Brenda Kay Earnhardt

Brenda Kay Earnhardt

Brenda Kay Earnhardt Goodman, affectionately know as "Mom-maw", 75, of Salisbury, passed away Saturday, June 23, 2018 at her home.

She was born November 9, 1942 in Rowan County to the late Marvin and Mavis Trexler Earnhardt. Brenda was a 1961 graduate of East Rowan High School.

She was a member of St. Peter's Lutheran Church. Brenda enjoyed crafting, gardening, riding her golf cart and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, Brenda was preceded in death by her husband of over 36 years, George Luther Goodman, infant son, Stanton George Goodman, sisters, Sarah Jane Earnhardt, and Judy Eidson, and brother, Gary "Snag" Earnhardt.

Brenda is survived by her daughter, Wanda Goodman Jackson and husband Stephen of Salisbury, NC; Son, Daniel Goodman and girlfriend Shawnai Shaver of Salisbury, grandsons, Steven Wagoner and wife Krystina, Levi Goodman, Baily Carden, Bryce Carden, and Luke Eggart; granddaughters, Christy Fowler and husband Brian, Paige Jackson, Payton Jackson, and Kelsey Goodman; great-granddaughters, Karlee and Lexus Wagoner, and Stella-Drew Flowler; great-grandson, Mason Wagoner; sister, Sue Beaver and husband Lee; sister-in-law, Johnnie Sue Earnhardt; and brother-in-law, Wayne Eidson.

The 3 Brenda Earnhardts in our class
Top: Paula Dellinger, Brenda Carol
Bottom: Brenda Jean, Brenda Kay

The family will greet friends and relatives on Wednesday, June 27, 2018, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm at Powles Staton Funeral Home, Rockwell, NC.

The funeral service will be held at 10:00 am on Thursday, June 28, 2018, at St. Peter's Lutheran Church with Rev. Sean Barrett officiating.

Burial will follow in the St. Peter's Lutheran Church Cemetery.

Garlan Gudger - ERHS Class of 1960

Dr. Garlan Edward Gudger Sr. of Cullman, Ala. went to his Heavenly home on Monday, May 7, 2018. And just as he would have wanted, he was at his home in his bedroom when his heart closed the final chapter of his earthly life. He became a Christian at age 16 on Mother's Day at his home church in Salisbury, where he was born and raised. He attended Salisbury schools and played sports from an early age. He played basketball, varsity football from the eighth grade until graduation, and was the county weightlifting champion. He resided in Salisbury until leaving for Castle Heights Military Academy in Lebanon, Tenn., where he was selected as an All Mid-South football player. From Heights he earned a football scholarship to Tennessee Tech in Cookeville, Tenn., where he played on the OVC championship team. He graduated from Tech with a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Health and Physical Education. He later returned to Middle Tennessee to earn his Doctorate in Junior College Administration. In 1969, he began Southern Accents Architectural Antiques in his garage. The company has grown through his and his son Garlan Jr.'s. leadership to be ranked this past month in the Top 5 in the nation for the industry. Dr. Gudger coached in Alabama at West Point, Fairview, and Cullman High Schools. He loved his players, and many of them went on to become coaches themselves. After his own coaching days were over, he was always a presence at all his children's and grandchildren's sporting events, no matter when or where, coaching from his chair at the end of the court or behind the fence. His words to his grandchildren were always, “Do your very best. That's what God expects.” He used those words in his life as well, being “tough as nails” as he went through various health issues, including an organ transplant after receiving a kidney from Garlan Jr. and surviving Type 1 diabetes for 66 years, a very rare accomplishment. So much so, in fact, that he was awarded a medal from the Joslin Diabetic Clinic at Harvard University.

