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Walter Aaron “Ron” Hopkins Jr.
SAN JOSE, Calif. - Walter Aaron “Ron” Hopkins Jr., 55, formerly of Salisbury, 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, N.C., and the late Walter Aaron “Hoppy” Hopkins Sr. A graduate of East Rowan High School in 1961, he did graduate study at Southern California University Mr. Hopkins was a veteran of the U.S. Navy for 12 years in communications technology.
Employed with Lockheed Martin for 25 years as an aerospace engineer, Mr. Hopkins was an avid amateur radio enthusiast from age 11 (N6BQ) and mentor to many in the international moon bounce community.
Survivors include wife, Cher Forman, of the home; sons Christopher Aaron Hopkins and Sean Edward Hopkins, both of Las Vegas, Nev.; stepson Robert W. Forman, Moorpark, Calif.; stepdaughter Dana L. Forman, San Francisco, Calif.; sisters Stephanie Fields, Burlington, Iowa, Marla Blake and Carmen Hopkins, both of Salisbury, and Scarlett Neal, Long Beach.
Services: 11 a.m. Monday, Southside Baptist Church, Salisbury, conducted by the Rev. Ricky Brown, pastor. Burial, Brookhill Memorial Gardens, Rockwell, with military graveside rites conducted by the U.S. Naval Reserve and the Rowan County Veteran’s Council.
Visitation: 7-8: 30 tonight, Lyerly Funeral Home, Salisbury. At other times the family will be at the home of his mother in Salisbury.
Memorials: Southside Baptist Church, 500 Morlan Park Road, Salisbury, N.C. 28146.
Jerry Wayne Beck
CLEVELAND, N.C. - Jerry Wayne Beck, 56, 185 Seven Springs Road, died Saturday (Sept. 11. 1999) at Rowan Regional Medical Center.
Born Nov. 8, 1942, in Rowan County, Mr. Beck was a son of Helen Hunter Beck Connor of Salisbury and the late Marshall Turner Beck. A graduate of Boyden High School, he was employed by Food Lion in warehouse maintenance. He was also a farmer and a member of Friendship Baptist Church.
Survivors include wife Jane Doyle Beck, of the home; sons Randy Beck, Winston-Salem, and Tim Beck, Salisbury; daughters Wendy Beck, of the home, Tammy Dennis, High Point, Theresa Beck, Kernersville, Patricia Beatty, Winston-Salem, and Staci Beck, Hershey, Pa.; brother Marshall T. Beck, Mocksville; sister Dera Williams, Salisbury; step father James Connor, Salisbury; and three grandchildren.
Services: Memorial service, 6 p.m. Monday, Summersett Memorial Chapel, conducted by the Rev. Mack Jarvis of Cornerstone Baptist Church.
Visitation: The family will receive friends at their home following the service.
Memorials: American Heart Association, c/o Betty Brisson, 140 Regency Road, Salisbury, N.C. 28147.
Wavie Wright Hardeman
CHINA GROVE - Wavie Wright Hardeman, 79, 1570 S. Main St., died Friday (Sept. 10, 1999) at her home after four weeks of declining health.
Born Dec. 29, 1919, in Iredell County, Mrs. Hardeman was a daughter of the late Sarah Morrow and Harry F. Wright. Mrs. Hardeman attended the Salem Girls School of Roanoke Va., graduating in 1934. She was a member of Central Baptist Church of Kannapolis. She was a housewife most of her life.
Her husband, Albert S. Hardeman, preceded her in death in 1982.
Survivors include daughters Carolyn Stirewalt, Wilmington, and Patricia Hunsucker, China Grove; brother Harry Wright, Newton; five grandchildren; and seven great grandchildren.
Services: Graveside, 11 a.m. Monday, Carolina Memorial Park, conducted by the Rev. Curtis Parker.
Visitation: 10-11 a.m. Monday, Whitley’s Funeral Home.
Memorials: Hospice of Rowan County, 612 Mocksville Ave., Salisbury, N.C. 28144.
