MOORESVILLE — Robert B. Baxter, 82, Institute Street, died Friday (April 14, 2000) at Presbyterian Hospital, Charlotte.

Born Aug. 6, 1917, in Hiddenite, Mr. Baxter was a son of the late Willie and Bessie Malcolm Baxter. Employed with Burlington Industries for 35 years, he also operated Baxter’s Grocery, also known as Bob’s Place, on N.C. 115.

Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Beatrice Overcash Baxter; daughters Phyllis B. Lowrance and Patricia B. Bailey, both of Mooresville; sister Mabel Carlton, Mooresville; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren

Services: 2 p.m. Monday, Cavin Funeral Home Chapel, conducted by the Rev. Charles Patton. Burial, Glenwood Memorial Park.

Visitation: 7-8:30 p.m. Sunday, Cavin Funeral Home, Mooresville.

Memorials: First Wesleyan Church, 601 E. Iredell Ave., Mooresville, N.C. 28115 or Hospice at Charlotte, 1420 E. Seventh St., Charlotte, N.C. 28204.

Raymond D. Biddix

Raymond D. Biddix, 78, 325 Regency Drive, died Friday (April 14, 2000) at Duke University Medical Center, Durham.

Summersett Funeral Home is in charge.

Ada Nancy Daniels

KANNAPOLIS — Ada Nancy Daniels, 92, 1903 Cresmont St., died Friday (April 14, 2000) at her residence.

Linn-Honeycutt Funeral Home, Landis, is in charge.

Frank Du

KANNAPOLIS — Frank Du, 65, 341 Cook St., died Thursday (April 13, 2000) at Duke Medical Center, Durham, after three weeks of serious illness.

He was manager of the China Kitchen.

Whitley’s Funeral Home is in charge. The family will be at 2115 N. Cannon Blvd.

Thomas Eugene Fisher Jr.

Thomas Eugene Fisher Jr., 69, 255 Victoria St., died Thursday (April 13, 2000) at Rowan Regional Medical Center.

Born June 22, 1930, in Cabarrus County, Mr. Fisher was a son of the late Lola Fisher, and Thomas Eugene Fisher. His stepmother was the late Lucille Shives Fisher.

Educated in the Cabarrus County schools, he was employed with the Hefner VA Medical Center for 33 year before his retirement in 1985. A member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, he was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War.

Survivors include wife Ruby Frye Fisher, whom he married June 6, 1959; and son Thomas Eugene Fisher III, daughter Linda Diane Fisher and stepson Roy Luther Brown Jr., all of Salisbury.

Services: 2 p.m. Sunday, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, conducted by the Rev. Dr. William H. Battermann, pastor, and the Rev. Don Michaels, former pastor. Burial, Oakwood Cemetery, Concord.

Visitation: 7-8:30 tonight, Summersett Funeral Home.

Memorials: American Heart Association, c/o Betty Brisson, Memorial Chairwoman, 140 Regency Road, Salisbury, N.C. 28147 or Rowan Regional Medical Center Foundation, Diabetes Fund, 118 E. Council St., Salisbury, N.C. 28144.

Eloise Goldston Freeze

KANNAPOLIS — Eloise Goldston Freeze, 93, Kannapolis, died Friday (April 14, 2000) at Five Oaks Nursing Center, Concord.

Whitley’s Funeral Home, Kannapolis, is in charge.

Betty Jean Wyke Gearing

KANNAPOLIS —

Born Sept. 22, 1933, in Cabarrus County, she was a daughter of the late Eula Smith and Jones Howard Wyke. A member of First Baptist Church of Kannapolis, she was employed with Fieldcrest Cannon’s washcloth department until her retirement in 1996.

Her husband, James Andrews, died in 1977.

Survivors include sons Ronald R. and Randall H. Andrews, both of Kannapolis; and two grandsons.

A private memorial service will be held.

James Grover Hartsell

CHINA GROVE — James Grover Hartsell, 81, China Grove, died Friday (April 14, 2000) at his residence.

Born Oct. 23, 1918, in Stanly County, Mr. Hartsell was a son of the late Dalehia Alberta Whitley and John Henry Hartsell. Educated in the Rowan County schools, he was employed with Cabarrus Motor Co. and Stroupe Supply.

He was a member of Mount Zion United Church of Christ, where he served as an elder. He was also a member of the American Legion.

Mr. Hartsell served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was wounded on Good Friday, March 30, 1945, at the Battle of the Bulge. He received the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart for his service.

His wife, Hazelene Kirk Hartsell, died May 22, 1996.

Survivors include sons Donald Wayne Hartsell, Redbluff, Calif., and Jerry G. Hartsell, Salisbury; daughter Nina H. Garcia, Concord; 11 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

Services: 3 p.m. Sunday, Mount Zion United Church of Christ, conducted by the Rev. William Campbell. Entombment, West Lawn Mausoleum, conducted by the Rowan Veterans Council.

Visitation: 4-5 p.m. Sunday, in the church fellowship hall.

Memorials: Mount Zion United Church of Christ, P.O. Box 1298, China Grove, N.C. 28023 or Rowan Regional Home Health and Hospice, 825A W. Henderson St., Salisbury, N.C. 28144.

Linn-Honeycutt Funeral Home, China Grove, is in charge.

Blanche Heilig

ROCKWELL — Blanche Yoder Heilig, 93, Old Beatty Ford Road, died Thursday (April 13, 2000) at the Salisbury Lutheran Home.

Born Nov. 11, 1906, in Lincoln County, Mrs. Heilig was a daughter of the late Clare Warlick and Luther A. Yoder. She had retired in 1970 after 42 years as a teacher at Aycock Elementary School, Kannapolis.