He was also awarded the “Flavious Smith Outstanding Alumni Award” from Tennessee Tech in his major department, “Outstanding Dean” of the Alabama Junior College Deans Association, a group that he founded at the inception of the community college period, and was inducted into the Cullman County Sports Hall of Fame in 2014, an honor he greatly cherished. Dr. Gudger was the first dean hired at Wallace State, serving in that capacity for 23 years, helping students with everything from personal dilemmas to financial problems, in some cases funding the student's college career himself. He retired in 1995 and continued to support Wallace State, encouraging students to enroll, promoting athletics, and forever being a cheerleader of all that the College accomplished. An endowed scholarship bears his name through the Future Foundation. The Dr. Garlan Gudger Sr. Endowed Scholarship was originally established by Jeremy Oden to honor Dr. Gudger's leadership and impact at Wallace State. Contributions to this fund may be made by being mailed to WSCC Future Foundation - Gudger Scholarship, PO BOX 568, Hanceville, AL 35077. He was preceded in death by his parents Hoyle and Ruth Gudger; infant brother; and grandparents, Paul and Liz Gudger and James and Maggie Womble, all of Salisbury. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Dot Denning Gudger; and his three children, Jill Gudger Howell and husband Michael, Joy Gudger Barker and husband Brady and Garlan Edward Gudger Jr. and wife Heather Pierce Gudger. He is also survived by six loving grandchildren,

Victoria, Alexandria, Mary Elizabeth and Sarah Katherine Barker, Garlan Edward Gudger III (Tripp) and Pierce Gudger; one sibling, Connie Gudger Mathews of Salisbury; two nephews, Justin Kepley and wife Amber and their three sons of Charleston, S.C. and Jim Denning of McMinville, Tenn; and two nieces Lindsey Kepley Hamrick and husband Justin and their two sons of Apopka, Fla. and Eva Denning Quinley and husband Ron of Knoxville, Tenn. His desire was to always make the world, especially his community of Cullman that he loved, a better place. We believe he has done that while at the same time influencing generations of young people to have a better life and become better people. Visitation & Service: Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Thursday, May 10, 2018 at First Baptist Church, Cullman, Ala. Funeral services will be at First Baptist on Friday, May 11, 2018 at 11 a.m. with Dr. Ed Hayes and the Rev. Tom Richter officiating with interment in the Cullman City Cemetery. Moss Service is in charge of arrangements. 1 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”

John Wyatt

John Wyatt passed away on April 23, 2018. Here is the obituary at legacy.com provided by the Salisbury Post.

Photos of John Wyatt

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John Clifford Wyatt, 75, of Salisbury, passed away Monday, April 23, 2018 at Novant Health Rowan Medical Center in Salisbury. 

He was born February 23, 1943 in Fayetteville, NC to the late Ernest Walter and Beulah File Wyatt. John was a 1961 graduate of East Rowan High School, and he earned a Masters Degree in Education from UNC Chapel Hill. John retired from Wayne Community College where he worked as a Professor. He was a member of Providence United Methodist Church, where he was a lay leader and past Sunday School Teacher.

John was active with Meals on Wheels of Rowan, and he loved volunteering at Morgan Elementary School. He enjoyed studying and reading his Bible and spending time at the beach.

In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his wife, Fay Wyatt, whom he married on June 9, 1963, and brother, Ernest Walter Wyatt, Jr.

John is survived by his sons, Frank Wyatt of Salisbury, NC, Craig Wyatt and wife Kim of Searsmont, ME, Lucas Wyatt of Salisbury; daughter, Laci Wyatt of Salisbury; sister, Iola Walton of Carthage; grandson, Declan Wyatt; granddaughter, Macartney Wyatt both of Searsmont, ME; sisters-in-law, Betty Wyatt, and Becky Bost and husband Bob of Rockwell; ; and brother-in-law, Max Morefield and wife Sis of Salisbury.

The family will greet friends and relatives on Friday, April 27, 2018, 10:00 am - 11:00 am at Providence United Methodist Church, Salisbury, NC.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, April 27, 2018, in the Providence United Methodist Church, Salisbury, NC, with Pastor Aldana Allen, officiating.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Providence United Methodist Church Building Fund 6450 Bringle Ferry Road. 

