been a resident of Swannanoa since 1951. She was a member of Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church.
In addition to her parents, Carmen was preceded in death by her husband, John Morris Scroggs; four sisters and four brothers.
Mrs. Scroggs is survived by two nieces, Zelda Kasey and Eva Nell Edmonds; nephew, Arnold Teems; three great-nieces and seven great-nephews.
A Celebration of Life Service was held Thursday, August 27, 2015 at 3 p.m. in the chapel of Harwood Home for Funerals. The family received friends following the service. Burial was held in Mountain View Memorial Park.
Arrangements by Harwood Home for Funerals, harwoodhomefor