Obituaries

Howard Grindstaff

LITTLE SWITZERLAND, N.C.— Howard Grindstaff, 87, of Little Switzerland, NC, passed away Tuesday, January 19, 2021, at the CarePartners Solace Center, Asheville. A native of Little Switzerland, he was a son of the late Merve and Carrie McKinney Grindstaff.

Judith Isquierdo

SPRUCE PINE, N.C.— Judith Isquierdo, 74, of Spruce Pine, NC passed away on Thursday, January 21, 2021 at her home. She was the daughter of the late Dolphus and Flora Glisson Barbee. Judith was a homemaker. She loved singing in the church, and she loved her cat, Cinnamon.

Gary Hoyle

SPRUCE PINE, N.C.— Gary Hoyle, age 67 of Deer Park Apartments of Spruce Pine went home to be with the Lord on December 28, 2020.  He was proceeded in death by his mother, Irene Buchanan and sisters Karen Ledford and Kim Hoyle of Spruce Pine.

Ernest Cain

BURNSVILLE, N.C.— Ernest Cain, age 70, of Pensacola Road in Burnsville, went to be with the Lord on Monday, Dec. 14, 2020 at Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine.  Born on June 3, 1950 in Olympia, WA, he was the son of the late Walter and Mary Newberry Cain.

Tom Calloway

GREENWOOD, S.C.—   Tom Calloway, 90, of Cabin Road in Greenwood, widower of Bernice Hefner Calloway, passed away Thursday, January 7, 2021 at his home.    Born in Avery County, NC, he was a son of the late Gip Otis Calloway and Jo Rhyne Calloway.

Vick Whitson

HARRELL HILL, N.C.—Vick Whitson, age 64, of the Harrell Hill community, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, December 17th, at Missions Memorial Hospital. He was the son of Parzady McKinney Whitson and the late O C Whitson. He was preceded in death by a brother, Vincen Whitson.

Jean Nydegger

BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C.— Jean Nydegger died peacefully in her home at Highland Farms in Black Mountain, NC on December 8, 2020 at the age of 89. Jean was born on September 30, 1931 in Orlando, FL to Lester and Amy Nydegger.

Thomas Norman

BAKERSVILLE, N.C.— Thomas William Norman, age 69, of Bakersville passed away on Sunday, November 29, 2020.  Tommy was the son of the late Jesse Howard Norman and Madeline Wilson Norman.  He is survived by his sister, Peggy and husband.

Kenneth Troy Hoilman

HICKORY, N.C.— Kenneth Troy Hoilman, 71 of Hickory, N.C. passed away Monday December 7, 2020 at Catawba Valley Medical Center.  He was born March 4, 1949 in Mitchell County, N.C. a son of the late Wade Henry Hoilman and Estelle White Hoilman.

John “David” Grindstaff

SPRUCE PINE, N.C.— John “David” Grindstaff, age 80, of Spruce Pine, North Carolina, passed away on Saturday, December 5th, 2020 at AdventHealth Hendersonville, North Carolina.