All Obituaries

Ermal  Lyalls Killen, age 94 of West Jefferson, passed away on Saturday, January 28, 2023 at her home. Mrs. Killen was born on August 2, 1928 in Ashe County to Wiley and Effie Mash Lyalls. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Wayne Howard Killen, brother, Brice Lyalls, two sisters, Shirley Goodman and Alene Miller, and a great-granddaughter, Amarissa Hulin. Ermal worked for Ashe County Schools in the cafeteria, working at Jefferson Elementary and later...

Dennis Robert Bowman, Jr., age 71 of West Jefferson, passed away on Thursday, January 26, 2023 at Ashe Memorial Hospital. Mr. Bowman was born in Grundy, Virginia to the late, Dennis Robert Bowman Sr. and Inez Ednicott. In addition to his parents, he is also preceded in death by his brother, Bert Bowman, and his sister, Sue Owen. Mr. Bowman enjoyed spending time outdoors and working in his yard. Throughout his life he worked as a truck driver for the Coal Mines of...

Lou Ellen Shepard Fleming, age 84 of West Jefferson passed away on Tuesday, January 24, 2023 at Generations Ashe Assisted Living.  Mrs. Fleming was born on March 8, 1938 in Ashe County, North Carolina to the late Luther and Leabell Perry Shepherd.  In addition to her parents she was also preceded in death by her husband,  Everett "Wayne" Fleming, one daughter, Delilah Blevins, sisters, Ethel Jones, Virginia Ruth Shepard, Rosie Holman, Edna...

Ruby Josephine Childers Bledsoe, better known as “Josephine,” age 79 of Warrensville passed away Sunday evening, January 22, 2023, at Ashe Memorial Hospital. Mrs. Bledsoe was born March 28, 1943, in Ashe County, North Carolina to the late Arthur and Rosa Childers. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by one brother, Delmer Childers, and one sister, Hazel Yates.  Mrs. Bledsoe was a member of Warrensville Baptist Church where she was a children’s...

Walter Jones, age 69 of Warrensville, passed away on Friday, January 20, 2023 at Ashe Memorial Hospital. Mr. Jones was born in Ashe County to the late, Smith Aaron and Annie Ruth Turner Jones. In addition to his parent he was preceded in death by, three brothers, Bill, Harold and Delmer Jones and two sisters, Patsy Shaw and Suzie Lemly. Mr. Jones sung in the Fellowship Quartet. He enjoyed playing his guitar, running equipment and was the owner of Jones Logging. Walter dearly loved...

Gloria Lineberry Hanson, age 73 of Warrensville, passed away on Thursday, January 19, 2023 at Ashe Memorial Hospital.  Gloria was born on July 24, 1949 in Randolph County, North Carolina to the late Ervin Scott and Sarah Lee Fogleman Lineberry.  Gloria graduated from Liberty High School; she received training from Charlotte Memorial Hospital and High Point Memorial Hospital.  She worked as a lab technician in various labs throughout her career.  She also worked in...

Joe Harlan Spears, age 63 of Lansing, passed away on Thursday, January 19, 2023 at Ashe Memorial Hospital. Mr. Spears was born on June 10, 1959 in Wilkes County to Rufus Plato Spears and Evalee Belvia Watson Spears. He was preceded in death by his parents and a son "Little" Joe Spears. Mr. Spears loved going to church and made it his priority. He worked at Tyson for more than 40 years and enjoyed helping others. He loved the snow, going out to eat, and his dog "Pretty...

Steve Smith Latham, age 74 of Woodlawn, VA, passed away on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at Twin County Regional Hospital in Galax. Mr. Latham was born on January 12, 1949 in Ashe County, NC to Ennis Pell and Pauline Shepherd Latham. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sons, David Eric Latham and Tony Latham, a daughter, Angela Tarlton, and a sister, Maxine Shatley. He enjoyed fishing and working on old cars. Mr. Latham is survived by one daughter, Misty Hohman of Laurel Springs;...

William Fred Rutherford, better known as Freddy, age 76 of Grassy Creek, passed away Monday, January 16, 2023 at his home. Mr. Rutherford was born on February 14, 1946 in Ashe County to William Harding and Iona Claireen Handy Rutherford. He was preceded in death by his parents and a son, Timothy John Rutherford. Mr. Rutherford was a longtime merchant and auctioneer. He loved growing flowers and vegetables. Mr. Rutherford is survived by: his wife: Wanda Testerman Rutherford; one son, Thomas...

On January 16th, 2023, Sandra Claudette Wurth took her last breath here on Earth, covered in prayer and surrounded by loved ones. Sandra was born on January 27, 1935, in the Queens borough of New York City to Joseph and Alexandria McDonough. She spoke fondly and often of the place where she grew from child to adult. Sandra never quite lost the accent she gained there—in her last years, nurses and staff would often comment on the way she talked, curious of her origin and enamored with...