Obituaries

Tilley

Wilma Rose Schlensker Tilley, 90, of Westfield, NC passed away at home Sunday, June 4, 2023. She was born June 27, 1932, in Milltown, IN to the late Edward John Schlensker and Bertha Agnes Hoffman.
Wilma grew up on her family farm in Indiana with her trusty mules Jack and Jim. After finishing high school in 1950, she moved into town and worked as a bookkeeper for 10 years at a mortgage company in Louisville, Kentucky. She met her husband Cab in Milltown where they married in 1958, and they eventually moved to Oak Ridge, North Carolina. There, Wilma took time to raise her children before returning to work as a bookkeeper, serving Gardner Plumbing, Frisco Pickup and Delivery, and Greensboro Electric over the years. She was also an active member of the community, serving as volunteer treasurer for the Oak Ridge Horseshow for 20 years and treasurer for the local PTA.
Wilma was a devout Catholic and loved her church community where she was a charter member of Holy Cross Catholic Church and part of the Columbiettes and senior group. She was famous for her deviled eggs, and she never left mass without her friends finding her and demanding a hug.
Wilma was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd Cabol Tilley; brothers, John Edward Schlensker, and Elmer Martin Schlensker; and grandson, Tyler Tilley. She is survived by her younger sister, Kathryn Marie; her children, John Reid Tilley (Trang), Kenneth Paul Tilley, Susan Rose Tilley Byers (Ed), and David Rogers Tilley (Catherine); and grandchildren, Devin, Zachary, Isabella, and Madeleine Tilley and Elizabeth and Edward Byers (fiancé Lauren Hunley). She is also survived by her beloved sister-in-law, June Tilley; dear friends, Elizabeth Thomas, and Ellen Mulligan; and a multitude of cousins, nieces, nephews, and close friends.
The family wishes to thank Shena, Sharon, Ashley, Annette, and Ana for their generous, loving, compassionate care of Wilma. A special thank you is due Lynn Byers, as she was especially kind and became Wilma’s close friend and caregiver in her last months of life. Thank you also to Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care for their help and support.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held to celebrate Wilma’s life at 11 a.m. Monday, June 12, 2023, at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 616 S. Cherry St. Kernersville, NC 27284. Father Noah Carter will officiate. The family will greet friends from 10 – 11 a.m. prior to mass at the church and a reception will follow immediately after the service. A register book will also be available for friends and loved ones to sign on Monday, June 12, 2023. Interment will be held at 3 p.m. at the Westfield Baptist Church Cemetery, Westfield, NC.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Holy Cross Catholic Church or directly to the 50th anniversary picnic pavilion fundraiser. Pierce-Jefferson is serving the Tilley Family. Online condolences may be made at www.piercejeffersonfh.com

Wheeler

Ralph Wheeler, age 97, passed away on June 7, 2023.
Ralph was born January 1, 1926, in Hampshire, England to the late Albert Wheeler and Evelyn Oliver Wheeler. He came to the United States at age 24 and later became a U.S. citizen. Ralph worked in commercial construction and was a member of the Carpenter Union from age 18 until his retirement at age 62. In England, he worked on ocean liners including The Queen Elizabeth operated by the CUNARD Line.
He married Onalena Duiguido in 1960. She passed away at age 37. In 1974, Ralph married Ruth Lloyd who passed away in 2010.
Ralph made his choice to serve God at the age of 16 and his faith in God continued throughout his life.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his former wives, Onalena and Ruth; brother, Roy; sister Joan Clive; and step-granddaughter, Mackenzie Lewerke. Ralph is survived by his wife, Betty; niece, Bonnie Temple; his step-children, Ray (Karen) Lloyd, Ed (Linda) Lloyd, Lori (Mike) Nelson, Lisa Lewerke, Linda (Scott) Singleton. Step-grandchildren, Shannon (Tama) Lloyd, Jeremy (Holly) Lloyd, Robin (Eric) Weber, John Lloyd, Gretta Lloyd, Holly and Paige Nelson, and Sydney and Justin Singleton; and step-great grandchildren, Vincent, Lena, Tadeo and David.
Funeral services celebrating his life will be held at 11:00AM Saturday, June 10, 2023, at the Pierce-Jefferson Funeral Services Kernersville Chapel. Interment will follow at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens, Winston-Salem, NC. The family will greet friends from 10:00AM to 11:00AM Saturday prior to the service at the funeral home.
Friends and family may offer online condolences at www.piercejeffersonfh.com

