Mary Blevins Bare

Mary Blevins Bare, 95, 340 Roseman Road, died Friday (Dec. 14, 2001) at her home.

Born July 16, 1906, in Wilkes County, she was a daughter of the late Melvina Woodie and Flemon Blevins.

She attended Wilkes County Schools and worked in textiles for 50 years before retiring. She was a charter member of Airport Road Church of God.

Her husband, Don Bare, died in 1979.

Survivors include son Odell Bare, Salisbury; daughters Edith Clement, Sparta, and Gladys Castor and Geraldine Beck, both of Salisbury; 11 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren.

Services: 3 p.m. Sunday, Linn-Honeycutt Funeral Home, China Grove, conducted by the Rev. Ted Burke and the Rev. Evelyn Galloway. Burial, West Lawn Memorial Park.

Visitation: 7-8:30 tonight at the funeral home.

Memorials: Rowan Regional Home Health and Hospice, 825 W. Henderson St., Suite A, Salisbury NC 28144.

Virgie C. Bostian

Virgie Cranford Bostian, 97, Salisbury, died Friday (Dec. 14, 2001) at Heritage Plantation Rest Home.

Powles Funeral Home is in charge.

John W. Clark

LEXINGTON —John Wayne Clark, 64, Mitchell Avenue, died Friday (Dec. 14, 2001) at High Point Regional Hospital.

Services: No service will be held. Inurnment at a later date.

Visitation:6-8 p.m. Sunday at Davidson Funeral Home chapel, and other times at the home of brother Rodney Clark, 1096 Riverwood Drive.

Memorials:Hospice of Davidson County, P.O. Box 1941, Lexington, NC 27293, or Davidson Cancer Services, 503 W. Center St., Lexington, NC 27292.

Stella Mae Earnhardt

The funeral will be today for Stella Mae Harris Earnhardt, 78, Salisbury, who died Thursday (Dec. 13, 2001) at Brightmoor Nursing Center after a period of declining health.

Born Feb. 28, 1923, in Iredell County, Mrs. Earnhardt was educated in the Rowan County schools. She was a homemaker and of the Baptist faith.

Her husband, Adam N. Earnhardt, died Sept. 14, 1988.

Survivors include sons Franklin L. “Honk” Earnhardt and Ronald E. Earnhardt, both of Salisbury; daughter Agnes Johnson, Lumberton; 11 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Services: 1 p.m. today, Lyerly Funeral Home chapel, conducted by the Rev. Brooke Gibson, pastor, Royal Oaks United Methodist Church, Kannapolis. Burial, Carolina Memorial Park, Kannapolis.

Visitation: Noon to 1 p.m. today at the funeral home and other times at the home of the son Franklin Earnhardt.

Robert A. Freeman

KANNAPOLIS — Robert Anderson Freeman, 79, 1001 China Grove Road, died Friday (Dec. 14, 2001) at his home.

Whitley’s Funeral Home is in charge.

Thaddeus W. Furr

ALBEMARLE — Thaddeus Whitley Furr, 89, 24724 U.S. 52 S., died Friday (Dec. 14, 2001) at N.C. Lutheran Nursing Homes.

Services: 2 p.m. Sunday, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, Oakboro. Burial, church cemetery. The body will be placed in the church at 1:30 p.m.

Visitation: 7-9 tonight, Hartsell Funeral Home. At other times, the family will meet at the home of daughter Mildred Whitley, 517 Concord Road.

Ava Russ Hawks

Mooresville — Ava Russ Hawks, Whitman Circle, died Thursday (Dec. 13, 2001) at her home. She was the mother of Danny Russ of Mount Ulla.

Services: 2 p.m. Sunday, Liberty Baptist Church. Burial, Glenwood Memorial Park.

Visitation: 7-9 tonight, Cavin-Cook Funeral Home.

Memorials: Liberty Baptist Church Building Fund, c/o Virginia Childress, 247 Presbyterian Road, Mooresville NC 28115.

Eunice ‘Noony’ Kuntz

Eunice “Noony” Freeman Kuntz, 82, 635 Statesville Road, formerly of 17531 Greenhill Road, Charlotte, died Friday (Dec. 14, 2001) at Brian Center Health and Rehabilitation.

Born in Glendale, S.C., Mrs. Kuntz was a daughter of the late Archie Lee and Zora Eva Wilson Freeman.

She was a life-long member of the Church of the Nazarene, Fort Mill, S.C. Mrs. Kuntz previously worked with Celanese Corp., Rock Hill, and Swains Steak House, Charlotte, and retired from Company Store Antiques, Pineville.

She was preceded in death by husband Cleason Kuntz and daughter Jo Ann Kuntz.

Survivors include sons Ronnie and Cley Kuntz, both of Charlotte; daughter Karen Barbee, Salisbury; sisters Carolyn Parks, Del Rio, Tenn., Merle Jenkins, Chester, S.C., and Betty Archie, Fort Mill, S.C.; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Services: 2 p.m. Sunday, Greene Funeral Home chapel, Rock Hill, S.C., conducted by the Rev. Jim Parrish. Burial, Laurelwood Cemetery.

