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Watauga, Avery Obituaries – Nov. 7, 2017

Kristen Walls (Sept. 5, 1969 – Nov. 7, 2017)

Kristen Walls, 48, of Violet Lane, Boone, passed away Tuesday morning, Nov. 7, 2017, at Watauga Medical Center.

Kristen is survived by her husband, Clive Willis of the home; two daughters, Annika Willis and Marisa Willis, both of the home; her father, Russell Walls of Drexel; her mother, Joan Woodworth of Boone, and two brothers, Bryan Woodworth of Redmond, Washington, and Chris Sherman of Belmont, North Carolina.

A Celebration of Life Service for Kristen Walls will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Seby Jones Regional Cancer Center, Watauga Medical Center, 336 Deerfield Road, Boone, North Carolina, 28607, or to American Cancer Society, in care of Brian Barker, 441 Daniel Drive, Boone, North Carolina.

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

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

Frank L. Coffey (June 24, 1936 – Nov. 4, 2017)

Frank L. Coffey, 81, of Pinehurst, NC and formerly of Boone, died November 4, 2017 after a brief illness. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Coffey and his brother, Armfield Coffey.

Frank graduated from Watauga High School, Oberlin Conservatory and New England Conservatory of Music. He also studied voice at the Mozarteum Academy in Salzburg, Austria. Frank sang at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City for 26 years.

He is survived by his wife, Joyce, and son Paul L. Coffey and wife Liz of New York City.

The family will receive friends on Friday November 17th from 2 – 4 PM at Austin and Barnes Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Fiasco Theater, PO Box 291, New York, NY 10267.

Online condolences may be shared with the Coffey family at www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com.

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Coffey family.

Ricky Goins (May 18, 1958 – Nov. 4, 2017)

Ricky Goins, age 59, of Banner Elk, North Carolina passed away on Saturday, November 4, 2017 in Elk Park, North Carolina.

He was born on May 18, 1958 in Avery County, North Carolina, a son of Matt Goins and Betty Jo McGuire Goins.

Ricky was a member of Faith Baptist, he enjoyed farming , handywork and horses.

He was preceded in death by his Mother, Betty Jo Goins; Brother, Larry Goins; .

Ricky leaves behind to cherish his memory his: Father, Matt Goins, Son, Chad Goins of Lexington, SC, Daughter, Monica (Joel) Stover of Duncan, SC. Brothers, Randy Goins of Banner Elk, NC, Terry (April) Winters of Roan Mountain, TN, Sister, Theresa (Gene) Moody of Trade, TN.

The family will receive friends Friday, November 10, 2017 beginning at 5:00PM – 7:00PM at Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home.

Interment will be in the Valley Haven Cemetery, Saturday, November 11, 2017 at 11:00AM family and friends will gather at the funeral home at 9:30 to process to the cemetery.

In lieu of flowers memorial can be made to Reins-Sturdivant to help the family. 

Words of Comfort and Memories may be shared with the Goins family by visiting our website www.rsfh.net

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

Gail Knebel (Aug. 18, 1935 – Nov. 3, 2017)

Gail Knebel, age 82, of Oak Grove Road, Boone, passed away Friday evening, November 3, 2017, at Watauga Medical Center.

Gail is survived by one daughter, Keri Sbrizzi and husband Jimmy of Boone; two sons, Peter Knebel of Blowing Rock and Scott Knebel of Milford, Connecticut; one sister, Cheryl Linkous and husband Michael of Boone; one brother, James Fowler of Cape Cod, Massachusetts; two granddaughters, Ashley Knebel of Jacksonville, Florida and Nicole Sbrizzi and her fiance, Matthew Church of Zionville; three grandsons, Joseph Sbrizzi and his significant other, Laura Belden of Boone, and James Douglass Sbrizzi and significant other, Brittany May of Boone, and Christopher Knebel of Milford, Connecticut; two great-grandsons, James Rowan Sbrizzi and Joseph Waylon Sbrizzi, both of Boone; one great-granddaughter, Rilyn Taylor of Jacksonville, Florida; a future great-granddaughter, Gianna Grace Church; her best friend, Diane Moore of St. Augustine, Florida, and her loving companions, “Pepe” and “Jack”.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Douglass Knebel; her father and mother, James and Muriel Fowler, and one grandson, Jonathan Douglass Knebel.

Funeral arrangements for Gail Knebel are incomplete at this time.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Brenner Children’s Hospital, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27157.

