Obituaries


L.A. Roberts Alexander - L.A. Roberts, 79,


of 441 Martin Chandler Road, went to be with his Lord Sunday, Dec. 5, 2010. Mr. Roberts was born March


26, 1931, in Buncombe County. He was a former employee with Western Car Loading and Lions Club Industries for the Blind. He was a lifelong member of Cedar Hill Baptist Church. Mr. Roberts was a son of the late Lewis A. Roberts and Flonnie Pegg Rob- erts. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his stepmother, Sally Wil- liams Roberts; son, Gerald Dean Roberts; and brothers, Bobby and Junior Roberts. Surviving are his wife of 59


years, Betty Revis Roberts; daughters, Rita Ann Roberts of Alexander, Linda Annette Pike of Leicester, and Teresa Faye Roberts of Alexander; son, Roger Dale Roberts of Alexan- der; sisters, Juanita Buckner, Betty Jean Herron, and Carolyn Roberts; brothers, Carl Rob- erts, Harold Roberts and Donnie Roberts; 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. His funeral service was held


at 2:30 pm on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010, in Cedar Hill Baptist Church, with the Rev. Roy McPe- ters and the Rev. Allan Roberts officiating. Burial was in Cedar Hill Baptist Church Cemetery. The family received friends


from 6 pm to 8 pm on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2010 at West Funeral Home, 17 Merrimon Ave., Weav- erville, where the body remained until placed in the church one hour prior to the service. At other times, the family was


at the residence. Flowers are welcome. Those


desiring to make a memorial contribution are encouraged to consider West Funeral Home to assist the family. west family funeralservices.


com


Cumi Mathis Melton Asheville - Cumi Mathis


Melton, age 81, of Barton Road died Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010. Mrs. Melton was born Jan. 20,


1929, and was a resident of Bun- combe County. She was pre- ceded in death by her husband, Marvin O. Melton who died in 2001. She worked at Hadley Corp. in Weaverville for a num- ber of years and was president of the Weaverville PTA during her children’s school years. Mrs. Melton was a member of the Pine Burr Park Baptist Church and past Worthy Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star, Weav- erville Chapter #49. Surviving are her daughter,


Janice Conboy and husband Bill of Asheville; sons, Rev. Dr. Larry Melton and wife Carol of Mari- on, Marvin J. Melton and wife Darlene of Denver, NC; sister, Inza Lance of West Asheville;


grandchildren, Elen Gibbs, Lisa Bradley, Shane Crawford, Amy Melton, Andrew Melton; and six great grandchildren. Her funeral service was held


at 2:30 pm on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2010, in the Chapel of West Fu- neral Home, 17 Merrimon Ave., Weaverville, with the Rev. Keith Watkins officiating. Burial was in Ashelawn Gardens of Memory. The family received friends


from 6 pm to 8 pm on Monday, Dec. 6, 2010, at West Funeral Home. At other times, the family was


at the home of Janice Conboy, 26 Barton Road, Asheville. Flowers are acceptable and


appreciated. Those desiring to make a memorial contribution are encouraged to consider John F. Keever Solace Center, CarePart- ners Foundation, PO Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813. west family funeralservices.


com


Clarence Oran “C.O.” Stafford, Jr. Weaverville - Clarence Oran


“C.O.” Stafford, Jr., age 78, of Weaverville passed away peace- fully Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2010. Mr. Stafford was born Nov. 6,


1932, in Matoaka, W.Va., to the late Lestie McKinney Stafford and Clarence Stafford, Sr. He was also preceded in death by his brother, J.B. Stafford. A Ko- rean War veteran, he served on the U.S.S. Tarawa in the U.S. Navy from 1950 to 1953 as a First Class Boatswains Mate. Along with being a father of three, he was active coach- ing youth football and baseball from 1972 to 1993. He began his 40-year career with General Telephone in Welch, W.Va., and retired from GTE in Franklin, NC in 1994. C.O. was an avid out- doorsman, hunting and fishing with friends. He was a member and trustee of the Weaverville United Methodist Church and current president of the Lions Club. He worked with Habitat for Humanity and ABCCM, en- joyed playing dominos, Braves baseball, West Virginia football, and spending time with family. He was great man, a wonderful father, caring husband; a friend to many. He will be missed by all and remembered by most. Surviving are his loving wife of


almost 57 years, Joan Casserley Farris Stafford; children, Kim- berly Stafford Roberts and hus- band Mike of Fletcher, Jennifer Stafford Phillips of Weaverville, and Clarence Oran Stafford, III, “Huey” of Whittier; five grand- children: Joshua Daniel Phillips, Michael Justin Roberts, Brianna Casserley Stafford, Tanner Wade Stafford, and Jackson Tyler Stafford; siblings, Gene Stafford and wife Vickie of Cocoa Beach, Fla., Nancy Harvey of Princeton, W.Va., and Mary Jane Stiltner and husband Steve of Princ-


