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Watauga County Obituaries – Compiled Oct. 15, 2013

 Watauga County Obituaries – Compiled Oct. 15, 2013

Virginia Martin, D. Oct. 14, 2013

Virginia Martin
Virginia Martin

Dr. Virginia T. Martin (born Julien) was born in Milwaukee, FL on November 22, 1942 and died in Boone, NC on October 14, 2013 at age 70. She showed great courage and fortitude in living with the effects and treatments of breast cancer and Parkinson’s disease. A gathering and memorial service will be held for family and friends on Saturday, October 26th from 1:00 2:00 pm at her home, 346 Park St., Boone, NC.

Dr. Martin was one of two children born to Oliver and Theresa Julien. She raised five children: Mary (Jacksonville, FL), Dan (St. Augustine, FL), Ann (Boone, NC), Beth (Boone, NC), and Pete (Leesburg,VA), known collectively as the Wrecking Crew. Virginia moved from Wisconsin to Tampa, FL where she completed her Bachelor’s degree and later earned a Master’s degree in Medical Anthropology at the University of South Florida.
    
Following her marriage to William F. Martin, she moved to Boone, NC. Taking classes and teaching at Appalachian State University, Virginia earned a second Master’s degree in Sociology. With a fellowship from Appalachian, she attended the University of South Carolina at Columbia, completing a Ph.D. in Sociology. She continued to teach at Appalachian until her retirement.
    
Virginia excelled as an educator; first as a teacher and role model to her children, later as a college instructor and professor, and then in retirement as a volunteer at Two Rivers Community School in Boone where some of her grandchildren attend school. She also volunteered with the Community Care Clinic. Her devotion to family drew her children and grandchildren to her. The love and wisdom she shared is a treasure beyond value.

She is survived by her husband, contractor and author, Bill Martin, her brother, Oliver Julien (Boone, NC) and her five children and their families, including nine grandchildren. She is missed by all of them.
    
In lieu of flowers, donations honoring Dr. Martin can be made to the Two Rivers Community School Legacy Fund, 1018 Archie Carroll Road, Boone, NC 28607 (trcsboone.org/give).

Felicia Borkowski, D. Oct. 11, 2013

Felicia Borkowski, age 99 years, 8 months, passed away on Friday, October 11, 2013 at the Life Care Center of Banner Elk. Before moving to North Carolina she had lived most of her life in Steubenville, Ohio.

Felicia was the daughter of the late Feliks and Valeria Bialkowski Pawlowski. She was also preceded in death by her husband Francis “Frank” T. Borkowski and by her brothers, Wenceslaus Pawlowski, Joseph Pawlowski, Julian Pawlowski, and Feliks Pawlowski.

She is survived by her son, Francis T. Borkowski, Jr. and daughter-in-law Kay Kaiser Borkowski of Valle Crucis; grandchildren Stanley Borkowski (Inga) of Columbia, South Carolina, Anne-Marie Scott (Robert) of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Christian Borkowski (Karen) of Winston-Salem, North Carolina; and four great-grandchildren, Mary Loretta (Molly) Scott, Nora Ellen Scott, Ian Matthew Borkowski, and Ryan Michael Borkowski. 

Felicia was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on February 14, 1914. She grew up in Weirton, West Virginia and attended Weir High School for two years before leaving school to work at Weirton Steel. She and Frank settled in Steubenville after they married and were active members of St. Stanislaus Polish Catholic Church and St. Peter’s Church in Steubenville.

A tireless volunteer and contributor, Felicia devoted many years of service to the Jefferson County chapter of the American Red Cross; in November 1995, she was commended on the floor of the Ohio House of Representative for her service to that organization and in November 2000 she was presented with a 40-year pin. She was long active in the local chapter of the YWCA, serving on that board for 12 years. She was a member of the Catholic Women’s Club at St. Stanislaus, a board member of the local chapter of the AARP, and in 1998 received a 10-year certificate from the Retired Senior Volunteer Program of the Corporation for National Service. Felicia also served on Steubenville’s Dean Martin Committee; the Steubenville Bicentennial Commission and the Steubenville Murals Project. She regularly read to young children as part of Steubenville’s Head Start program, and also volunteered at the American Cancer Society. 

