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BROWN Sanford Hugh Brown, 80, November 18, 2008, Branon Friends, North Carolina. Sanford was born June 8, 1928, to the late Sanford S. and Kate Bray Brown. He was retired from American Can Corporation in Canton, Maryland, with 40 years of service. He enjoyed his time spent as a member of the Yadkin County Senior Chorus, loved the outdoors, hunting and fishing. In addition to his parents, Sanford was preceded in death by his two sons, Monty and James; a granddaughter, Veronica Brown; three brothers, George, Claude and Jake; and two sisters, Martha Wooten and Mary Messick. Surviving are his wife, Pauline Brown; his children, Kenneth Brown, Linda Holthaus, Karen Bailey, Darrel Brown and Kathy Herfel; 12 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; a brother, Ed; sister, Daisy Salmons; and several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. His funeral service was held November 21 at Branon Friends Meeting by Pastor Joe Reece. Memorials may be made to Branon Friends Meeting or to the Yadkin Senior Chorus, c/o Yadkin Senior Center.

COOPER Wilmer A. Cooper, 88, November 5, 2008, West Richmond Friends, Indiana. Wil was born April 20, 1920, near Columbiana, Ohio, to Walter and Anna Blackburn Cooper. He was preceded in death by his three older siblings, Sara Cooper Stratton, James Cooper and Thomas Cooper. Wil was married to Emily Haines Cooper in December 1946. They enjoyed 58 years of marriage together until Emily’s passing on August 21, 2005. As a birthright Friend, Wil dedicated his life to working with Quaker institutions and causes. He was educated at Olney Friends School and Wilmington College in Ohio. He received graduate degrees from Haverford College, Yale Divinity School and Vanderbilt University. During WWII he did alternative Civilian Public Service with the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC). In the 1950s he was the administrative secretary of the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) in Washington, DC. Wil joined the Earlham College faculty in 1959 and was the founding dean of the Earlham School of Religion (ESR) in 1960. At his retirement in 1985, Wil was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Earlham College. After retirement he continued teaching part time and writing on Quaker subjects, publishing several books. Wil was the Friends United Meeting representative to the World Council of Churches in Geneva, Switzerland, 1968-75, and served a seven-year term on the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council. He served on the boards of two Quaker colleges, Friends University in Kansas and his alma mater, Wilmington College in Ohio. The latter awarded him a Doctor of Humane Letters, 1997. The next year, 1998, Yale Divinity School alumni honored Wil with an Award of Distinction in Theological Education. In April 2002 on behalf of Wilmington College, Wil was inducted into the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges’ Hall of Excellence for his work as founding dean of ESR. Wil was a member of West Richmond Friends Meeting in Richmond, Indiana. He served as the presiding clerk of the meeting and was active on many committees over the years. In 1994 he and Emily moved to Friends Fellowship Community where they enjoyed the remainder of their retirement years. Wil is survived by three daughters, Suzanne Cooper, Cathy Papazian and Barbara Bartl, all of Massachusetts; one son, Scott Cooper of Florida; and seven grandchildren. A memorial service was held Saturday, December 6, 2008, at 1 p.m. at West Richmond Friends Meeting. Keith Esch, Wil’s close friend and longtime colleague at ESR, delivered the main eulogy. Memorial contributions may be made to the Earlham School of Religion or West Richmond Friends Meeting.