22 THE TRIBUNE/LEADER - December 9 - December 15, 2010


eton, W.Va.; three great grand- children: Joshua Dalton Phillips, Jasper Daniel Chase-Phillips, and Hayley Nichole Lynn Miller; and many more nieces, neph- ews and family. His funeral service was held at


11 am on Friday, Dec. 3, 2010, in Weaverville United Methodist Church with the Rev. Linda M. Kelly officiating. Burial was in West Memorial Park with mili- tary rites by Mars Hill VFW Post 5483. The family received friends


from 6 pm to 8 pm on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010, at West Funeral Home, 17 Merrimon Ave., Weav- erville. At other times, the family was


at the residence. Flowers are welcome or me-


morials may be made to ABCCM, 30 Cumberland Ave., Asheville, NC 28801. west family funeralservices.


com


Art Lockhart Asheville - Art Lockhart, age


78, of Asheville passed away Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2010 at Mis- sion Hospital with grace and dignity, as he lived his life. Mr. Lockhart was born Jan.


10, 1932, in Mount Holly, NJ. He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Bess Lock- hart; his lovely wife, Joan Brier Lockhart; as well as two sisters, Betty Bubb and Eileen More- head. Surviving are his daughter, Vanessa Lockhart of Asheville;


son, Chris Lockhart and wife Heather of Taylors, SC; grand- children; Andrea Whitt and hus- band Brian of Weaverville, Valer- ie Whitmire of Asheville, Derrick and Danielle Lockhart; great granddaughter, Jasmin Kori Lockhart of Greer; sisters, Patsy Rude of Wisconsin and Barbara Hulmes of New Jersey; several nieces, nephews, and his favor- ite nephew, Gary Bubb and wife Janice of Jacksonville, Fla. He was a graduate of Ursinus


College in Pennsylvania, receiv- ing his Masters degree from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylva- nia. Over his 70 years of being a type one, insulin-dependent diabetic, he was successful in business, marriage, as a father, grandfather and friend to many. He was a market research direc- tor of the United States division of an international company. He traveled throughout the United States, Mexico and Western Europe. He was a renowned spokesman for the textile and fiber industry. When he retired from that company, he started his own firm, Lockhart Market Research and Associates, which was very successful. He married the love of his life,


Joan Brier, in 1953. Their mar- riage was one that most people only dream of. They were mar- ried for 40 years. When Joan passed away in 1993, he began another endeavor, writing. His first book, titled “Immortal to Many but Especially to Me, the


Community churches candlelight walk Te annual community churches candlelight walk will begin at 6 pm


on Sunday (Dec.12) at First Baptist Church, Weaverville and proceed to the First Presbyterian Church, then end at Weaverville United Methodist Church. Music will be provided at each sanctuary, and light refreshments will be served after the walk.


Parade in Marshall Marshall will hold its annual holiday parade beginning at 11 am


on Saturday (Dec. 11). All parade entries welcome. Contact 828-649- 3031 to register. Te Madison County Arts Council holiday sale will run from 10 am to 5 pm.


Joan Lockhart Story,” immortal- ized their life together. Another book he wrote, “My First 22,000 Days with Diabetes,” was help- ful to many other diabetics. He often spoke to diabetic support groups and hospital patients. He donated some of his books to the Diabetic Education Center at Mission Hospital, hoping to help others with diabetes. In 2009 he traveled to the Joslin Diabetic Research Center in Boston, MA, where he participated in a 50-year Medalist Study, hoping to help other diabetics. He do- nated some of his books to this program, as well. Over the years, Art had many


hobbies and interests, including bowling, stamp collecting, and card games of all types. In 1974 he became an avid and very good bridge player. He attained the level of Gold Life Master. He spent many enjoyable hours with his friends at the Asheville Bridge Center. A celebration of his life was


held Monday, Dec. 6, 2010, at West Funeral Home, 17 Merri- mon Ave., Weaverville, at 4:30 p.m., with Rev. Buddy Corbin of- ficiating. In lieu of flowers, the fam-


ily requests memorials are sent to: The 50 Year Medalist Study, Joslin Diabetic Center, One Jos- lin Place, Boston, MA 02215. Art will be loved, remembered


and never forgotten by all whose lives he touched. west family funeralservices.


com


School


makeup days To make up instructional time


lost due to inclement weather on Monday (Dec. 6) and Tuesday (Dec. 7), Buncombe County Schools will be in session on Monday, Jan. 3 and Tursday, March 3. Tese days were previ- ously scheduled as teacher work- days.


Announcing our new location


EAST ASHEVILLE 856 Tunnel Road Asheville, NC 828.299.4416


Our professional and caring staff takes pride in providing high quality and affordable funeral services that meet the special needs of your family. www.grocefuneralhome.com


ASHEVILLE 1401 Patton Avenue Asheville, NC 828.252.3535


www.leicesterleader.com www.weavervilletribune.com


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