Raised in a Polish-speaking household, Felicia took care to safeguard Polish culture and traditions throughout her life. She spoke the language fluently and served as an interpreter for the Polish team at the Special Olympics in Boone in 1999. She was a 67-year member of the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America. Felicia was an expert at cooking traditional Polish dishes and shared her skill and appreciation with her family. A fervent believer in the value of education, she encouraged and supported her son and grandchildren in their educational endeavors and furthered her own education at every opportunity: she received her G.E.D. after the age of 50, acquired a business degree after that, and attended numerous Elderhostel programs in retirement. She proudly received an honorary diploma from Steubenville High School in 1994. She loved to travel and made numerous pilgrimage trips to religious shrines in the United States and Canada. She also journeyed to Europe, Egypt, and several times to her beloved Poland. She met the Pope John Paul II on three separate occasions. Felicia enjoyed living in and maintaining her home independently until well into her later years. 

Visitation will be at Mosti Funeral Home, 4435 Sunset Boulevard, Steubenville, Ohio on Friday, Oct. 18th. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 Saturday morning, October 19th at St. Peter’s Church followed by burial at St. Paul Cemetery in Weirton. Austin and Barnes Funeral Home is assisting the family locally.

Marion Hicks, D. Oct. 8, 2013

Marion Hicks, age 90, of Harrison Road, Boone, passed away Tuesday afternoon, October 8, 2013, at his home.

Marion Hicks
Marion Hicks

Mr. Hicks was born April 25, 1923 in Douglas County, Missouri, a son of the late Everett and Cordelia Leroy Hicks. He was a retired system’s analyst for the Social Security Administration and served in the United States Navy during World War II.

Mr. Hicks is survived by two daughters, Cheri J. Piner and husband Douglas of Youngsville, North Carolina, and Diane K. Ford and husband Dr. Charles Ford, Jr. of Boone; two sons, Wayne M. Hicks and wife April of Raleigh, and Kevin L. Hicks and wife Deborah of Sneads Ferry, North Carolina; three grandsons, Jonathan Hicks and wife Laura of Centreville, Virginia, Andrew Hicks and wife Fanny of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and Paul Hicks and wife Alison of Winston-Salem; six granddaughters, Dawn Mocnik and husband Mark of Wake Forest, Jennifer Wetmore of Southern Pines, Heather Quesenberry and husband Scott of Raleigh, Sarah Smith and husband Lucas of Boone, Rebekah Garner and husband Nathan of Zebulon, and Hannah Garner and husband Joseph of Youngsville, North Carolina; nine great-grandsons, Alex Wetmore, Matthew Mocnik, Caleb Mocnik, Abraham Smith, Arnold Quensenberry, Noah Smith, Thomas Garner, Caleb Smith, and Gray Hicks, and eleven great-grandaughters, Ashton Wetmore, Marley Wetmore, Hannah Faith Smith, Elizabeth Quensenberry, Elisabeth Garner, Naomi Garner, Ana Smith, Zoe Smith, Ariana Garner, Susannah Garner, and Abigail Smith.

Graveside services, with full military honors, provided by American Legion Post 130, will be conducted Friday afternoon, October 11, 2013, at 3:00 o’clock, at Mount Lawn Memorial Park and Gardens. Officiating will be Dr. Charles Ford, Jr.

The family will receive friends Thursday evening, October 10th, from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. at Hampton Funeral Service.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the, Project On Aging Senior Center, 132 Poplar Grove Connector, Boone, North Carolina, 28607 or The American Legion Post 130, C/O Finley Hodges, 886 Laurel Fork Road, Vilas, North Carolina, 28692.

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

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