Powles Staton Funeral Home of Rockwell is assisting the Wyatt family.

Ralph Walton (1942-2017)

Ralph MacArthur Walton, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away peacefully and surrounded by his family on December 7, 2017 at Glenn A. Kiser Hospice House in Salisbury, North Carolina. He was 75.

Mr. Walton was born on July 31, 1942 in Salisbury, North Carolina to his parents, Arnold Adam Walton, Sr. and Mildred Earnhardt Walton of Granite Quarry. He was in the first graduating class from East Rowan High School, in 1960, and went on to earn several degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He received a Bachelor of Arts in math education in 1964, a Master of Arts in mathematics teaching in 1967, and an educational specialist degree in 1977.

Mr. Walton had a long career in education. After receiving his undergraduate degree, he taught math and coached wrestling, football, and track at West Rowan High School from 1964 until 1968, when he returned to Chapel Hill for his masters degree. While in Chapel Hill, he taught math and coached junior varsity football and track at Chapel Hill High School. In 1969, he became assistant principal of West Rowan High School. He returned to the classroom as a math teacher at East Rowan High School from 1976 to 1979. He was named assistant principal of China Grove Middle School in 1979 and became principal of Morgan Elementary School in 1980. In 1983, he became principal of Granite Quarry Elementary School, where he remained until his retirement in 1993. After his retirement, he served in various part-time positions with the Rowan-Salisbury School System. When he retired from part-time work, he had served in the Rowan-Salisbury School System for 31 years full-time and 11 years part-time.

Mr. Walton was an active member of the Granite Quarry Civitan Club for over 30 years. He twice served as President and served in various other offices within the club, including as Treasurer for seven years. As a member of Civitan, he received several awards from the North Carolina District West, including President of the Year, Civitan of the Year, and Family of the Year. He was a member of Shiloh United Methodist Church. He loved the UNC Tarheels, working in his garden and orchard, and, most of all, his family.

Mr. Walton is survived by his wife of 45 years, Colleen Trexler Walton; their three children, Clark Christopher Walton and his wife, Julia, of Charlotte, Priscilla Leigh Walton-Fein and her husband, Ashden Fein, of Arlington, Virginia, and Thad Aaron Walton and his wife, Megan, of Charlotte; and eight grandchildren, Jason Tyler Walton, Madeleine Amelia Walton, Hattie Ann Walton, Aron Trexler (Trex) Fein, Wyatt Randall Walton, Adele Beatrice Fein, Grace Harmon Walton, and Miller Lee Walton. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Arnold Adam Walton, Jr., and his grandson, John MacArthur Walton.

Service: The family will greet friends and relatives from 1:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. on Sunday, December 10, at Shiloh United Methodist Church, in Granite Quarry. A funeral service will immediately follow at 3 p.m in the church sanctuary. The Granite Quarry Civitan Club will be seated as a group. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Shiloh United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 315, Granite Quarry, NC 28072, or to the Glenn A. Kiser Hospice House c/o Rowan Medical Center Foundation, 130 Mocksville Avenue, Salisbury, NC 28144.

The Waltons would like to thank all of our dear family and friends who were so supportive during Ralph’s illness.

Clancy Bostian

Clarence "Clancy" Leonard Bostian, Jr. , 83, of Spencer passed away Wednesday, September 28, 2016 at Novant Health Rowan Medical Center from heedless complications following surgery. He died surrounded by his family and with the strength and dignity he possessed throughout his life.

He was born in Salisbury, North Carolina, October 28, 1932 to the late Clarence Leonard Bostian, Jr. and Vergie Cranford Bostian.

In his early years, he was active in the Boy Scouts of America where he earned the degree of Eagle Scout at age twelve. He was a graduate of Boyden High School, class of 1951, where he played coronet in the marching band and was voted "Most Likely to Succeed" by his classmates. His dream was to attend Duke University to become a doctor, but winning the prestigious Erlanger Scholarship at North Carolina State University put him in the business of textile research and development. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Textile Technology from NCSU and was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity.

