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Watauga, Avery Obituaries – Aug. 16, 2016

Edsel Hodges (Jan. 13, 1930 – Aug. 14, 2016)

Mr. Edsel Hodges, 86, of 2430 Old Highway 421 South, Boone, passed away Sunday morning, Aug. 14, 2016, at his home.

3838463_wlppMr. Hodges was born January 13, 1930 in Watauga County, a son of the late Ralph and Beulah Greene Hodges. A man of deep faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and a member of Rutherwood Baptist Church in Boone since a young boy. He was a retired building contractor, for over 50 years, and enjoyed golfing and gardening.

Mr. Hodges is survived by his wife, Shirley Younce Hodges of the home; one son, Chris Hodges and wife Amy of Boone; one daughter, Mitzi Hodges Wallace and husband Doug of Boone; four grandchildren, Andrew Wallace and wife Gloria, Staci Norris and husband Seth, and Landon Wallace and wife Karami, all of Boone, and Spencer Hodges and wife Bailey of Johnson City, Tennessee; two great-grandchildren, Lyla and Will Norris of Boone, and special caregivers, Angi Dolan, Angie Wall, Sue Fox, Betty Triplett, and Lucille Harmon.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Frances Hodges Brown, and a grandson, Christopher Hodges.
Funeral services for Mr. Edsel Hodges will be conducted Tuesday afternoon, August 16, 2016, at 2:00 o’clock, at Rutherwood Baptist Church. The body will lie in state, at the church, from 1:00 until 2:00 o’clock.

Officiating will be Reverend Herbert McCoy, Reverend Seth Norris, and Reverend Billy Norris. Military graveside rites and burial, provided by the United States Army, American Legion Post 130, and Disabled American Veterans Chapter 90, will follow.

The family will receive friends immediately following the graveside service at the fellowship hall of Rutherwood Baptist Church.

Flowers are appreciated, or memorial contributions may be made to Rutherwood Baptist Church, in care of Jeannie Kahle, 329 Corbett McNeil Road, Boone, North Carolina, 28607.

Online condolences may be sent to the Hodges family at www.hamptonfuneralnc.com.

Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Glenn Alford Teague, Jr. (June 4, 1949 – Aug. 13, 2016)

Mr. Glenn Alford Teague, Jr., 67, of Isenhour Road, Zionville, passed away Saturday morning, August 13, 2016, at his residence.

Glenn was born June 4, 1949 in Watauga County, a son of the late Glenn Alfred Teague, Sr., and Lizzie Ford Teague. He was a fuel oil delivery driver for G.B. Energy for 44 years, and was of the Lutheran faith.

3837878_wlppGlenn is survived by his wife of 36 years, Shirley Reece Teague, of the home; one daughter, Shannon Teague Carrier and husband Chad of Vilas; and one son, Bryan Keith Teague of Wilmington, North Carolina. He is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews, and many special friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Glenn Alfred Teague, Sr., and Lizzie Ford Teague, and a sister, Jonelle Canter.

Funeral services for Glenn Alford Teague, Jr., will be conducted Tuesday afternoon, August 16, 2016 at 2:00 o’clock, at Saint Mark’s Lutheran Church. The body will lie in state, at the church, from 1:00 until 2:00 o’clock. Officiating will be the Reverend Dr. Harvey Huntley, Pastor Jan Huntley and the Reverend Dr. Robert Beard. Military rites and burial, provided by the United States Army and the Caldwell County Veterans Honor Guard, will follow in the Bolick Family Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Monday evening, from 6:00 until 8:00 o’clock, at Hampton Funeral Service. 

The family expresses thanks and appreciation to the staff of Caldwell Hospice for the care given to Mr. Teague during his illness.

Flowers are appreciated, or memorial contributions may be made to Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care, 902 Kirkwood Street Northwest, Lenoir, North Carolina, 28645.

Online condolences may be sent to the Teague family at www.hamptonfuneralnc.com.

Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Robert Gray Norris (D. Aug. 13, 2016)

Robert Gray Norris, 87, of Vilas, passed away Tuesday morning, August 16, 2016, at Deerfield Ridge Assisted Living in Boone.

Funeral arrangements for Robert Gray Norris are incomplete at this time.

Online condolences may be sent to the Norris family at www.hamptonfuneralnc.com.

Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Timothy R. “Tuff” Killian (March 5, 1963 – Aug. 11, 2016)

Timothy R.”Tuff” Killian, 53, of John Miller Road, Fleetwood, passed away Thursday morning, August 11, 2016, at Duke University Hospital in Durham.

3836463_wlppTim was born March 5, 1963 in Catawba County, a son of Thomas Killian and the late Jewel Burgin. He was employed as a heating and air conditioning technician and a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Conover.

