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Lessie Nance Barber, 87, 111 Myron Place, died Sunday (Sept. 12, 1999) at her home after two weeks of serious illness.

Born March 12, 1912, in Salisbury, Mrs. Barber was a daughter of the late Willie Bell and Esley Nance. A graduate of J.C. Price High School, she had retired as an agent with Winston-Mutual Life Insurance Co. She also provided housing for disabled veterans.

She was a member of First Calvary Baptist Church, where she was active with the Royal Ambassadors and Missionary Circle No. 3.

Her husband, Thomas J. “T.J.” Barber, preceded her in death.

There are no immediate survivors.

Noble and Kelsey Funeral Home is in charge.

Ena Earnhardt Casey

Ena Earnhardt Casey, 97, Salisbury, died Sunday (Sept. 12, 1999) at Genesis ElderCare of Salisbury after a period of declining health.

Born Aug. 9, 1902, in Rowan County, Mrs. Casey was a daughter of the late Henry and Minnie Stoner Earnhardt. Educated in the Rowan County schools, she was a homemaker. She was a member of Shiloh United Methodist Church, Granite Quarry,

Her husband, Capers C. Caskey, died Jan. 11, 1982.

Survivors include son C.C. Caskey Jr., Faith; daughters Mrs. John (Helen) Peeler, Salisbury, Mrs. Charles (Peggy) Wardell, Concord, and Mrs. Bernard (Elaine) Todd, Hampton, Va.; 14 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren.

Services: 3 p.m. Tuesday, Lyerly Funeral Home’s James C. Lyerly Chapel, conducted by the Rev. Judy Copeland, pastor, Faith Lutheran Church. Burial, Shiloh United Methodist Church cemetery, Granite Quarry.

Visitation: 7-8:30 tonight at the funeral home. At other times the family will be at their respective homes.

Lucille P. Culbertson

CLEVELAND — Lucille P. Culbertson, 13330 Statesville Blvd., died Sunday (Sept. 12, 1999) at Rowan Regional Medical Center, Salisbury.

Noble and Kelsey Funeral Home, Salisbury, is in charge.

Ruth Cockerham Eldridge

MOCKSVILLE — Ruth Cockerham Eldridge, 96, Gladstone Road, died Saturday (Sept. 11, 1999) at Davis Community Hospital, Statesville.

Born March 20, 1903, in Surry County, Mrs. Eldridge was a daughter of the late Pleasant B. and Nancy L. Tucker Cockerham. A graduate of Appalachian State Teachers College, she was a teacher for a short time and then a homemaker. She was a member of Liberty United Methodist Church.

Her husband, Roy Frederick Eldridge, preceded her in death.

There are no immediate survivors.

Services: Graveside, 11 a.m. Monday, Liberty United Methodist Church cemetery, conducted by the Rev. Phillip Parks.

Visitation: None.

Eaton Funeral Home is in charge.

Memorials: Donor’s choice.

Jerry Flowers Hilton

ROCKWELL — The funeral will be Tuesday for Jerry Flowers Hilton, 38, Rockwell, who died Saturday (Sept. 11, 1999) at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem.

Born July 5, 1961, in Hartsville, S.C., Mr. Hilton was a son of Mary Odem Flowers Stokes, Hartsville, S.C., and the late Ellis Flowers and the adopted son of Bud and Anna Hilton. A graduate of Hartsville High School, Hartsville, S.C., he was a machinist with Cardell Fabrics.

Survivors, in addition to his mother, include wife Susan Lewis Hilton, Rockwell; sons Jared and Matthew Hilton, both of the home; daughter Shasta Hilton, of the home; brothers Vernon Flowers, Hartsville, S.C., Elbert Flowers, Kannapolis, Daniel Flowers, Gastonia, and David Flowers, Salisbury; sisters Nipon Mack, Ruby, S.C., Deloris Flowers, Hartsville, S.C., Wanda Danise, Brown, Okla., Glenda Flowers, Wheeling, W.Va., and Joyce Boon, Society Hill, S.C.; and stepsister Mary Barnes, Bakersburg, S.C.

Services: 4 p.m. Tuesday, First Baptist Church of Rockwell, conducted by the Rev. Cameron McGill, associate pastor.

Visitation: 2:30-3:30 Tuesday, Powles Funeral Home.

Stephen Alexander Hoots

MOUNT ULLA — Stephan Alexander Hoots, 9 months, died Saturday (Sept. 11, 1999) at Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte.

The infant was the son of Kimberly Sue Skidmore and Jason Stephen Hoots of Mount Ulla.

Survivors, in addition to his parents, include maternal grandparents Frank and Eva Skidmore, Mooresville; paternal grandparents Bonnie and Kem Brown, Mooresville, and Dennis and Sue Hoots, Elkin; maternal great-grandmother Elsie Oliver, Mooresville; paternal great-grandparents William and Emma Lou Douthit, Winston-Salem, Maxine Hoots, Yadkinville, and Marie  Brown, Mooresville.

Services: Graveside, 11 a.m. Tuesday, Glennwood Memorial Park, Mooresville.

Visitation: 6-8 tonight, Cavin Funeral Home, Mooresville.

W.A. ‘Ron’ Hopkins Jr.

The funeral was held this morning for Walter Aaron “Ron” Hopkins Jr., 55, of San Jose, Calif., formerly of Salisbury, who died Tuesday (Sept. 7, 1999) at El Camino Hospital, Mountain View, Calif.

Born Jan. 16, 1944, in Rowan County, Mr. Hopkins was a son of Virginia Lorene Stephens Hopkins of Salisbury and the late Walter Aaron “Hoppy” Hopkins. A 1961 graduate of East Rowan High School, he also studied at Southeastern California University.