CRONK Elwood Francis Cronk, 89, December 31, 2008, Mount Holly Friends, New Jersey. Elwood was born in Ossining, New York, to Nathaniel and Frances Cronk, both deceased, as is his sister, Louise Cronk. Elwood graduated from Pleasantville High School in 1939, and continued his education at Packard Business College where he studied accounting. In December of 1940 he participated in an American Friends work camp in Cooperstown, New York. While there he played on the town’s baseball team. In 1942 he registered as a conscientious objector. He was later assigned to do “work of national importance” at the Petersham, Massachusetts, Civilian Public Service (CPS) camp. Several years later he went AWOL and started working in a hospital. He was picked up, went to court and was sentenced to one year in prison. During the years following his release he was active in the peace movement. He held a variety of jobs. In 1955 he accepted an appointment to work with high-school age Quakers for the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. During his 12 years of service he was also active in many activities of the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. During the summer of 1955 he met Joy Newby, of Des Moines, Iowa. In 1956 they were married during a Quaker ceremony at the Des Moines Friends Church. Two years later their son, Alan Richard Cronk, was born. He now lives in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, with his wife, Joti Sekhon, and their son, Imran. In 1967 Elwood became executive director of the Lower Bucks County Community Centers (LBCC), Inc., located at the William Penn Center in Fallsington, Pennsylvania. His primary service to this Bucks County United Way agency was as a community activist. In this capacity he immediately started working with the Puerto Rican community in Bristol borough. His first task was working at the community center on Lincoln Avenue. At the same time, with the assistance of Marguerita Battistine, he started a needs assessment. Out of this work came a bilingual preschool program. Elwood administered the Bucks County Bail Bond program. He assisted the Bucks County Mobile Home Owners in organizing themselves to combat the injustices that were present at the time. In 1995 Elwood and Joy became residents of Woolman Commons at Medford Leas Retirement Community in Medford, New Jersey. Shortly after his arrival he was appointed by the courts as a child-custody mediator in the Burlington County Court House. He received training to become a facilitator in the Alternatives to Violence Project. He was involved in this service for over four years in the Fort Dix Federal Corrections Prison as well as the New Jersey State Prison in Trenton.

CULLER Thermon E. Culler, 91, November 23, 2008, Oak Hill Friends, North Carolina. Thermon was born April 2, 1917, the only child of Harding Lewis and Ella Snow Culler. In 1922, his family moved to northern Randolph County where he remained as a resident of the area until his death. In 1947, he married Pearl Newton Culler who survives. Thermon, upon graduation from Trinity High School in 1936, was employed by Snow Lumber Company. In 1941, he joined U.S. Plywood Corp. where he remained for 40 years until his retirement in 1981. Drafted into the army in 1942, he was assigned to the Air Force as a member of the 305th Ferrying Squadron, eventually serving in Europe. He received an Air Force Commendation. Thermon was of the Quaker faith, joining Oak Hill Friends Meeting in 1948. Over the years, he served as a trustee and as a member of the stewardship and finance committees. He was a Mason, a member of the High Point Elks Lodge and also Woodmen of the World. For 10 years he represented the City of Archdale as a member of the Randleman Dam project. He lived to see it built of which he was justly proud. Funeral services were held November 26 at Oak Hill Friends Meeting with the Revs. Billy Britt and Scott Newton officiating. Memorials may be sent to Oak Hill Friends Meeting.

GARNER Lula M. Garner, 79, December 27, 2008, Back Creek Friends, North Carolina. Lula was born March 27, 1929, in Asheboro, the daughter of Albert Wesley and Blanche Trotter Garner. Lula was a native of Randolph County and a homemaker. In addition to her parents, Lula is preceded in death by her husbands, Roger D. Stockner and Carl F. Garner; sister, Peggy Rush; and brother, Edward Garner. Lula is survived by daughter, Marie S. Miller; son, Preston (Sherri) Stockner; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and three sisters, Dorothy McDowell, Alberta Threadgill and Helen Garner. The funeral service was held December 29 with the Rev. Jon Reece officiating. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Randolph or Back Creek Friends Meeting “Good Neighbor Fund.”

HEALD Wilfred Joseph Heald, 98, December 10, 2008, Plainfield Friends, Indiana. Born May 6, 1910, in Springville, Iowa, Wilfred was a son of the late Everett D. and Clara (Peacock) Heald. He married Doris Hardin on August 27, 1936, and she died June 10, 2000. Wilfred lived near Plainfield, Indiana, most of his life, but had recently resided at Forest Creek Commons in Indianapolis. Wilfred attended Sugar Grove Friends School and graduated from Olney Friends Boarding School. He was a lifelong farmer and mechanic. He worked as a troubleshooter mechanic for Greyhound Bus Corporation during WWII, farmed for a while, then worked as a trouble-shooter mechanic for PSI (Duke Energy) in Plainfield. After retirement he continued to repair lawnmowers, motorcycles, tractors and other mechanical things. Wilfred was a member of the Plainfield Masonic Lodge No. 653 for 63 years. He had a great sense of humor and enjoyed telling jokes and family stories, sharing fun tricks with anyone who would let him, helping and teaching others, making maple syrup, hulling and cracking walnuts with gadgets he developed, fishing, boating, waterskiing, riding motorcycles and driving go-carts on the slick track at Plainfield (through the age of 97). He was able to “pop wheelies” on his motorcycle until almost his mid-90s. Survivors include daughters and sons-in-law, Myrna and Donald Peacock, Karen and David Coon, Nita Bogart, Diana Hall, Eileen Heald and Evelyn and Dennis Danner; 15 grandchildren; 18 greatgrandchildren and 45 great-great-grandchildren; a brother-in-law, Thomas Hoover; and many nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death, in addition to his parents and wife, was a son, Alan Wilfred Heald; grandson, Jason Wilson; great-grandson, Kyle Schaefer; a sister, Mamie Hoover; and brothers, Raymond, Loren, Herman, Floyd and Morris Heald.