Visitation: 6-7:30 tonight at the funeral home and at other times at her daughter Karen Barbee’s home, 3525 N.C. 152 E.

Memorials: Carolina Rehab Hospital, Box 32861, Charlotte, NC 28232 or Rec Cross, 200 Piedmont Blvd., Rock Hill, SC 29732.

Hattie High Lee

The funeral will be Monday for Hattie High Lee, 98, Salisbury, formerly of Martin, Tenn., who died Friday (Dec. 14, 2001) at Lutheran Home at Trinity Oaks.

Born March 25, 1903, in Dresden, Tenn., Mrs. Lee was the daughter of the late Lora Ethel Smith and William Stephen High. She was educated in the Dresden, Tenn., schools. She was a homemaker and was employed at Martin Manufacturing before her retirement. She was of the Baptist faith.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ted Little Lee, and her sons, Glenn Verdell Lee, James Edward Lee and Billy Wayne Lee.

She is survived by her daughter, Jackie Carson, of Salisbury, seven grandchildren, six great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.

Services: 11 a.m. Monday at Murphy Funeral Home Chapel, Martin, Tenn. Burial, Tansil Cemetery, Sharon, Tenn.

Visitation: 9:30 to 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home.

Memorials: Lutheran Home at Trinity Oaks, 820 Klumac Road, Salisbury, NC 28144.

James E. Mathis

GRANITE QUARRY — James E. Mathis Sr., 78, died Thursday (Dec. 13, 2001) at Rowan Regional Medical Center, Salisbury.

A retired educator, Mr. Mathis was born Aug. 24, 1923, in Jonesville, to the late Charlie G. and Maud Lee Elliott Mathis.

He was a 1940 graduate of Jonesville High School, attended Draughn’s Business School, Winston-Salem, and was a 1943 graduate of Lees-McRae College, Banner Elk.

He served in the U.S. Navy for 33 months during World War II as a radar specialist for 26 months aboard the USS Solomons, which searched for enemy submarines.

Mr. Mathis graduated from Appalachian State Teachers College in 1948 and taught business and social studies at Walnut Cove High School, Stokes County. He was assistant principal at West Yadkin High School.

He once operated a furniture store in Jonesville and worked for Florence-Mayo Nuway Company, Farmville.

Mr. Mathis received a master’s degree from East Carolina University in 1952, and in 1957, became principal of Traphill Elementary School, Wilkes County; in 1961, he became principal of Unionville Elementary School, Union County.

In 1963, he became principal of Union Grove High School, Iredell County. While there, he was a leader of the Union Grove Old Time Fiddlers Convention and watched its attendance grow. In 1966, he became principal of Granite Quarry Elementary School, where he spent 17 years before retiring in 1983. The Granite Quarry PTA named the school ballfield after Mr. Mathis.

He was a member of Shiloh United Methodist Church and had been active in the United Methodist Church all his life, holding nearly every office in the church. He taught youth and adult Sunday school classes for more than 50 years. He served on the administrative board, holding most of the offices, and was a life member of the United Methodist Men.

He was a member of the first Boy Scout troop in Jonesville; was a Scoutmaster in Walnut Cove and Farmville; and was Cubmaster in Unionville.

For 17 years, he coached and served as president in Little League. The Granite Quarry Little League was sanctioned by the national organization during his tenure as president.

Mr. Mathis was a member of the Lion’s Club in Jonesville and the Ruritan Club in Union Grove. He was active with the volunteer fire departments in Unionville and Union Grove.

He was a member of the Granite Quarry Civitan Club, where he held all offices and received numerous Civitan awards, including N.C. District West Distinguished Citizens and N.C. District West Humanitarian Award. He organized and promoted the Granite Quarry Civitan Fiddlers Convention for many years and was honored by the Mooresville Lion’s Club Fiddlers Convention for contributions to old time and bluegrass music in 1975.

Mr. Mathis served on the Granite Quarry Board of Aldermen, the Zoning Board and the East Rowan YMCA board. He had worked with Meals on Wheels and had gone on mission trips to build houses.

He is survived by wife Mary Ida Steele Mathis, whom he married in August 1948; sons Elliott Mathis, Granite Quarry, and Joe Frank Mathis, Salisbury; daughter Myra Lee Mathis Rand, Mount Ulla; brothers John Wesley Mathis and Charles Mathis, both of Jonesville; and five grandchildren.

Services: 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Shiloh United Methodist Church, conducted by the Rev. Kay Gottula and the Rev. Bill Hoyle. Burial, church cemetery. The Granite Quarry Civitan Club will be seated as a group.

Visitation: 6-8 tonight at Powles Funeral Home, Rockwell. The rest of the time, the family will be at the home.

Memorials: Shiloh United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 315, Granite Quarry, NC 28072; or Jonesville First United Methodist Church, Jonesville, NC 28642.

Margaret S. Mauldin

ALBEMARLE — Margaret Catherine Stevens Mauldin, 88, 152 S. Morrow Ave., died Thursday (Dec. 13, 2001) at Stanly Memorial Hospital.