A member of Ebenezer Lutheran Church, China Grove, she taught Sunday school and vacation Bible school. She also played piano, sang in the choir and was a life member of WELCA.

She was a 1924 graduate of Lincoln County High School and a 1928 graduate of Lenoir-Rhyne College. A charter member of Alpha Delta Kappa, she was also a member of the North Carolina Association of Educators and the National Education Association.

Her husband, Ralph G. Heilig, died Aug. 6, 1973.

Survivors include sisters Mabel Y. Nixon, Denver, N.C., and Martha Y. White, Lincolnton.

Services: 3 p.m. Sunday, Ebenezer Lutheran Church, conducted by the Rev. C.P. Fisher and the Rev. Dr. Larry Yoder. The body will be taken to the church at 2:30. Burial, church cemetery.

Visitation: Following the services in the fellowship hall.

Memorials: Ebenezer Lutheran Church, 4914 Old Beatty Ford Road, China Grove, N.C. 28023.

Lady’s Funeral Home, Kannapolis, is in charge.

Annie Bell Brock Hunter

Born May 12, 1912, in Chesterfield County, S.C., Mrs. Hunter was a son of the late Charlie and Annie Brock. She had retired from Cannon Mills, Plant 1, Kannapolis, No. 1 spinning room. She was a member of Bethpage United Methodist Church, Kannapolis.

Her husband, Roy Wagner Hunter, died Aug. 15, 1987.

Survivors include son Roy Leonard Hunter, Kannapolis; daughter Louise Hunter Hooper, China Grove; three grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Services: 2 p.m. Monday, Whitley’s Funeral Home Chapel, Kannapolis, conducted by the Rev. Randy Foster.

Visitation: 7-9 p.m. Sunday, at the funeral home.

Memorials: Bethpage United Methodist Church, 109 Fellowship Ave., Kannapolis, N.C. 28081.

‘Gerry’ Wood Jones

Geraldine “Gerry” Woods Jones, 70, 955 Union Church Road, died Wednesday (April 12, 2000) at Rowan Regional Medical Center.

July 19, 1927, in Davie County, Mrs. Jones was a daughter of the late Mattie Wood and Henry Wood . Educated in the Rowan County schools, Mrs. Jones attended college in Brooklyn, N.Y.

She was the first black city marshal for New York City. A member of Calvary AME Zion Church, New York City, she was affiliated with Mount Calvary Holiness Church, Salisbury.

Survivors include stepson Fred A. Jones, Los Angeles; brother Cartrell Wood, Cleveland; and sisters Elnora Bradford, Mamie Bush and Sadie Hawkins, all of Salisbury.

Services: 3 p.m. Monday, conducted by the Bishop Harvey Rice. Arrangements are incomplete. Burial, Calverton National Cemetery, New York.

Visitation: 2 p.m. Monday, A.R. Kelsey Memorial Chapel, Noble and Kelsey Funeral Home.

Esther Staton Koontz

Born March 19, 1943, in Anson County, she was a daughter of Mary Ethel Tucker Staton, Mount Pleasant, and the late Forney Staton. Mrs. Koontz was employed as a secretary with the Department of Social Services for 13 years.

Survivors, in addition to her mother, include her husband of 27 years, Liberty Koontz, formerly of Salisbury; son Kendal Koontz, Charlotte; daughter Denise Wilson, Hamlet; brother Joe Staton, Kannapolis; sisters Barbara Sloop, Concord, and Iris Matthews, Charlotte; and one grandchild.

Services: 3 p.m. Sunday, Pine Grove Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Carroll Anthony and the Rev. Wayne Tuttle. Burial, Richmond Memorial Park.

Visitation: 7-9 tonight, Watson-King Funeral Home.

Memorials: Leukemia Society of America, N.C. Chapter, 5801 Executive Center Drive, Suite 101, Charlotte, N.C. 28212 or Pine Grove Baptist, Church Missions Fund, 275 Airport Road, Rockingham, N.C. 28379.

Catherine Jackson Leonard

The funeral for Catherine Jackson Leonard, 76, 609 S. Shaver St., will be held Sunday. Mrs. Leonard died Wednesday (April 5, 2000) at Tucker Nursing Facilities, Tucker, Ga., after several weeks of serious illness.

Services: 2 p.m. Sunday, A.R. Kelsey Memorial Chapel, Noble and Kelsey Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. W.T. Jackson. Burial, 10 a.m. Monday, Salisbury National Cemetery.

Visitation: 1:30 p.m. Sunday, at the funeral home.

Walter Lee Linder

Walter Lee Linder, 88, Salisbury, died Friday (April 16, 2000) at Rowan Regional Medical Center after a period of declining health.

Born Dec. 6, 1911, in Mecklenburg County, Mr. Linder was a son of the late Fannie Deaton and Walter Willis Linder. Educated in the Rowan County schools, he had retired from Cone Mills as a master mechanic after 50 years with the company.

She was a member of Coburn Memorial United Methodist Church and the Men’s Adult Sunday School Class.

Survivors include wife Daisy Hartman Linder, whom he married April 26, 1934; son Robert Linder, Salisbury; daughter Mrs. Herby (Phyllis) Vanhoy, Charlotte; sister Margie Leonard, Chesapeake, Va.; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Services: 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Coburn Memorial United Methodist Church, conducted by the Rev. David Kelley, pastor. Burial, Rowan Memorial Park.

Visitation: 2-3 p.m. Sunday, church fellowship hall.

Memorials: Coburn Memorial United Methodist Church, 901 S. Church St., Salisbury, N.C. 28144.

Lyerly Funeral Home is in charge.

Lillian K. Murr

CONCORD —