HOLT Louise Lowe Holt, 88, December 26, 2008, Corinth Friends, Virginia. Born in Southampton County on December 22, 1920, Louise was the daughter of the late Saint Luke and Mabel Drewry Lowe. She was the widow of her husband of 63 years, William Henry Holt, Jr. Louise was a loving and devoted wife, mother, sister and grandma, a great cook and homemaker and a volunteer with the “Pink Ladies” at Southampton Memorial Hospital. She was an avid gardener. She resided at Consulate Healthcare in Windsor for four years and nine months and during that time, despite her declining mental health, she was a much-loved bright spot for the residents and the staff. Louise is survived by her four daughters, Becky (Johnny) Duval, Toni (Albert) Farrenkopf, Brenda (Richard) Mathews and Donna (Doug) Chesson; three sisters, Inez Holt, Elise Asbell and Juanita Rousse; nine grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a brother, Haywood G. Lowe; and two sisters, Helen Warren and Sadie Turner. A funeral service was held December 29, 2008, by David Hobson.

HUTCHENS Nelson Roosevelt Hutchens, 72, November 23, 2008, Old Siloam Friends, North Carolina. Born on December 12, 1935, Nelson was the son of the late Early and Amy Logan Hutchens. He was a cabinet maker for Dixie Furniture in Lexington, North Carolina. He served in the army during the Korean conflict. He was a member of the VFW post 10346 in Yadkinville and was a past commander. Nelson volunteered at the VA hospital in Salisbury with over 750 hours serving his fellow veterans. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by three brothers and three sisters. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Kathleen Hayes Hutchens; two sons, Nelson Wayne (Margaret) Hutchens and Nelson Eugene Hutchens; four daughters, Kathy H. (James) Scarlette, Anita D. (Greg) Sanford, Becky H. Ridenhour and Vickie (Jody) Gammons; a brother, Wade (Roberta) Hutchens; three sisters, Freddie (Homer) Nichols, Ruby (Junior) Sharpe and Hazel Driver; 14 grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and two step-greatgrandchildren. The service to celebrate his life was held November 26 at Mackie-Sinclair Funeral Service with the Revs. Clyde Akers and Timothy Sink officiating. Burial followed in the Old Siloam Friends cemetery with full military honors accorded by VFW Post 10346 Honor Guard. Memorials are requested to the VFW Post 10346 Honor Guard of Yadkinville.

JOHNSON Freeda Margaret (Moore) Johnson, 72, November 8, 2008, Canton First Friends, Ohio. Freeda was born July 24, 1936, in Flushing, Ohio (Belmont County), to Hugh and Frances (Gregg) Moore. She was the youngest child with two brothers and five sisters. For over 50 years she resided in Peninsula, Ohio, where she practiced and filled the description of the Proverbs 30:10-31 “wife of noble character” to her husband, Harry Dean Johnson. Freeda learned, practiced and taught others the art of loving and caring for family, neighbor and the needy stranger, feeding the homeless at City Mission in Cleveland or wherever the needy crossed her path. She taught Sunday school, Bible school and youth groups, led a Bible study in her home and ministered to prisoners at the Dan St. Detention facility. For over 32 years she assisted her husband in the direction of Friends Disaster Service, a relief group of the Friends Church who respond with help to victims of natural disaster, both nationally and out of the country. She personally oversaw the feeding of the disaster response volunteers where an often heard quote from her was, “I don’t want anyone to go home and say they didn’t get enough to eat or it didn’t taste good.” Learning Spanish at an older age enabled Dean and Freeda to serve and live in Mexico City, where some close relationships were built with residents as well as presenting opportunities for interactions with Hispanics locally. Kind treatment and expressions of love to Chinese (Taiwanese) nationals, a product of Friends missions in Taiwan, resulted in Dean and Freeda being guests of Taiwanese Friends in Taiwan and living in their homes for six weeks. Always submitting to and answering affirmatively to the call of God resulted in their having a rich, full and blessed of God ministry that touched the lives of many people. Freeda was the deeply loved wife of Harry Dean Johnson; mother of Rebecca (Don) Barker, Rodney (Ditzer) Johnson, Ruth (Brent) Huxtable and Steve (Sandy) Johnson; grandmother to 11; and great-grandmother to one. A celebration of Freeda’s life was held at Canton First Friends Church on November 14.