Tim is survived by his wife, Wanda Pearson Killian of the home; four sons, Devin Killian and his girlfriend Lindsay Stankovich of Maiden, Garrett Killian of Claremont, Cole Killian of Claremont, and James Gragg of Fleetwood; two daughters, Elaina Killian of the home, and DeRhonda Pearson and her fiance, Mike Riley, of Fleetwood; one granddaughter, Lana Pearson of Fleetwood; one grandson, Carsen Killian of Claremont; his father, Thomas Reed Killian of Hickory; one brother, Timmy Killian and wife Judy of Hickory; two sisters, Kimberly Phillips and husband Larry of Bostic, North Carolina, and Marty Kaufman and husband Joel of Granite Falls; his father and mother-in-law, Billy and Georgia Pearson of Blowing Rock; four brothers-in-law, Johnny Pearson and wife Reita of the Matney Community, Tim Pearson and wife Mary of Boone, Jerry Pearson and wife Jeanie of Blowing Rock, and David Pearson and wife Tracey of Nebo; six nieces, Madison Killian of Hickory, Krista Ward and husband Billy of Boone, Carrie Colley and husband Robert of Blowing Rock, Casey Pearson and her fiance, Harley Starnes of Blowing Rock, Hailey Pearson of Nebo, and Natalie Pearson of Boone, and eight nephews, A.J. Herrick of Texas, P.J. Chapman and wife Holly of Charlotte, Hunter Billington and wife Allison of Beaufort, SC, Travis Pearson and wife Cassandra of Boone, Tyler McGuire, Jacob Pearson, and Trevor Pearson, all of Nebo, and Noah Pearson of the Matney Community. He is also survived by nine great-nieces and great-nephews.

In addition to his mother, Jewel Burgin he was preceded in death by his step-mother, Jean Killian.

Funeral services for Timothy R. Killian will be conducted Monday afternoon, August 15, 2016, at 2:00 o’clock, at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. The body will lie in state, at the chapel, from 1:00 until 2:00 o’clock. Officiating will be Pastor Brian Correll and Pastor Dominick Mongiove.

The family will receive friends Sunday evening, from 5:00 until 7:00 o’clock, at Hampton Funeral Service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Killian family, in care of the wife, Wanda Killian, 164 John Miller Road, Fleetwood, North Carolina, 28626.

Online condolences may be sent to the Killian family at www.hamptonfuneralnc.com.

Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Lucy Smith Townsend (April 27, 1915 – Aug. 8, 2016)

Lucy-Townsend-1470900126Lucy Smith Townsend was born in Valle Crucis on April 27, 1915. When she was little, the family moved to Matney where she grew up. She remembers when Hwy 194 was built; her father helped build the new road. She also remembers when it was a toll road.

She met her future husband Ernest Townsend when she rode the school bus to Banner Elk and Ernest was the bus driver. They eloped to Mountain City and were married on the day after Christmas when she was sixteen. When she and Ernest had been married four years, Ernest built a house in Banner Elk. Their daughter Janice was very small at that time and was later followed by her siblings Ernestine, Jerry, Gail and Gary, twins.

She belonged to the Banner Elk Woman’s Club and the Garden Club. She was a member of Mount Calvary Baptist Church. When the old Cannon Hospital was built, she started out as a Gray Lady and was made assistant to the head of house keeping.

In 1949 Ernest and Braxton “Brach” Baucom built the Center Theatre in Banner Elk, which opened to an overflow crowd and was a huge success for many years. Lucy worked alongside Ernest at the theater until it closed in 1972. Ernest died in 1986.

Lucy was on the town Planning Board from 1971 – 1979, helping make decisions on zoning that are still in effect. She also became active in politics at the local level. She was a delegate to the Republican Convention in Raleigh when James Holshouser, Jr. was elected Governor and was invited to the Inaugural Ball.

Later on, Lucy had had several falls with fractures. She became unable to care for herself and moved to an assisted living facility for several years and was in Life Care Center in Banner Elk. She was 101 years old when she died.

Along with her husband, she was preceded in death by: her parents, Sion Sherrill Smith and Lura Edith Baird Smith; son, Jerry Townsend; daughter Gail Townsend Tatum.

Lucy has left to cherish her memory: her children, Ernestine Glover of Banner Elk, Janice Lecka and husband Vance of Banner Elk, Gary Townsend of Vilas; grandchildren, Van Lecka and wife Liz of Banner Elk, David Lecka and wife Jackie of Banner Elk, Mark Lecka and wife Lora of Newland, Chris Lecka and wife Jenny of Newland, Dawn Avery and husband Waightstill of Plumtree, John Glover of Charlotte, Janet Ohert and husband Jason of Cave Creek, AZ; 7 great grandchildren; 13 great-great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.

Services for Lucy Smith Townsend will be Sunday, August 14th at 3:00 p.m. at Mount Calvary Baptist Church. The family will receive friends for one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow in the Mount Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mount Calvary Baptist Church.

Words of comfort and memories may be shared with the family and viewed at www.rsfh.net.

The care of Lucy and her family has been entrusted to Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home of Newland.