April 5 Obituaries of the Swannanoa Valley
Timothy Lloyd Wheeler
Black Mountain
On Saturday March 24, 2018 after a long battle with cancer, Timothy Lloyd Wheeler of Black Mountain went to meet his heavenly father.
Described by many as a man with a heart full of love, he will be remembered for his kindness, generosity and his powerful voice he used to sing praise and spread the love of Jesus in his home church of God's Way Baptist Church, as well as many other churches across the country where he touched the hearts of many.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Benjamin and Adeline Wheeler; his brother, Mitchell Wheeler; and daughter, Joice Newman.
He is survived by his devoted and loving wife of 37 years, Joyce Wheeler; his sons, James Newman and Larry Wheeler and family; his brothers, Kenneth and Wayne Wheeler; his daughter, Deborah Grindstaff and family; his grandchildren, Brittany Rollins and husband Ryan, Tyler Newman, and Andrew Newman; and his great-grandchildren, Riley and Adalyn Rollins, and Briston Thompson.
The family received friends Thursday, March 29, 2018 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at God’s Way Baptist Church with a Celebration of Life Service immediately following. Burial followed at 3 p.m. at Dugger Cemetery in Roan Mountain, TN.
Arrangements are by Harwood Home for Funerals, harwoodhomeforfunerals.com.
Gay Currie Fox
Black Mountain
Gay Currie Fox, 97, of Black Mountain, NC, passed away Sunday, March 25, 2018 at her home.
Gay was born in Kiangsi, China to the late Edward Currie and Gay Vaughn Wilson Currie. She is also preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Fox; brothers, David, Edward and John Currie, and sister Lucy Calvin Currie.
Gay earned her BA from Agnes Scott College; her RN Degree from Columbia University, and her Master’s in Public Health from UNC Chapel Hill. She was a member of Warren Wilson Presbyterian Church, headed the Western North Carolina Women's Democrat Committee, served on the committee for the Martin Luther King Breakfast in Asheville and chaplaincy committee at the Women’s Prison.
She worked as a nurse with the Agency of International Development (A.I.D) where she developed an orphanage that became a demonstration model in 1959. She set up the first international adoption agency in Tehran.
Additionally, she served on the Black Mountain board of aldermen where she achieved a professional recreation department and director, Affirmative Action, Personal Policy, a Credit Union, rescued Lake Tomahawk, and was instrumental in helping convert the old town hall building in to The Black Mountain Center for the Arts.
Surviving Gay are her daughters, Marguerite Crawford and husband Phillip of Black Mountain, NC, Joanne Fox of Ridgeville, SC; sister, Anne Leggoe of Tallahassee, FL; grandchildren, Beverly Anne Clark and husband Shawn of Fredericksburg, VA, Joseph Edward Thornhill of Converse, LA, Gay Claire Schlosser of Shakopee, MN, Anna Christina Crawford of Black Mountain, NC and great-grandchildren, KayCee Clark and Laine Thornhill.
A memorial service will be held at 5:30 pm on April 6, 2018 at Warren Wilson Presbyterian Church, followed by a reception at Black Mountain Center for the Arts, and the sunset/candle light service at Lake Tomahawk.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation to the Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W. State St., Black Mountain, NC 28711. Condolences can be made to the family at ashevilleareaalternative.com.
Chester J. Bullman
Black Mountain
Chester J. Bullman, 80, of Black Mountain, went home to be with his Lord on March 30, 2018.
Chester was born May 15, 1937 in Madison County to the late McKinley and Etta Bullman. He was a master upholsterer, a Deacon at Burgins Chapel Free Will Baptist Church, and he served in the US Army with the Old Guard Caisson Platoon. Chester was a loving husband and father who will be deeply missed.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by four sisters and one brother.
Chester is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Sarah “Clara” Bullman; daughters, Judy Bullman of Nashville, TN and Mary Bade (Steve) of Belgium; brothers, Homer Bullman of Walnut and Monroe Bullman (Roma) of Candler; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends Wednesday, April 4, 2018, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at Harwood Home for Funerals with a celebration of life service immediately following with Rev. Furman Dills officiating. Burial will be Thursday, April 5, 2018 at 12 p.m. at the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery. Arrangements are by Harwood Home for Funerals.