Paul Richard Kesler

LINWOOD —Paul Richard Kesler, 78, 10257 S. Highway 150, died Monday (Aug. 2, 1999) at Rowan Regional Medical Center in Salisbury.

Born March 12, 1921, in Davidson County, Mr. Kesler was a son of the late Dock Roland and Cynthia Elizabeth Wilson Kesler. Retired from Duke Power, he was a member of Churchland Baptist Church, where he was a deacon, a member of the Seniors Sunday School Class and a former Sunday school teacher. A U.S. Army veteran, he served as a medic with the 314th Infantry during World War II. He was a member of VFW Post No. 3074.

His wife, Mary Emma Barber Kesler, preceded him in death.

Survivors include daughter Regina Kesler, of the home; sister Kathleen Michael, Lexington; and brothers D. R. Kesler Jr. and Harold Kesler, both of Churchland.

Services: 11 a.m. Thursday, conducted by the Rev. Dr. Stephen Martin, the Rev. Ray Hooper and the Rev. Leonard Rollins. Burial will be in Forest Hill Memorial Park.

Visitation: 7-9 p.m. today at Piedmont Funeral Home and at other times at the home.

Memorials: Churchland Baptist Church, 7516 S. Highway 150, Linwood, N.C. 27299.

Alton Merritt Thompson

RUBY, S.C. — Alton Merritt Thompson, 70, Route 1, Thompson Lane, died Tuesday (Aug. 3, 1999) at Pageland Care Facilities, Pageland.

Born June 27, 1929 in Montgomery County, N.C., Mr. Thompson was a son of the late Charlie Washington Thompson and Dora Gladys Daniels Thompson. He had retired as a finishing operator at Cannon Mills.

Survivors include brothers Fred Thompson and the Rev. Clarence Thompson, both of China Grove, the Rev. Frank Thompson, Badin and Paul Thompson, Stanfield; sisters Kathleen Kearns and Henrietta Hatley, both of Albemarle, Ruby Davis, Concord, Geraldine Lippe, Scotts Valley, Calif., Peggy Deese, Charlotte, Ethel Davis, Oakboro, and Doris McRae, Mount Gilead.

Services: 4 p.m. Thursday, Zion United Methodist Church, conducted by the Rev. Jim Harris, the Rev. Frank Thompson and the Rev. Clarence Thompson. Burial will be in Zion United Methodist Church Cemetery, Mount Gilead.

Visitation: 6:30-9 p.m. today, Hartsell Funeral Home, Albemarle.

Memorials: God’s Church, P.O. Box 1571, Badin,N.C. 28009-1571; Zion United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 176, Mount Gilead, N.C. 27306-0176; or Hospice of Chesterfield County Inc., P.O. Box 293, Chesterfield, S.C. 29709-0293.

Thomas Baxter Camp Jr.

Thomas Baxter Camp Jr., 85, Brian Center, Yanceyville, died Monday (Aug. 2, 1999).

A Salisbury resident during the 1960s and 1970s, Mr. Camp had retired from J.H. Cook and Sons. He was the son of the late Thomas B. and Alice Jarret Camp.

A son, Thomas B. Camp III, preceded him in death.

Survivors include wife Maxine Doby Camp, also of the Brian Center in Yanceyville; and sisters Llewellyn McDow and Isabel Crutchfield, both of South Carolina, Ann Wishon, Wilmington, and Martha Richards, Maine.

Services: 11 a.m. Thursday, Clements Funeral Home Chapel, Durham, conducted by the Rev.David Tucker. Burial, Markham Memorial Gardens, Durham.

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

Memorials: Northgate Presbyterian Church, 2504 N. Roxboro St., Durham, N.C. 27704; or Alzheimer’s Association, 400 Oberlin Road, Suite 208, Raleigh,N.C. 27605.

Oda Belle Hartsell

ALBEMARLE - Oda Belle Efird Hartsell, 88, of 20192 Efird Road, died Tuesday (Aug. 3, 1999) at Britthaven of Piedmont Nursing Center.

Born Nov. 4, 1910, in Stanly County, she was a daughter of the late Martin Luther and Lindie Edwards Efird. A retired laundry attendant, she was last employed by Boone Laundry & Cleaning Village.

Her husband, James Vance Hartsell, preceded her in death.

Survivors include son Norman Hartsell, Albemarle; daughter Phyllis H. Deese, Myrtle Beach, S.C.; sister Dessie Morgan, Concord; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Services: 2 p.m. Thursday, St. Martin’s Lutheran Church, conducted by the Rev. Clarence Walck. Burial in the church cemetery.

Visitation: 7-9 tonight, Hartsell Funeral Home. At other times the family will be at the home of son Norman Hartsell, 20192 Efird Road.

John Robert Hogan

KANNAPOLIS - The funeral will be held today for John Robert Hogan, 48, of 4388 Auodell St., Shallotte, who died Monday (Aug. 2, 1999) on arrival at Brunswick Community Hospital.

Born April 19, 1951, in Cabarru s County, he was a son of Mary High Hogan of Concord and the late William “Bill” Hogan. A 1969 graduate of Northwest Cabarrus High School, he was employed by Cardinal Freight Carriers, Concord, for many years and had also been a truck driver for various other trucking firms for 30 years.

Survivors, in addition to his mother, include wife Sentrie Edwards Hogan; daughters Kelly Hogan Buchanan, Concord, Angie Hoglan Patton, Salisbury, and Kim Hogan England, Dallas, Ga.; sisters Terry Hogan Kiser, Concord, and Beth Hogan Rogers, Sanford; and two grandchildren.

Services: 8 p.m. today, Whitley’s Funeral Home Chapel, conducted by the Rev. Tommy Torrence.

Visitation: 6-8 tonight at the funeral home. At other times the family will be at he home of daughter Kelly H. Buchanan, 7828 Lutz Road, Concord.

Vern Alexander Ketner

Vern Alexander Ketner, 82, Salisbury, died Tuesday (Aug. 3, 1999) at Rowan Regional Medical Center after a period of declining health.

Born June 16, 1917, in Billings, Okla., Mr. Ketner was a son of the late Calvin Pless and Magie Josephine Ritchie Ketner. Educated in the Rowan County schools, he had retired from Cannon Mills, Plant 7. He was a Lutheran.

Survivors include niece Bernice Kelley of Salisbury, with whom he made his home.

Services: 3 p.m. Thursday, Lyerly Funeral Home’s James C. Lyerly Chapel, conducted by the Rev. Marcus B. Hovis III of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Burial, Rowan Memorial Park.

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

Memorials: American Parkinson’s Disease Association, 1250 Hylan Blvd., Suite 4B, Staten Island, N.Y. 10305.

Nora McCombs

KANNAPOLIS — Nora McCombs, 93, died Tuesday (Aug. 3, 1999) at NorthEast Medical Center, Concord.

Whitley’s Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Annie D. VanEaton

MOCKSVILLE — Annie Dulin VanEaton, 88, of Avon Street, died Monday (Aug. 2, 1999) at her home following a period of illness.

Born in Davie County, Mrs. VanEaton was a daughter of the late Alex and Julia Dulin.

Her husband , Will VanEaton preceded her in death. A daughter, Barbara Ann D. Bohannon, died in 1985.

Survivors include sons John Wesley Dulin, Mocksville, and Nathaniel Carson, Woodleaf; daughters Ola Mae Ijames, with whom she lived, and Thelma Geneva VanEaton, Mocksville; 13 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Services: 4 p.m. Thursday in the chapel of Graham Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Daniel Brown. Burial will be in Rose Cemetery.