Clancy served in the Army in the Philippines during the "Cold War" in the area of Army Intelligence and then returned to Salisbury where he worked for Piedmont Mill Supply. He then moved to Wilmington, Delaware where he began his textile career with Bancroft Corporation and then to New York City to work with United Merchants and Manufacturers, Inc.

He developed fibers and designed fabrics and holds five patents for his work. He also designed fibers and clothing fabric for famed designers such as Stan Herman, Anne Klein and Rudy Gernreich. Later he traveled across the United States, Canada and Mexico working as a textile consultant. After leaving New York, he moved to Gastonia to help open Smyre Textile Mill.

Clancy was a Renaissance man who excelled in whatever he chose to pursue whether it be cooking, singing, dancing, plumbing, building boats and mechanical toys for his children or electrical work. He was a lover of fine things: Good German food, music and art. He loved his family, his friends, and his church and was dearly loved back by all who knew him.

Ann and Clancy at the 45th class reunion in 2006

At the time of his death, he was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church where he was a member of the Martin Luther Sunday School Class, the St. John's Men's Chorus, the Golden Opportunity Club, was a lay reader for services, had served on various committees and the Church Council.

Preceding him in death, in addition to his parents, were two children Clarence Leonard "Lenny" Bostian, III (1964-1985) and Melissa Ruth Bostian (1969-1970).
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Ann Stoner Bostian, whom he married June 22, 2008; daughter, Ilona Bostian Bastidas and husband, Arthur of Athens, Georgia; daughter, Lynne Kepley Robinson and husband, Doug of Salisbury; granddaughter, Helayna Bostian; great-grandchildren, Leviticus "Levi" Price Bostian and Illyra Adrianne Money all of Salisbury.

Visitation and Service: There will be a service of celebration of his life at St. John's Lutheran Church, 200 West Innes Street, Salisbury, North Carolina on Monday, October 3, 2016 at 2:00 pm. The family will receive friends in Peeler Hall (St. John's Faith Center) from 12:00 to 1:30 pm prior to the funeral. Burial will be in the Christiana Lutheran Church cemetery beside his parents and children.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations in his memory to go to St. John's Lutheran Church, Generation2Generation Building Fund, 200 West Innes Street, Salisbury, North Carolina 28144 or to Athens Canine Rescue, PO Box 7064, Athens, Georgia 30604.

Powles Staton Funeral Home is assisting the Bostian family.

Jimmy Kluttz - GQHS 1955

Note: I'm including this obit because Jimmy Kluttz was a rather exceptional graduate of Granite Quarry High School. He was 6 years ahead of our class. -- Lavon Page

Jimmy Kluttz grew up in the stone house across Stokes Ferry Rd from the Mose Kluttz family home place. The next house on Jimmy’s side of the road toward Salisbury was where Nancy Kesler (GQHS 1957 lived).

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Jimmy H. Kluttz, 79, of Atlanta Ga., died Aug. 14, 2016. “Jimmie”, son of Mattox and Mabel Kluttz, passed away after a long battle with Alzheimers.

He is survived by two daughters, Heather Barber (Jay) of Richmond Va., Ashley Jennings (Glenn) of Charleston S.C., and four grandchildren. He is also survived by a sister, Saundra Fesperman of Salisbury, and a brother, Richard Kluttz (Judy) of Granite Quarry; as well as nieces and nephews.

He attended Granite Quarry High School. He received a Bachelors degree in Design from North Carolina State University and a Masters degree in Landscape Architecture from Harvard University. Jimmy studied with Hideo Sasaki, worked for Edward Durrell Stone, and taught the inaugural classes of the School of Environmental Design at Louisiana State University. He moved to Atlanta to work with John Portman before founding his own practice in 1968.

