CHINA GROVE — The funeral will be Thursday for Richard Lee “Ricky” Astle III, 27, 300 Edgewood Circle, who died Monday (Feb. 7, 2000)at NorthEast Medical Center, Concord, after a brief illness.

Born Feb. 12, 1972, in Cabarrus County, Mr. Astle was the son of the late Richard Lee Astle II, Frances Mullis Parham, China Grove, and the stepson of Don Parham, China Grove. He was a graduate of South Rowan High School.

Survivors, in addition to his parents, include fiancee Chanda Wayne, Concord; sisters Linda Hendrickson, China Grove, and Tina Yow, Salisbury; brother Michael Morgan,Rockwell; stepbrothers Terry Parham, Kannapolis, and Chris Parham, Concord; and step-grandparents Jasper and Ruth Parham, Kannapolis.

Services: 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Lady’s Funeral Home Chapel, conducted by the Rev. Lewis Whittington.

Visitation: 2-3:30 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. At other times the family will be at the home on Edgewood Circle.

Memorials:Shriner’s Hospital for Children, 950 W. Faris Road, Greenville, S.C. 29605.

Nannie Solomon Barringer

Nannie Solomon Barringer, 88, Salisbury, died Wednesday (Feb. 9, 2000) at Rowan Regional Medical Center.

LyerlyFuneral Home is in charge.

Pat Cook

KANNAPOLIS — The funeral will be held Thursday for Patricia L. “Pat” Pethel Cook, 63, of 2975 Lane St., who died Monday (Feb. 7, 2000) at NorthEast Medical Center, Concord. She had been in declining health for nine years and seriously ill two months.

Born Oct. 11, 1936, in Cabarrus County, she was a daughter of the late Carl and Connie Peck Pethel. A homemaker, she was formerly employed in Plant l of Cannon Mills Company. She was a member of Mount Mitchell United Methodist Church.

Survivors include husband Clarence F. Cook; sons Billy B. Cook, Kannapolis, Lee Cook of the home, and Timmy Cook, Lincolnton; daughter Linda Ann Gentle, Kannapolis; sisters Dot Dearmon and Mary Hunter, both of Kannapolis.

Services: 2 p.m. Thursday, Mount Mitchell United Methodist Church, conducted by the Rev. David Duncan, the Rev.Charles Guy, and the Rev. Marion Fulk. Burial in the church cemetery.

Visitation: 7-9 tonight, Lady’s Funeral Home. At other times the family will be at the home on Lane Street.

Memorials: Mount Mitchell United Methodist Church, 6001 Old Salisbury-Concord Road, Kannapolis, N.C. 28083.

Virginia Weaver Gaddy

NEW LONDON — Virginia Weaver Gaddy, 87, 204 Dogwood Drive, died Monday (Feb. 7, 2000) at her home.

Born Feb. 2, 1913, in Richmond, Va., Mrs. Gaddy was a daughter of the late Willie W. and Mattie Sharpe Weaver. She was a member of New LondonUnited Methodist Church, where she had been president of the United Methodist Women. A volunteer at the Stanly County Senior Center, she was also a member of New London Extension Homemakers Association and Dogwood Garden Club.

Her husband, Holden C. Gaddy, preceded her in death.

Survivors include son W. Calvin Gaddy, New London; daughter Frances G. Harrington, Atlantic Beach, Fla.; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Services: 2 p.m. Sunday, New London United Methodist Church, conducted by the Rev. Pat Jenkins. Burial will be private.

Visitation: In the church fellowship hall after the service.

Hartsell Funeral Home, Albemarle, is in charge.

Memorials: New London United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 146, New London, N.C. 28127-0146; or Shriners Hospital for Children, c/o Oasis Shrine Temple, 604 Daniel Burnham Way, Charlotte, N.C. 28262.

Millard ‘Dick’ Harper

The funeral will be Thursday for Millard Shelton “Dick” Harper, 71, 3711 Old Concord Road, who died Tuesday (Feb. 8, 2000) at his home after an extended illness.

Born July 23, 1928, in Rowan County, Mr. Harper was a son of the late Ralph Fletcher and Frances Catherine Steele Harper. Educated in the China Grove schools, he had been employed at Rowan Cotton Mills for 24 years. He retired in 1988 after 14 years with Hoechst Celanese, now KoSa, and later operated a booth at the Lexington Flea Market.

He was a former member of Salisbury Moose Lodge and a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, where he worked with the Boy Scouts and Little League.

A son, Ralph Franklin “Frankie” Harper, died Aug. 21, 1969.

Survivors include wife Frances Hunsucker Harper, whom he married March 2, 1946; son M. Shelton Harper Jr., Rockwell; and three grandchildren.