Services: 3 p.m. Sunday, Stanly Funeral Home chapel. Burial, Fairview Memorial Park.

Visitation: 6:30-8:30 tonight at the funeral home.

Memorials: New Hope Mission, P.O. Box 1786, Albemarle, NC 28002.

Dewitt Mills

ALBEMARLE — Dewitt Mills, 79, 25971 Dunlap Road, died Friday (Dec. 14, 2001) at his home.

Born June 21, 1922, in Albemarle, Mr. Mills was a son of the late George Stamie and Ester Mae Dennis Mills. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

Retired from the city of Albemarle, he was a street maintenance worker. He was a member of Anderson Grove Baptist Church.

Survivors include wife Vernie Louise Poplin Mills; sons Paul Stephen Mills, Oakboro, and Matthew Mark Mills, Albemarle; daughters Lou Archer, Albemarle, Judy Smith, Richfield, Mary Daniels, Lexington, Barbara Davis, Gold Hill, Linda Crisco, Locust, Kathy Tucker, New London, Tammy Deaton, Mount Gilead, Susan Mauney, Mount Pleasant, and Kelly Speights, Concord; brother James Thomas “Jim” Mills, Albemarle; sisters Cleola Deese and Bertie McKeithan, both of Albemarle; 20 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Services: 11 a.m. Monday, Hartsell Funeral Home chapel, conducted by the Rev. Ronald Honeycutt. Burial, Stanly Gardens of Memory.

Visitation: 6-8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. At other times the family will be at the home of a daughter, 116 Holt Road, Albemarle.

Memorials: Hospice of Stanly County, 960 N. First St., Albemarle, NC 28001.

Mary Overcash

MOORESVILLE —Mary Erwin Overcash, 91, formerly of Statesville Highway, died Friday (Dec. 14, 2001) at Meadowbrook Terrace of Davie in Advance.

Born Aug. 23, 1910, in Rowan County, she was a daughter of the late Walter Allen and Ella Harrison Erwin. She was a retired cosmetologist from Belk in Charlotte.

Mrs. Overcash and her husband once owned the Esmeralda Inn in Chimney Rock. They were also former owners of Oak Grove Service Station on Statesville Highway. She was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church in Mount Ulla.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William Allison Overcash, whom she married in March 1925.

Survivors include son William Harrison Overcash, Mocksville; daughter Pattie O. Kimmons, Roanoke, Va.; sister Edna Miller, Spencer; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Services: Graveside, 2 p.m. Sunday, Centenary United Methodist Church Cemetery, with the Rev. Marion Fulk officiating.

Visitation: 6:30-8:30 tonight, Cavin-Cook Funeral Home.

Memorials:Centenary United Methodist Church, 620 Centenary Road, Mount Ulla, NC 28125.

Edward Shelton

KANNAPOLIS — Edward William Shelton, 69, 4609 Fieldbrook Drive, died Thursday (Dec. 13, 2001) at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, after four years of declining health.

Born April 18, 1932, in Rockingham County, Mr. Shelton was a son of Stella Hanks Shelton, Madison, and the late Lemley Edward Shelton.

He was the retired owner and operator of Cabarrus Barbecue, Concord. A member of North Kannapolis Baptist Church, Mr. Shelton was active in Emmanuel Emmaus and had read his Bible completely 17 times. He was a Mason and member of the Scottish Rite and Oasis Shrine.

In addition to his mother, survivors include wife Karen Simmons Shelton; daughter Peggy Wescott, Martinsville, Va.; son Eddie “Tim” Shelton, Mayodan; stepsons Don, Ron and Roger “Butch” Deese, all of Kannapolis; brothers Carl Shelton, Greensboro, Curtis Shelton, Madison, and Donnie Shelton, Reidsville; sister Betty Wilson, Stokesdale; six grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.

Services: 3 p.m. today, North Kannapolis Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. David Myers, the Rev. Coy Privette and the Rev. Ray Pennell. Burial, West Lawn Memorial Park, China Grove.

Lady’s Funeral Home is in charge.

Visitation: 2-3 p.m. today at the church. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.ladysfuneralhome.com/obituaries.htm 

Memorials: North Kannapolis Baptist Church, 312 Locust St., Kannapolis, NC 28081 or Emmanuel Emmaus, 2540 Eagle Drive, Conover, NC 28613.

Glenn H. Shuping

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Glenn H. Shuping, 66, Newport News, formerly of Rockwell, N.C., died Thursday (Dec. 13, 2001) at his home.

Born Oct. 31, 1935, he was a son of the late Della and C.C. Shuping.

Survivors include wife Barbara Shuping; son Joshua Shuping, Newport News; daughters Kim S. Dunn, Jennifer S. Banks and Nanette S. Newman, all of Newport News; brother Clifford Paul Shuping, Rockwell, N.C.; sisters Lois Shuping and Janet S. Park, both of Rockwell, N.C.; and 15 grandchildren.

Services: Graveside, 11 a.m. Tuesday, Peninsula Memorial Park.

Visitation: 5-8 p.m. Monday, Peninsula Funeral Home, Newport News.

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