Vaughan

JAMESTOWN, NC – Mrs. Ann Louise (Shauger) Vaughan was born on March 17th, 1940 to Guy Arthur Shauger and Edna Anna Louise Shauger, née Hinrichs, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She went with the Lord on June 4th, 2023. She is preceded in death by her husband of fifty-nine years, Walter Douglas Vaughan.
She is survived by her siblings: Sharon (Shauger) Sanders, John Shauger, and Diana Shauger. She is also survived by her children and their spouses: Walter Vaughan and wife Amy, Steven Vaughan and wife Kimberley, Jennifer (Vaughan) Gardner, and husband Casey, and Mark Vaughan and wife Amber. She has ten grandchildren and six great grandchildren, one of which is on the way.
In her younger years, she enjoyed playing softball and bowling. An avid reader, she could scan the pages of a book in seconds and still understand everything. She spent many years serving the public before retiring from the USS Liberty Memorial Public Library in Grafton, Wisconsin.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, June 8, 2023 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at the JC Green & Sons funeral home in Thomasville. A funeral service will be held on Friday, June 9, 2023 at 2:00 PM at JC Green & Sons Chapel in Thomasville with burial to follow the service at Mount Gur Cemetery in Kernersville. Memorials may be sent to aspca.org in memory of Ann. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.jcgreenandsons.com

Dull

Karen Lea Idol Dull, 69, of Kernersville, NC, passed away peacefully Sunday, June 4, 2023.
A native of High Point, NC, Karen was the wife of the late Michael Wayne Dull and the daughter of Weldon Lewis Idol and Peggy Winebarger Idol, both deceased. She was a very strong-willed individual that believed in hard work and doing for others. Karen was a lover of everything outdoors, and her dogs. Her greatest love was for her family and her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Survivors include her son, Justin Dull and wife, Tara; two grandsons, Tucker Dull and Noah Dull; one sister, Sandra Portaro; two brothers, Dick Idol and wife, Toni, and Weldon Clay Idol; one niece, Alex Portaro; and four nephews, Cody Idol, Colt Idol, Harrison Idol, and Cooper Idol.
In addition to her husband and parents, Karen was preceded in death by her infant grandson, Caleb Ryan Dull, and her infant sister, Kimberly Idol.
A memorial service celebrating her life will be held at 5:00PM Friday, June 9, 2023, at the Pierce-Jefferson Funeral Services Kernersville Chapel. The family will greet friends immediately following the service at the funeral home.
Friends and family may offer online condolences at www.piercejeffersonfh.com
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 www.stjude.org or to Pancreatic Cancer Research at 1500 Rosecrans Ave., Suite 200, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 www.pancan.org