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

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


Glenda Jones (May 12, 1944 – Nov. 2, 2017)

Glenda Jones, 73 of Elk Park, North Carolina, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, November 2nd. 

Born in Beaufort County, North Carolina on May 12, 1944, Glenda was the daughter of Eugene and Pearl Harmon.
Glenda moved to Butler, Tennessee as a child. Glenda was a graduate of Johnson County High School. Glenda retired after 30 years in the Avery County School system.

Glenda loved to cook, she was renowned for her yeast rolls, cherry cobbler, her kind and warm personality, and that no one ever left her kitchen hungry. 

Glenda married the love of her life, Rod Jones, on January 4, 1962. They were married for 54 years, until his death in 2015. A loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, she will be remembered for her infectious smile, her joy of life, and her great love of the Lord. She was proceeded in death by her parents, Eugene and Pearl Harmon, her brother, Stanley Harmon, and her husband Rod Jones. 

Left to cherish her memory are her daughter Tammy Johnson, and her husband Darrell of Elk Park, North Carolina. Her son Jason Jones, of Elk Park, North Carolina. Her grandson, Alex Elkins, and his wife, Kayla, of Spruce Pine, North Carolina, two great-grandchildren, Lexi and Easton, “Dubby” Elkins, of Spruce Pine, North Carolina. 

Services will be held at Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home in Newland on Sunday, November 5, 2017 
Visitation will be from 1 PM to 2 PM, with funeral service to follow. Reverend Kevin Arrowood, pastor of Fall Creek Baptist Church where Glenda was a life-long member, will be officiating. 

A special thank you goes out to Life Care of Banner Elk for the excellent care, love, and friendship they bestowed on Glenda during her stay there. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: St. Jude’s Children Hospital- 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, Tennessee, 38105.


Alice Wyatt Culton (Sept. 5, 1947 – Nov. 2, 2017)

Alice Wyatt Culton, age 70, of Beech Mountain Parkway, Beech Mountain, passed away Thursday, November 2, 2017, at Watauga Medical Center.

Alice is survived by her husband of 30 years, Dr. Julian C. Culton, M.D. of the home; one son, Dr. Mark Culton, M.D. and wife Brenda of Los Gatos, California; one grandson, Kai Culton of Los Gatos; two brothers, John Wyatt and wife Sharon of Goldsboro, and Charles Wyatt and wife Vivian of Flat Rock, North Carolina, and one sister, Salley Thornburg and husband, Dr. John Thornburg of Spartanburg, South Carolina.

She was preceded in death by one daughter, Lynn Culton; her father and mother, Lyonell A. “Bill” Wyatt and Lucy Williams Wyatt, and one sister, Patricia Clark.

Private services for Alice Wyatt Culton will be conducted at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in memory of Alice may be made to a charity of the donors choice.

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

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


Dr. Derek Stanovsky (May 9, 1963 – Nov. 1, 2017)

Dr. Derek Joseph Stanovsky (May 9, 1963 – November 1, 2017) passed away suddenly at his home in Zionville, North Carolina. He was 54 years old.

Son of Joseph Jerry Stanovsky and Juanita Bridges Stanovsky, Derek was born in Spring, Pennsylvania, grew up in Arlington, Texas, and lived at various times in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, Austin, Texas, Canton, New York and Waterville, Maine. He earned his PhD from the University of Texas at Austin and spent the final 22 years of his life as a professor at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina.

Derek was a kind, gentle, nurturing, silly, wise, and supportive soul, passionate about progressive politics and social justice, craft beer, guitar-making, science fiction, the light and dark sides of the internet, Americana music and the blues.

At the time of his death, he was Associate Professor of Cultural, Gender, and Global Studies at Appalachian State, where he taught classes on Marx, Freud, Frankenstein, and memes.

Derek was extraordinarily proud of his children, Ursula and Sylvia, and of his many students. He was never happier than when he learned something new from them.

Derek’s love of the blues was nurtured while he was a student in Austin, Texas during the heyday of Antone’s and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Most recently he had expressed this love by building guitars (sometimes aka collecting guitar parts), playing in his band Alamo Airline, and seeing the great Buddy Guy one more time.

He is survived by his wife, Cynthia Wood, and children Ursula and Sylvia; two uncles, Robert Larry Bridges and wife Sharon of Brownwood, Texas and Robert Stanovsky and wife Ruth of Lucas, Texas; three brothers, Clinton Stanovsky and wife Elaine of Seattle, Washington, Jerry Behal and wife Madeline of Orlando, Florida, and Matt Behal of Shiner, Texas; 15 nieces and nephews; various cousins; and hundreds of students, past and present.

