All Obituaries

      Melba Lee Creasman (Sammons), 65, of Swannanoa, NC, passed away on Sunday, October 14th, 2018 at her home. She was born on July 12, 1953 in Richmond County, GA to the late Alfred Lee Sammons Jr. and Mildred Ann Pruitt Sammons. Melba was a homemaker for her family. Along with her parents, she was predeceased by her sister, Patricia Worley and her grandson, Jake Stewart. Melba is survived by her husband, Virgil Dennis Creasman; her daughter, Laura Stewart; her...

      Jo Bales Gallagher, 91 of Black Mountain, passed away Thursday, October 4, 2018.  She was born in Morristown, TN to William White Bales and Jennie Susong Bales.  Jo earned her BA degree from Mary Baldwin College in 1948 and her music degree from East Tennessee State College.  She received the Service to Church Award from Mary Baldwin College in 2004.       She grew up in Morristown, TN, eventually inheriting the family Chucky Bend Farm...

      Iva Jean Trantham (Styles), 79, of Leicester, NC, passed away on Sunday, September 30, 2018 at Mission Hospital. She was born on September 2, 1939 in Yancey County to the late Kenneth Styles and Annie Mae Doan Styles. Iva worked as a domestic engineer. She was of the Baptist Faith. Iva was widowed by her husband, Billy Ray Trantham who passed in December of 2001. Along with her parents and husband, she was also predeceased by her brothers, Raymond and Ronnie Styles; and...

      Floyd D. Wright (Col., U.S. Army, Ret.), 95, a resident of Bonita Springs, FL since 1976, passed away on Thursday, September 28, 2018. A native of Asheville, NC, he was the son of the late Erskine E. Wright and Sallie V. Pressley-Wright-Sharp-Campbell of Buncombe County, NC. Floyd is survived by his wife, Sonja; four children, Don, Bob, Glenn, Susan; eleven grandchildren; and eleven great grandchildren.        Burial will take place at Cane Creek...

      Samuel Christopher Zurich, 95, passed away Monday, September 24, 2018 at Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community in Asheville, NC. He was formerly a resident of Weaverville, NC; Westport, CT; and Massapequa Park, NY. Sam was widowed in 1997 by his wife of 50 years, Eileen Kemmler Zurich, and is survived by his younger brother George Zurich, his children Kathleen (Kate), John, Linda and Thomas Zurich, and his grandchildren Christopher Zurich, Michael and Luke Stillson,...

     Tina Louise Russell Lasitter, age 43, passed away on Thursday, September 20, 2018 at Mission Hospital. She was born November 1, 1974 in Charleston, SC to Sonja Sherrell Simmons Russell of Graceville, FL and the late Coolidge Glenwood Russell. Tina was a stay at home wife and mother to her husband and four daughters.      Tina is survived by her husband, Jason Lasitter, her four daughters, Lizebeth Sherrell Ann Lasitter, Sophia Jenelle Lasitter,...

     L. Allen Tarbell of Black Mountain, North Carolina, died on Sept. 17, 2018, after a short period of declining health.  He was born in Burlington, Vermont, on August 21, 1922, to Luther and Ida (Clement) Tarbell.  Allen grew up in Battle Creek, Michigan, and started drawing even before he entered grade school.  As he recalled it, his parents, craving a bit of time to themselves, told him to, "Be quiet!  Here's a paper and...

      Betty Jean Hendrix, 77, of Asheville, NC, passed away on Sunday, September 16, 2018 at the JFK Solace Center. She was born on February 24, 1941 in Buncombe County to the late Clyde E. Hipps and Edith Mae Moss Hipps. Betty worked as a caregiver at Summerlin Homes for 20 years and was of the Pentecostal faith. She was predeceased by sons, Tommy and Rex Gunn; daughter, Rebecca A. Gunn; and husband, J.W. Hendrix. Betty is survived by daughters, Mary Elizabeth Gunn, Amy...

      David Edgar Troutman, 73, of Burnsville, NC, passed away on Friday, September 14, 2018 at the VA Hospital in Asheville. He was born on August 15, 1945 in Mitchell County, NC to the late Claude Troutman and Dovie Mae Ledford Troutman. David was a United States Army Veteran, worked in sales and real estate and was a member of The Church of God. He leaves behind his wife of 45 years, Annette Watts Troutman.      A memorial service will be held at a...

      Clark Allan Rosenberger, 87, of Asheville, passed away on Wednesday, September 12, 2018 at Deerfield Health Care Center in Asheville. He was born on May 2, 1931 in Emmett County, Iowa to the late August Benton and Olive Octavia Olson Rosenberger. Clark was a retired LTC with the United States Air Force, serving during the Korean War. He also worked as an engineer for Carolina Power and Light Company and was a member of Biltmore Baptist Church. Clark was widowed by his...