JONES Wendy Olinda Whicher Jones, 41, November 17, 2008, Fancy Gap Friends, North Carolina. Wendy was born November 4, 1967, to Christine Palluotto Spence and Neal Whicher. She was employed with Pike Electric Inc. and served as recording clerk and an elder at Fancy Gap Friends Fellowship. Surviving are a son, Cody Jones; her mother and stepfather, Christine and Rome Spence; her father, Neal Whicher; and two brothers, Brian (Bonnie) Whicher and Dennis Whicher. A memorial service was held November 21 at Mount Airy Friends Church with the Rev. Tony Lowe officiating. Memorial contributions can be made to Fancy Gap Friends Meeting.

MARLEY Virginia Marley, 85, November 27, 2008, Centre Friends, North Carolina. Virginia was born September 2, 1923. Sixty-five years ago she married Cafer Marley who survives. Cafer is a recorded minister of North Carolina Yearly Meeting. Virginia and Cafer served pastorates at Woodland, Corinth, Somerton and Bethel meetings (Eastern Quarter); Statesville (Yadkin Valley); Farrs and Rafter’s Chapel meetings (East Tennessee, Wilmington Yearly Meeting); and Rocky River. Survivors include her husband; three daughters, Judy (Grant) Dawson, Elaine (Allen) Kerns and Lelia (Clint) Harrell; two grandchildren; and two sisters, Louise Gilmore and Thelma (Troy) Hoover. Graveside service and burial were held November 29, and a memorial service on November 30, at Centre Friends Meeting with Rusty Parsons officiating. Memorial donations are suggested to Quaker Lake Marley Trust, c/o North Carolina Yearly Meeting; Centre Friends Meeting or Centre Friends Building Fund; Palliative Care Unit at Moses Cone Memorial Hospital; or donor’s choice.

MILLER Mary H. Miller, 85, December 25, 2008, Back Creek Friends, North Carolina. Mary was born December 24, 1923, to Causey Jones Hill and Amelia Frances Overton Hill. She was a native of Randolph County and retired from B. B. Walker Shoe Company. In addition to her parents, Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Clayton Robert Miller; son, Richard Thomas Miller; sisters, Lula Russell and Bulan Barnes; and brothers, Eugene and Frank Hill. She is survived by her daughter, Ruby (Harold) Baxter; daughter-in-law, Marie Miller; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; a greatgreat- grandson; and a sister, Ada Mize. Funeral services were held December 28 with the Rev. Thurman Williams officiating.

PATTERSON Dallas “Bud” Gary Patterson, 64, December 7, 2008, East Bend Friends, North Carolina. Bud was born in Forsyth County on March 7, 1944, to Dallas Graham and Addie Lee Hunt Patterson. He was a member of East Bend Friends Meeting where he previously served on the House and Grounds and Cemetery committees and was instrumental in the building of the new fellowship hall. He served in the U.S. Army and was a member of Yadkin Masonic Lodge #162 A.F. & A.M. Bud lived his entire life in East Bend, but enjoyed traveling to Okeechobee, Florida, to visit his friends, Alan Lewis and family, and to attend the rodeos. He loved horses and was a talented bluegrass musician, playing the fiddle and guitar. He also loved playing with his grandchildren and was known for his sense of humor and practical jokes. Bud will be greatly missed by family and friends who will always remember his willingness to help and put others needs first. Bud was preceded in death by his parents and his wife of 26 years, Faye Patterson. Surviving are his daughters, Ginger (Greg) Owens and Sherry (Robert) Hunt; sons, Lin (Luz) Dixon and Allen Dixon; sisters, Margaret (Paul) Taylor and Doris Patterson; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Funeral services were held December 10 with the Rev. Randy Johnson officiating. Burial followed in the East Bend Friends Cemetery with military honors conducted by VFW Post 10346 and Masonic ceremony by Yadkin Masonic Lodge #162. Memorials may be made to East Bend Friends Meeting Building Fund.