Jim was a landscape architect by profession, but was also an artist, a builder, a horticulturalist and a farmer. Shiloh Tree Farm, the culmination of many years of hard work, was a true manifestation of these skills. At Shiloh, he cultivated and hybridized numerous plant specimens, designed and built his home, and pioneered ecologically sensitive landscape nursery practices. He has shared his passion for design through endowments to his alma maters.

Jim's family and friends considered him a lovable eccentric, but as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe noted, “people of uncommon abilities generally fall into eccentricities when their sphere of life is not adequate to their abilities.”

Service: A graveside service will be held Sept. 17, at 1 p.m., Christiana Lutheran Church, Salisbury NC. A celebration of his life will be held Oct. 22, 2016, Shiloh Tree Farm, Cumming GA.

Bobby Joe Beaver - Rockwell HS 1956

Bobby Beaver was one of the greatest football players in the history of the Rockwell football team. My brother Nelson sent his obit along with his personal comment about Bobby ...

"Bobby Beaver was the was the cause of my most pathetic failed attempt at an open field tackle. It was in the 1955 football game between Granite Quarry and Rockwell."

-- Lavon Page

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Bobby Joe Beaver, 78, of Myrtle Beach, S.C., passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 22, 2016, at Hope Arbor Assisted Living in Loris, S.C. Born and raised in Rockwell, he was the youngest of eleven children of George Robert Lewis Beaver and Irene Miller Beaver. Bob graduated from Rockwell High School in 1956. He then attended Appalachian State University on a football scholarship until he was injured and transferred to Catawba College. His love of football led him to become a high school football official and a lifelong Green Bay Packer fan. Bob worked for Winn Dixie, Bank of Rockwell, Retail Credit, and in 1974 he joined Bluefield Casket Company as a sales manager and moved his family to Bluefield, Va., on a snowy April day. Bob retired as a sales rep from Batesville Casket Company after 17 years. While at BCC he was inducted into the Batesville Master's Club. After 24 years living in Bluefield and Salem, Va. he moved to Myrtle Beach, S.C., with his 2T to live out their golden years with their toes in the sand. He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers; and four sisters. He is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 58 years, Mary Virginia Holshouser Beaver; two daughters, Leslie Beaver Pittges and husband Jeff Pittges and Laurel Irene Beaver; two grandchildren, Ainslie Marie Pittges (14) and Duncan Joe Pittges (12); two sisters, Mary Frances Beaver Holshouser and Nell Jacqueline Beaver Bernhardt; many nieces; nephews; great-nieces; and great-nephews; great-great-nephews; and cousins. Bob was very proud of his many years as a member of the Shrine Club and Masonic Lodge. He was an avid tennis player and golfer. Visitation: The family will receive friends on Sunday, June 26, from 3 to 5 p.m., at Powles Staton Funeral Home in Rockwell. Service: The funeral will be held on Monday, June 27, at 11 a.m., at the Powles Staton Funeral Home Chapel, conducted by Rev. Catherine Costello, Pastor of Ursinus United Church of Christ and Rev. Bruce Sheeks, Pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to Shriners Children's Hospitals 2900 N. Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607 or Alzheimer's Organization. Powles Staton Funeral Home of Rockwell, honored provider of Veterans Funeral Care is assisting the Beaver family. Online condolences may be made at www.powlesfuneralhome.com. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/salisburypost/obituary.aspx?pid=180439461#sthash.xjINQ0oW.dpuf

Tex Lyerly obit (Class of 1960)

(Many in our class knew Tex Lyerly well. He was close friends with Coy Fink, Nelson Lingle, Jackie Stanley, Dennie Sellars, Garlan Gudger, Donna Joyce Ludwig, Brenda Jones and others from that class whom we knew so well. My brother Nelson recounts the following story ...