Services: 3 p.m. Thursday, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, conducted by the Rev. William S. Ketchie. Burial, church cemetery.

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

Memorials: St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Cemetery Fund, 205 St. Paul’s Church Road, Salisbury, N.C. 28146; or Rowan Regional Home Health and Hospice, 825-A W. Henderson St., Salisbury, N.C. 28144.

Rayford Junior Leeper

CONCORD — Rayford Junior Leeper, 66, 645 S. Union St., died Monday (Feb. 7, 2000) at Integrated Health Service, Charlotte.

Born Oct. 31, 1933, in Lancaster, S.C., Mr. Leeper was a son of the late Leslie James and Pearl Aldridge Leeper. He had been employed at Linn Corriher Mill, Landis.

Survivors include daughters Kay Leeper McClorey, Concord, and Connie V. Leeper, New Market, Tenn.; sons Ronald Blakeney and Torrance D. Leeper, both of Kannapolis, John Marcus Leeper, Hampton, Va., and Marvin Covington, Charlotte; sister Flossie Crowder, Kannapolis; 13 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Services: 3 p.m. Thursday, Bryant-Lytle-Young Funeral Home Chapel, Kannapolis, conducted by the Rev. John Johnson and the Rev. Donald Anthony. Burial, Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery.

Visitation: 2-3 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Elsie Greer Rice

Elsie Greer Rice, 82, 2455 Briggs Road, died Wednesday (Feb. 9, 2000) at The Laurels of Salisbury.

Summersett Funeral Home is in charge.

Blanche Grady Viola

KANNAPOLIS — Blanche Grady Viola, 85, died Tuesday (Feb. 8, 2000) at Presbyterian Hospital, Charlotte.

Born June 16, 1914, in Weldon, Mrs. Viola was employed in her earlier years by the former Efird’s Department Store and later with Belk’s Department Store, both in Kannapolis. She was a member of All Saints Episcopal Church, Concord.

Survivors include husband George Viola; sons George E. and Michael D. Viola and the Rev. H. Alexander Viola; daughters Nancy J. Finger and Cynthia J. Viola; brothers Ernest and Clyde Grady; 10 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Services: Graveside, 11 a.m. Friday, Carolina Memorial Park, conducted by a son, the Rev. H. Alexander Viola, and the Rev. Robert E. Salamone.

Visitation: None.

Whitley’s Funeral Home is in charge.

Memorials: American Cancer Society, Cabarrus County Chapter, P.O. Box 928, Concord, N.C. 28026-0928.

Lorinza Boyce White

STATESVILLE — Lorinza Boyce White, 48, 418 S. Tradd St., died Friday (Feb. 4, 2000).

Born April 12, 1951, in Davidson, Mr. White was a son of the late Ernest Lee and Zula Graham White. A Methodist, he was employed at Carolina Mills Plant 12.

Survivors include son Lorinza B. White Jr., Salisbury; daughters Zula Marie, Elizabeth and Teresa C. White, all of Salisbury; sisters Mary J. Williams, Burbank, Calif., Odessa Sisnett, Brooklyn, N.Y., and Shirley W. Owens, Los Angeles, Calif.; brothers Ernest White Jr., Denver, Colo., and Kermit White, Brooklyn, N.Y.; and eight grandchildren.

Services: Noon Thursday, Bryant-Lytle-Young Funeral Home Chapel, Mooresville, conducted by Dewight White. Burial, National Cemetery, Salisbury.

Visitation: 7-8 tonight at the funeral home. At other times the family will be at the home on South Tradd Street.

Bill Newton Wilson

Bill Newton Wilson, 54, of 175 Rogers Drive, died Tuesday (Feb. 8, 2000) at Rowan Regional Medical Center.

Born Sept. 22, 1945, in Gaffney, S. C., he was a son of James Newton and Pauline Isler Wilson of Salisbury. A graduate of West Rowan High School, he attended Wingate College and was employed by Ball Corporation for 20 years. He was a member of John Calvin Presbyterian Church, the Elks Lodge and Piedmont N. C. Bulldog Club.

Survivors include wife Toby Sides Wilson, whom he married on Nov. 10, 1964; son Talon Marshall Wilson, Salisbury; daughter Ashley Renee Wilson, Salisbury; brothers Dr. Robert Wilson, Salisbury, and James Herbert Wilson, Gastonia; sisters Mary Ellen W.Weddington, Charlotte, and JoAnn W. Thomas, Salisbury; and two grandchildren.

Services: 2 p.m. Thursday, Summersett Memorial Chapel, conducted by the Rev. Marvin Lindsay lll, pastor of John Calvin Presbyterian Church. Burial in Rowan Memorial Park.

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.