Mr. Hopkins was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, where he spent 12 years in communications technology. He was employed with Lockheed Martin for 25 years as an aerospace engineer.

Mr. Hopkins was an avid amateur radio enthusiast from age 11 (N6BQ) and served as mentor to many in the international moon bounce community.

Survivors include wife Cher Forman; sons Christopher Aaron Hopkins and Sean Edward Hopkins, both of Las Vegas; daughter Tiffany Leigh Hopkins, Las Vegas; stepson Robert W. Forman, Moorpark, Calif.; stepdaughter Dana L. Forman, San Francisco; sisters Stephanie Fields, Burlington, Iowa, Marla Blake and Carmen Hopkins, both of Salisbury, and Scarlett Neal, Long Beach.

Funeral services were held at 11 this morning at Southside Baptist Church, Salisbury, conducted by the Rev. Ricky Brown, pastor. Burial, Brookhill Memorial Park, Rockwell, with military graveside rites conducted by the U.S. Naval Reserve and the Rowan County Veterans Council.

Lyerly Funeral Home, Salisbury, in charge.

Memorials: Southside Baptist Church, 500 Morland Park Road, Salisbury, N.C. 28146.

Evelyn Lilly Kenny

RALEIGH — Evelyn Lilly Kenny, 66, Raleigh, mother of Gary M. Kenny, Salisbury, died Saturday (Sept. 11, 1999).

Services: Mass of Christian Burial, 11 a.m. Wednesday, St. Raphael Catholic Church. Burial, Pine Forest Memorial Gardens.

Visitation: 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, Brown-Wynne Funeral Home.

Memorials: St. Raphael Catholic Church, 5801 Falls of the Neuse Road, Raleigh, N.C. 27609; or American Cancer Society, Wake County Unit, P.O. Box 27624, Raleigh, N.C. 27611.

John ‘Jack’ Peden Jr.

John “Jack” Peden Jr., 71, Wiley School Apartments, died Sunday (Sept. 12, 1999) at Brian Center Health and Rehabilitation.

Born May 24, 1928, in Mineola, N.Y., Mr. Paden was a son of the late John and Jean Cummings Peden. A retired mechanist, he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

His first wife, Phyllis Wicker Peden, died in 1969.

Survivors include wife Eleanor Peden, New York City; daughters Mrs. Rodney (Jayne) Queen and Mrs. Fred (Susan) Bachl, both of Salisbury, and Mrs. Kurt (Gail) Cunningham, Pinebluff; and eight grandchildren.

Services: Graveside, 11 a.m Tuesday, National Cemetery, Salisbury, conducted by the Rev. Rick Cockerham, pastor, Calvary Baptist Church. Military rites by Rowan Veterans Council.

Visitation: The family will be at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Fred Bachl, 108 Wellington Drive.

Memorials: Rowan Regional Home Health and Hospice, 825-A W. Henderson St., Salisbury, N.C. 28144.

Margaret Ridenhour

RICHFIELD — Margaret Ophelia Roscoe Ridenhour, 74, 49721 Rider Road, died Saturday (Sept. 11, 1999).

Services: 2 p.m. Wednesday, New Bethel Lutheran Church. The body will be placed in the church prior to the service. Burial, church cemetery.

Visitation: 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, Hartsell Funeral Home, Albemarle.

Lula Dowell Sexton

A memorial service will be held Friday for Lula Dowell Sexton of Salisbury, who died Friday (Aug. 20, 1999).

Her daughter, Mrs. Jim (Marlene) Austin, lives in Salisbury.

Service: Memorial, 7 p.m. Friday, First Baptist Church, Rockwell, conducted by Dr. Benny L. Vickrey. The family will receive friends after the service.

Powles Funeral Home, Rockwell, in charge.

John Smith

CHINA GROVE — William Alfred “John” Smith, 93, formerly of Cannon Farm Road, died Saturday (Sept. 11, 1999) at The Laurels of Hendersonville in Hendersonville.

Born June 28, 1906, in Cabarrus County, Mr. Smith was a son of the late Hobart and Effie Eudy Smith. He had retired after 50 years in the winding room at Corriher Mills, Landis. He was a member of First United Methodist Church, Landis.

His wife, Frances “Fannie” Ervin Smith, died July 22, 1987.

Survivors include son Glenn E. Smith, Greer, S.C.; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Services: Graveside, 2 p.m. Tuesday, Mount Olivet United Methodist Church cemetery, Concord, conducted by the Rev. Barry Sutton.

Visitation: At the cemetery after the service.

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

Bettie Springs

Bettie Wallace Heilig Springs, 94, Plainwell, Mich., a Rowan County native, died Saturday (Sept. 11, 1999) at Plainwell Pines Nursing Home in Plainwell.

Born Feb. 4, 1905, Mrs. Springs was a daughter of the late Silas F. and Fannie Suther Wallace. She was a charter member of Hope Lutheran Church, Plainwell, Mich.

Her first husband, Roy A. Heilig, and her second husband, Joseph L. Springs, preceded her in death.

Survivors include sons Jennings Heilig, Plainwell, Mich., and Kay Heilig, Wadley, Ga.; stepson Joe Springs Jr., Charlotte; stepdaughters Mrs. Wray (Jane) Helms, Charlotte, and Mrs. Buddy (Betty) Holder, Denver, N.C.; brother Bryce F. Wallace, Concord; 13 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Services: 11 a.m. Wednesday, Linn-Honeycutt Funeral Home Chapel, China Grove, conducted by the Rev. Ralph Wallace and the Rev. Gerald Wallace. Burial, Greenlawn Cemetery, China Grove.

Visitation: 6-9 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Elizabeth Voska Yanacek

Elizabeth Voska Yanacek, 94, 2517 Foxfire Drive, died Sunday (Sept. 12, 1999) at the Brian Center.

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