Tex’s brother Bobby at age 16 in the summer of 1952 shot and killed their father who was drunk and beating up their mother - not a first time occurrence. It was headline news in the Post. There was a trial at which Bobby was quickly acquitted. Mr. Barnhardt, the GQHS Principal at that time, let it be known that if anyone from GQHS was seen in the vicinity of the courthouse during the trial he would be expelled. -- Lavon)

Mr. Tex Carlton Lyerly, 73 of Granite Quarry passed away on Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at his residence. Mr. Lyerly was born February 8, 1942 in Rowan County, son of the late Issac Ford Lyerly and Myrtle Barger Lyerly.

He was a 1960 graduate of East Rowan High School, which was the first graduating class. He had worked for 33 years at Owen-Illinois as a shift-supervisor and he retired from Desco Incorporated.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Army having served as a Military Police Officer in Varona, Italy. He was a member of Union Lutheran Church, Livengood-Peeler-Wood American Legion Post 448, a former member of Wittenberg Lutheran Church and St. Peters Lutheran Church where he served on the Church Council.

In addition to his parents he is preceded in death by his granddaughter Lillian Trexler and brother Bobby F. Lyerly.

Mr. Lyerly is survived by his wife Patsy Drye Lyerly whom he married November 29, 1986, sons Christopher Lyerly of Gold Hill, NC, and Bradley Trexler of Salisbury, daughters Lisa T. Clement and husband Tim of Salisbury, Ashley T. Kesler and husband Lucas of Salisbury, brother John Joe Lyerly and wife Sue of Granite Quarry. He is also survived by grandchildren Chelsea and Chase Lyerly, Emily and Gavin Clement, Landon and Corbin Kesler and Noah Trexler.

The family will receive friends at Powles Staton Funeral Home on Friday, December 11 from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM.

The funeral service will be on Saturday, December 12 at 11:00 AM at Union Lutheran Church, conducted by Rev. David Nuottila, pastor. Military graveside rights will be conducted by The U.S. National Guard following the service at Brookhill Memorial Gardens.

Memorials may be made to Union Lutheran Church, 4770 Bringle Ferry Road, Salisbury, NC 28146.

Powles Staton Funeral Home is assisting the Lyerly family.

Losing classmates at the rate of one per month

Since August 1 we have been losing classmates at the rate of about one per month. In August it was Vicki Morgan, in September it was Diane Gaither, in November Billy Shepherd, and already in December Phillip Walton.

My brother Nelson is the source of all these obits. But in case if you hear of the passing of a classmate or other significant news on any of our classmates, please check this blog after a few days and see if I've posted the information, and if not please pass the information along to me.

Thanks. Lavon

Phillip Walton

(This is Phillip's obit from the Salisbury Post. He graduated in our class, but started high school a year ahead of us as you can guess from his age. In any case, he was a classmate during my sophomore at GQHS according the the 1959 yearbook, and during our final two years at ERHS. -- Lavon)

Walter “Phillip” Walton, 74, of Salisbury, passed away on Saturday November 28, 2015 at his home surrounded by family. Mr. Walton was born on September 10, 1941 in Rowan County to the late Walter Ross Walton and Ruth Poole Walton.

Phillip was a 1961 graduate of East Rowan High School and was a life long member of Union Lutheran Church. He retired from Norfolk Southern Railway in 1992 where he worked as brakeman. He also worked at Rives Motor Company doing auto body and collision repair.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years Judy Shenk Walton of Salisbury; three sons, Thomas Andrew Walton and wife Veronica of Salisbury, Steven Craige Walton and wife Ervina of Rockwell, and Michael Phillip Walton of Salisbury; two sisters, Kathryn Wise of Salisbury, and Margaret Ann Broadway and husband Bill of Salisbury; as well as ten grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

A Graveside Service will be held on Friday December 4th at 12:00 Noon at Union Lutheran Church conducted by Pastor David Nuottila. The family will receive friends from 11:00am to 12:00 Noon prior to the graveside service at the church.

Memorials may be made to Union Lutheran Church, 4770 Bringle Ferry Rd, Salisbury, NC 28146.

Carolina Cremation of Salisbury is assisting the Walton family.