ROBERTSON Hazel Leigh Yarborough Robertson, 91, December 25, 2008, Springfield Friends, North Carolina. Hazel was born October 30, 1917, in Guilford County, a daughter to Robert Edward Hill Yarborough and Virginia Leigh Byerly Yarborough. Hazel was married to Thomas Theodore Robertson, who preceded her in death on July 3, 2007. Surviving are a son, the Rev. Hadley (Sylvia) Robertson; daughter, Elda (William) Newsome; six grandchildren; brother, Dwight Yarborough; sister, Martha Snyder; five step-grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held December 28 with the Rev. Joseph Neal and her son, the Rev. Hadley Robertson, officiating. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Randolph

RUSSELL Carol Sue Russell, 73, November 22, 2008, Wabash Friends, Indiana. Carol was born August 30, 1935, to Charles and Veva Chamness Russell and was the sixth generation of the pioneer Russell family who located to the Hopewell community, Lagro Township, Wabash County, in 1834. She recorded the Russell family history and heritage in book form, Peaceful Valley, in 1972. She was included in the 1979 Wabash College “List of Indiana Authors.” She recorded several other family histories and took particular interest in the life and historical writings of Wabash County author, Gene Stratton-Porter. She served on the editorial committee for the Wabash County History of 1976, and was a member of the Wabash County Genealogical and Historical societies. She served as secretary and treasurer of the Hopewell Cemetery board, graduated as valedictorian of the Urbana High School Class of 1953 and received the DAR “Good Citizenship” award. Carol retired in 1997 from M&S Industrial Metal Fabricators, Inc. after 10 years. She was married 30 years to Robert E. Hettmansperger and is survived by their children, Connie (Richard) King, Robert (Mary) Hettmansperger and Jay (Barbara) Hettmansperger; two sisters, Marie (John) Denniston and Alice (Benny) Reahard; a brother, C. David (Melody) Russell; seven grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter. She was preceded in death by her sister, Betty (Beecher) Blair. Funeral services were held November 25 with Pastor Bill White officiating. Memorials may be made to Wabash Friends Church Building Fund.

SMALLWOOD David Lee Smallwood, 65, November 21, 2008, Glenwood Friends, North Carolina. David was the son of the late Rev. Ralph E. Smallwood and Reva Holcomb Smallwood. David loved playing basketball, spending time with his family, playing his keyboard and vacationing in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. He was employed at Burlington Industries for 40 years and was recently employed at RF Micro Devices as a systems technician. David is survived by his wife of 37 years, Frances Evans Smallwood; four daughters, Shayna Smallwood, Tasha (J.R.) Brenenstuhl, Sherry (William) Teague and Tangi Smallwood; a son, Michael Smallwood; four grandchildren; his mother, Reva Smallwood; one sister, Judith (Gerald) Johnson; and one brother, Steven (Debbie) Smallwood. Funeral services were held November 24 at Glenwood Friends Meeting in Greensboro with the Revs. Tim Grant and Pat Corn officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to Glenwood Friends Meeting or to Smoky Mountain Cowboy Church in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

SMITH Keith Orear Lamont Smith, 92, January 2, 2009, First Friends Noblesville, Indiana. Keith was born June 27, 1916, in Hamilton County, Indiana, to Charles and Lois Reasoner Smith. Keith had worked as a supervisor at Diesel- Allison Division in Indianapolis, retiring in 1972. He was a graduate of Cicero High School. Keith served as a member of the Beech Grove Library Board and was an avid golfer. He is survived by three sisters, Rosemary (LaVern) Nicholson, Nancy Shell and Charlotte (Jim) Smith; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; spouses, Frances Saunders and Gladys Mac; and three sisters, Peggy Hubanks, Wanda Smith and Shirley Ann Smith. Graveside services were held January 6 with Pastor Bill Medlin officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to First Friends Noblesville.

WILLARD Billy Ray Willard, 67, November 15, 2008, Pilot View Friends, North Carolina. Billy was born February 2, 1941, to the late John Wesley and Gladys Driver Willard. He served his country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and was a retired truck driver. Surviving are two sons, Erik and Jerry Ray; five grandchildren; a sister, Mozelle Pinnix; brother, Brady (Jerlene); and life-long friends, Larry and Peggy Hennings. His funeral was conducted November 18 at Pilot View Friends Church by the Rev. Nelson Puffenbarger and Brother Lawrence Warden. Burial followed in the church cemetery with full military honors by the VFW Post 10346.