Harry Wilburn Smith
MOORESVILLE - Harry Wilburn Smith, 71, 1265 Fieldstone Road, died Saturday (Sept. 11, 1999) at Genesis Elder Care.
Born Jan. 25, 1928, in Iredell County, Mr. Smith was a son of the late Julia Overcash and Floyd B. Smith.
Retired from Mooresville Savings Bank as secretary, comptroller and head of the operations department, Mr. Smith was with the company for 24 years. A lifelong member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, he served 21 years as church treasurer. He served 50 years as Sunday school secretary. Mr. Smith served 25 years as secretary-treasurer of church men’s group and served 27 years as Scoutmaster of Troop 162. Mr. Smith was an Eagle Scout, Virgil Honor Member of Order of the Arrow, and recipient of the Lamb Award presented by the Lutheran Church of America. Mr. Smith was a veteran of the Korean War.
Survivors include brothers Albert C. Smith, Matthews, and Clarence L. Smith, Mooresville; and sister Laura S. Little, Mooresville.
Services: Memorial 3: 30 p.m. Monday, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, conducted by the Rev. Johnny Cozart and the Rev. Jonathan Gantt. Private burial, Glenwood Memorial Park.
Visitation: Family Life Center, following the service.
Memorials: St. Mark’s Lutheran Church Building Fund, 454 Fieldstone Road, Mooresville, N.C. 28115.
Neill Funeral Home is in charge.
Ralph Caldwell Overcash
CHINA GROVE - Ralph Caldwell Overcash, 88, 640 Cannon Farm Road, died Friday (Sept. 10, 1999) at the V.A. Medical Center, Salisbury, after a period of declining health.
Born April 5, 1911, in Rowan County, Mr. Overcash was a son of the late Bessie Walter and Robert Arthur Overcash. Educated at Landis High School, he was a retired from the State Highway Commission (maintenance department). He was also a farmer.
Mr. Overcash was a member of V.F.W. Post 8989 and a veteran of the U.S. Army serving during World War II in the Signal Corps. He was a member of Mt. Moriah Lutheran Church.
Survivors include wife Bessie Fox Overcash, of the home; daughter Shirley Corriher, Salisbury; two grandchildren; and two stepgrandchildren.
Services: 3 p.m. Tuesday, Colonial Chapel, Linn Honeycutt Funeral Home, Landis, conducted by the Rev. Edwin Luther and the Rev. Gene Peeler. Burial, Mt. Moriah Lutheran Church Cemetery.
Visitation: 7-9 p.m. Monday, Linn Honeycutt Funeral Home, Landis.
Leigh Ensign Thomas
KANNAPOLIS - Leigh Ensign Thomas, 62, 1106 McClain Road, died Saturday (Sept. 11, 1999) at NorthEast Medical Center.
Born May 15, 1937, in Elmira, N.Y., Mr. Thomas was a son of the late Eunice Herrington and Leigh Thomas. Mr. Thomas was a veteran of the U.S. Army during the 1950’s. He was manager of a Little League baseball team in the 1970’s. Mr. Thomas was employed with Thomas-Bettes, Inc., Horseheads, N.Y., for 23 years, retiring in 1998 due to a disability. He had lived in Schuyler County, N.Y. for 29 years until moving to Kannapolis.
Survivors include wife Patricia Snedeker Thomas, of the home; sons Leigh Thomas, San Francisco, and Charles Thomas, Kannapolis; daughters Janet Vanlone, Concord, Patricia Salanoa and JoAnn Woodsum, both of San Francisco; brothers Frederick Thomas, Cayuat, N.Y., and Michael Thomas, Orange City, Fla.; sisters Tori Vary and Ellen Schanbacher, both of Montour Falls, N.Y., and Ann Plattsborge, St. Petersburg, Fla.; and five grandchildren.
No funeral service is planned at this time. The body will be cremated.
Memorials: Salvation Army, Elmira, N.Y.
Lessie Nance Barber
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.
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.