Lennon

Billy Lennon was surrounded by his loved ones when he went peacefully to the arms of our Lord and Savior on June 2, 2023. He was preceded by his parents Oscar W. Lennon and Frankie B. Lennon, also a brother George Lennon and sister Rosalie Clewis. Left to honor and cherish his sweet memory are his beloved wife of 63 years Ila Mae S. Lennon, son Jeff Lennon, daughter Belinda Lennon Jones, grandchildren Zachary Jones, Amber Lennon Gainey (Zander), sisters Hilda Bass and Joyce Holsinger (Melvin).
Billy found the Lord and never let him go all the way up to his last day with us. We know he was wrapped in the arms of the Lord as Billy was a faithful servant during his life. He touched many lives young and old through his lifetime of ministry. He was a deacon in the church, youth teach-er, usher, assisted in Building and Grounds, and worked with Meals On Wheels. He always wanted to give more to his church and community through the years. He could always be count-ed on to help his fellow neighbor.
Billy grew up in Bladenboro, North Carolina. After graduation and his time in the service the Vet-eran made his way to Winston-Salem, NC looking for a job to support his family. After sampling a few jobs, he found his career with R.J. Reynolds and retired after 35 great years of employ-ment. During those years and after retirement Billy enjoyed fishing, gardening, family, farming, and even had time to tinker and work on his classic 57 Chevy.
Billy was a humble, gentle, loving, and a God-fearing man who loved his wife, son, daughter, grandchildren, and family. He never met a stranger and was known to many as a faithful serv-ant, dependable employee, loyal friend, and an incredible guy. He was also known to some very special people in his life as a wonderful husband, amazing father, and sweet Papa. Billy put his all into everything he did, and the results showed his success in this life. His family is what made him the proudest.
Billy will be missed at our table, his farm, the pew at his church, the fishing pond, and behind the wheel of his 57 Chevy. When a prayer is said he will be in our hearts, when a wonderful meal is made by his beloved Ila Mae he will be thought of, when the fish are biting, we will catch one for him, and when the engine roars in his 57 Chevy we will take it for a spin and miss him. He was our everything and will be truly missed by those who loved him most and who will continue to carry his mission of faith and service through our lives.
A graveside service will be held 11:00 AM Wednesday, June 7, 2023, at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens with Rev. Francis Smith officiating. The family will receive friends 5:00 – 7:00 PM Tuesday evening, June 6, 2023, at Hayworth-Miller Kernersville Chapel. The family would like to give our sincerest appreciation and gratitude to Mountain Valley Hospice for your tenderness and care of our sweet Billy. Memorials may be made to Joan & Howard Woltz Hospice Home 945 Zephyr Rd. Dobson, NC 27017. Online condolences may be made to www.hayworth-miller.com.

Puckett

PUCKETT KING Charles Curtis Puckett, 81, of King, NC passed away suddenly on Thursday, June 1, 2023, at Forsyth Medical Center. Charles was born on March 28, 1942, in Moore County to the late Ephraim and Effie Hicks Puckett of Mount Airy, NC. He grew up in Mount Airy and later moved to Walkertown, NC. Charles was employed at A & S Tool and Dye in Kernersville as a machinist and retired after 40 years. He married Patricia Montgomery and they raised 4 children during their marriage. Pat predeceased him and he married Sharon Cline in 2002. He loved being outside, gardening, and watching birds. Charles was an avid NASCAR fan. In addition to his parents, Charles was preceded in death by his loving wife, Patricia Puckett; devoted son, Randall Childress; a granddaughter, Amber Wilson; 2 brothers, Joe Puckett and James Puckett; and a sister, Peggy Beeson. He is survived by his loving wife of 21 years, Sharon Cline Puckett; daughters, Nancy Williard, Ann Slater (Robert), Charles Lorraine Kearns (Buddy), and Heather Sechrist; grandchildren, Ashely Billings (James), Josh Williard, Tyler Slater (Erica), Noah Sechrist, Jonah Sechrist, Micah Sechrist, Christian Childress and Christopher Childress; 9 precious great grandchildren and sisters, Linda Cook and Doris Wilson (David); and several nieces and nephews. There will be a 2:00 pm graveside service held on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at Gardens of Memory Mausoleum with Pastor Kim Harris officiating. The family will receive friends on following the graveside service. Memorials may be made to The American Heart Association: PO Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692. Online condolences may be made at www.burroughsfuneralhome.com. Burroughs Funeral Home, Walnut Cove is honored to be serving the Puckett family.

Moore

Ethan Joseph Moore, 16, of Kernersville, NC, passed away from this world on May 28th, 2023, at 9:18 am surrounded by his loving family. He was born on September 18, 2006, in Rockingham County. He was the son of David & Donna Moore and brother to Hensley Moore.
Ethan was raised on love, laughter, and freedom to express himself through his love of all things musical. Ethan could be found practicing on his guitars and drums daily. He published several albums and many songs and enjoyed playing live sets with his friends. Ethan was a great big brother to his sister, Hensley, always willing to take her places and hang out with her. He and his father loved building guitars, wood working, and garden projects together.
He is the joy of his mother’s heart and making her laugh through his extraordinary wit that brought joy and laughter to all. To say that he had a brilliant mind would be an understatement. Aside from being a self-taught musician, he is ranked #6 in his class at East Forsyth High School. His family and friends will cherish the memory of his unique soul. He will truly be missed forever but will always live on in our hearts, thoughts, and his selfless giving of life to others through be-ing an organ donor.
The family will receive friends during a celebration of Ethan’s life on Sunday, June 4, 2023, from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm at Hayworth-Miller Kernersville Chapel. Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com.