A tribute to his life will be held Friday, November 10, from 1:30-3:00 PM, at the Summit Trail Solarium in the Plemmons Student Union at Appalachian State in Boone. His family encourages mourners to bring stories and pictures, and to share memories at the gathering. In lieu of flowers, they ask that you donate to the newly-created Derek J. Stanovsky Social Justice Scholarship (ASU Box 32014, Boone, NC 28608), or to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

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

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


Ira B. Read (March 30, 1932 – Nov. 1, 2017)

Ira B. Read, 85, of Boone, passed away Wednesday, November 01, 2017 at his home. Born March 30, 1932 in Macy, Indiana, he was a son of C. N. Read and Eva Malone Read. Ira was a retired history professor. 

He is survived by his wife, Barbara Yale-Read, one son, David Charles Read and wife Ruth, one daughter, Sylvia Ruth Read and husband Michael Spooner, three grandchildren, Isaacs Spooner, Lucas Allen Read and Andrew Charles Read, two step daughters, Dr. Jennifer Riebel and husband George and Heather Sevier Fabretti and husband Clyde, six step grandchildren, Nancy Kerr, Joel Michael Riebel, Camille Bane Riebel, Wynston Riebel, Corrine Elizabeth Riebel and Bella Christine Fabretti, and two sisters, Marsha Ruth Read and Mary Daisy Marshall.

Memorial services for Ira Read will be conducted at a later date.  Online condolences may be shared with the Read family at www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com. Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Read family.


Nancy Belle Hamby (June 19, 1946 – Oct. 31, 2017)

Nancy Belle Hamby, 71, of Clyde Lane, Deep Gap, passed away Tuesday morning, October 31, 2017 at her home. Born June 19, 1946 in Watauga County, she was a daughter of Clyde and Zell Simmons Hamby. Nancy owned and operated Nancys Hairstyles in Boone for more than 40 years. She was a member of Mt. Paran Baptist Church. Nancy loved life. She enjoyed singing, playing the piano, and always appreciated a good joke. 

Nancy is survived by her sister, Velma Greene of Deep Gap; four nieces, Carlene Greene and husband, Ricky, of Fleetwood, Ramona Hamby, and Susan Call and husband, Rev. Chuck Call, all of Deep Gap, and Beverly Sturgill and husband, Rodney, of Jefferson; two nephews, Hank Greene and wife, Kim and Dwayne Hamby and wife, Anne, all of Deep Gap; and two sisters-in-law, Loretta Cornejo and husband, Rev. Rick Cornejo of Fleetwood and Joyce Carlton and husband, Harold, of Deep Gap. 

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Bill and Mack Hamby; sister, Estelle Hamby; and two nephews, Clyde Hamby and Ricky Greene. 

Funeral services for Nancy Hamby will be conducted Friday afternoon, November 3, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. at Mt. Paran Baptist Church, officiated by Pastor Rick Cornejo, Rev. Chuck Call and Rev. Sherrill Wellborn. The family will receive friends at the church from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m. (one hour prior to service). Graveside services, officiated by Rev. Shawn Greene, will follow in the Mt. Paran Church Cemetery. 

Online condolences may be shared at the website www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com. Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Hamby family.


John Q. Miller, Jr. (May 9, 1940 – Oct. 31, 2017)

Mr. John Quinton Miller, Jr., age 77 of Boone, passed away Tuesday afternoon, October 31, 2017. Born May 9, 1940 in Iredell County, he was the son of the late John Quinton Miller, Sr., and Sophia Evans Miller. Johnny was the owner and operator of Millers Car Clinic for many years. He was an avid fisherman and a member of the Daniel Boone Fishing Club. He shared a love of cars and racing with family and friends.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Judith Byrd Miller, one son, Jonathan Miller and wife Susie, two grandsons, Andrew and Thomas Miller all of Boone, three aunts, Kathleen Wellborn of Deep Gap, Mary Sue Payne of West Jefferson and Sarah Hunt of Danbury, Virginia, two uncles, Robert Miller of West Jefferson and Kent Miller of Miami and a number of cousins.

Funeral services for Mr. John Quinton Miller, Jr., will be conducted Saturday morning, November 4, 2017 at 11 am at Grace Lutheran Church. Officiating will be Pastor Stephen Troisi and Pastor John Bollinger. 

The family will receive friends Friday evening, November 3, 2017 at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home from 6 PM until 8 PM. Online condolences may be shared with the Miller family at www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com.

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Miller family.