Bednar

Colfax–Dr. Tamatha Michelle Brown Bednar, a beloved nurse practitioner, and palliative care specialist, passed away on May 3, 2023, at the age of 55. She was born in Winston-Salem, NC, to the late Homer and Hester Rhoda Keen Brown.
She leaves her loving husband and companion of 27 years, Robert Bednar, at home and her stepson Christopher (Toni) of Massachusetts. In addition, her sister-in-law Kim Tucci (David) of Tennessee; father-in-law Bob of Florida; two sisters, Lynn Rathbone and Donna Brown of western NC, and nieces and nephews.
Michelle’s passion for caring for animals and people led her to nursing. Michelle completed her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro as a Nurse Practitioner. She subsequently completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice at Vanderbilt University in 2012, including induction into the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. Michelle found her niche in working with advanced heart failure patients, including sub-investigator for heart failure research. Michelle’s unique way of communicating with patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families led her to transition to palliative medicine, where she could focus on quality end-of-life care and support for their families.
Michelle was also a passionate animal lover, starting as a veterinarian tech caring for all types of animals while completing high school at North Forsyth High School. She was especially fond of caring for cats and horses, though any critter would receive the same loving care. All of her pets, including horses and ponies, were “rescued.” Michelle volunteered at a local horse rescue organization, Horse Education and Rescue Organization. She was a lifetime member advocating and caring for abused, neglected, and abandoned equines.
Michelle never met a stranger, constantly engaging them with a smile, warm gestures, and gratitude. She will be missed by many but will forever remain in our hearts. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent in memory of to Horse Education and Rescue Organization, HERO, POB 11045, Winston-Salem, NC 27116.
Friends and family can offer online condolences at www.salemfh.com
A Celebration of Life is being planned for a later date.

Smith

Larry Allen Smith, 67, of Lexington, passed away Friday, May 26, 2023, at his home.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Mr. Smith was born September 19, 1955, in Silver Creek, New York, to Richard Norman Smith and Barbara Hebeisen Smith. Being a Vietnam Era Veteran, he proudly served his country in the United States Air Force for six years and the New York Army National Guard for three years. Larry was a member of the Gold Prospecting Miners Association and was also an avid outdoor shooter. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Surviving are his wife, Andrea Lee Lewis Smith of the home; three daughters, Melissa Smith (Tyler Premo) of Lexington, Lori McArthur (Christopher) of New York, Sara Smith (Kaleb Mason) of New York; one brother, Kerry Smith (Sandy) of Pennsylvania; one uncle, Tom Hebeisen of New York; eight grandchildren, Leah (Mike), Mariah (Josh), Hope, Felicia, Kyle, Amelia, Juniper, and Rory; and two great-grandchildren, Annalise and Archer.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Wounded Warrior Project P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516
Condolences may be made at www.davidsonfuneralhome.net

Gambrell

Forrest Vance Gambrell, 63, passed away on May 25, 2023. A native of Kernersville, North Carolina, he was the son of Kay (Smith) McEntire and the late John Carroll Gambrell.
He loved books, antiques, beautiful paintings and spending time with his close community of friends. Forrest was a very stylish and dapper man that was known for the many hats that he wore. He was a kind gentleman and a well-known figure of the town of Kernersville.
Forrest is survived by his loving mother, sister, Erin Kangiser and her husband Marty; nephews, Adam and Ryan Kangiser; stepsisters, Brenda Ferguson and her husband Allen, Rhonda Gullett and her husband Doug, and their families; and a host of well-loved cousins and friends.
A memorial service will be at 1:00 pm on Monday, May 29, 2023, at Sedge Garden United Methodist Church with Pastor Dan Hester, officiating. The family will receive friends after the service. Those desiring may make memorial contributions to Sedge Garden United Methodist Church. A livestream of the service may be viewed on the Facebook account of Erin Kangiser. Services are entrusted to Pierce -Jefferson Funeral and Cremation Service. 213 West Mountain Street, Kernersville, NC 27284.
Please share a memory with the family via the online Tribute Wall.

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