Obituary Information

The Sylva Herald prints obituaries free of charge as a service to readers.

When possible, obituaries should be sent to the Herald from the funeral home. Information received will be placed in our standard obituary format.

We publish names of the deceased's spouse, parents, grandparents, siblings and children; we also include the number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

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Obituaries - 01/31/02

Robert Balliot

Robert L. Balliot, 70, of Cullowhee, died Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2002, at Duke University Hospital in Durham.

A memorial service was held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sylva. Father James Cahill officiated.

A native of Douglas, Ariz., he was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. He received a bachelor's degree in English from Washington State University in 1957 and a master's degree in library science from the University of Michigan in 1959. He was undergraduate librarian at the University of Illinois (1965-67), librarian of State University College in Freedonia, N.Y. (1963-65), head of education-psychology library at University of Iowa (1962-63) and engineering librarian at Oregon State University (1959-61).

He was active in New England library associations and served as visiting instructor at George Peabody College in Nashville, Tenn., and Southern Connecticut College in New Haven. As science librarian at Weslyan University in Connecticut, he was director of a federally-funded program to establish a cooperative system for the acquisition and use of library materials by seven New England liberal arts colleges (Amherst, Bowdoin, Dartmouth, Smith, Trinity and Williams, in addition to Weslyan.)

He was director of library at Western Carolina University from June 1970 to July 1976. During his tenure he helped build Hunter into a university library, oversaw facility improvements and laid groundwork for the application of computers and technology to the work of libraries, after which the library staff catalogued its first book online, establishing Friends of the Library organization. He served as director of library at the University of Pittsburgh in Bradford, Pa., where he retired in 1995 after a 35-year career in library service.

He was a member of the American Library Association, American Association of University Professors and Southeastern Library Association. He was the son of the late Bill and Mildred Ross Balliot.

Surviving are two sons, Robert L. Balliot of Bristol, R.I., and Richard D. Balliot of Sylva; one daughter, Michele S. Ramos of Bristol, R.I.; two sisters, Elizabeth Balliot of Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, and Alyson Ross of Alhambra, Calif.; and five grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the Bob Balliot Memorial Book Fund at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, 300 Campus Drive, Bradford, Pa. 16701. Checks are to be made payable to Bradford Educational Foundation. Memorials may also be made to Jackson County Animal Rescue Fund.

Moody Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements. An online memorial and guest registry is available at www.pemoody.com.

Carl Brooks

Carl Brooks, 78, of Blue Ridge Health Care in Blue Ridge, Ga., died Friday, Jan. 18, 2002, in Fannin Regional Hospital following an extended illness.

Funeral services were held Sunday, Jan. 20, at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Akins Funeral Home in Blue Ridge, Ga. The Rev. Phillip Thomas officiated.

A native of Sylva, he was the son of Thad and Sarah Cunningham Brooks. He was a retired sawmill worker and of the Baptist faith. He was a World War II veteran, serving in the U.S. Army.

Surviving are his wife, Myrtle Brooks of Blue Ridge, Ga.; two sons, Sam Brooks and Bobby Brooks, both of Blue Ridge, Ga.; four daughters, Clara Brooks, Jo Anne Brooks and Peggy Postell, all of Blue Ridge, Ga., and Betty Ware of Mineral Bluff, Ga.; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Hubert Bumgarner

Hubert Bumgarner, 78, of Weeping Willow Lane, Whittier, died unexpectedly Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2002.

Graveside services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, at Bumgarner Cemetery. The Rev. Frank Brooks officiated.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, he was a son of the late John and Cora Nations Bumgarner.

He retired from Drexel, was an avid cattleman and farmer and a U.S Navy veteran of World War II.

He was preceded in death by four brothers and one sister.

Surviving are his wife of 52 years, Larry Jane Nations Bumgarner; one daughter, Debra Bumgarner of Whittier; two sons, Michael Bumgarner and Tommy Bumgarner, both of Whittier; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Bill Wheeler

William A. "Bill" Wheeler, 58, of Waynesville, died Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2002, at Harris Regional Hospital.

A gathering of friends and family was held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24, at Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville. A private interment was held at Bon-A-Venture Cemetery in Clyde.

A native of Haywood County, he was a son of the late William Raymon and Pauline Allen Wheeler. He was a teacher in the Jackson County school system and had served in law enforcement in various police departments. He was a Boy Scout leader for many years in Haywood County and graduated from Western Carolina University.

Surviving are two sons, Samuel Raymon Wheeler and William Earle Wheeler of Raleigh; one sister, Linda Whitlock of Trenton, Tenn.; and one brother, Charles Wheeler of Canton.

Memorials may be made to Haywood County Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 931, Waynesville, N.C. 28786.

Wells Funeral Home in Waynesville was in charge of the arrangements. An online memorial register is available at "Obituaries" at www.wells funeralhome.com.

Ida Wolfe

Ida Lee Wolfe, 66, of Cherokee's Big Cove community, died Friday, Jan. 25, 2002, in Cherokee Hospital after a period of declining health.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27, at her residence. The Revs. Ben Tapp and James "Bo" Parris officiated. Burial was in Wolfe Family Cemetery.

A member of the Big Cove Pentecostal Holiness Church, she was a daughter of the late Lloyd Runningwolfe and Elizabeth Watty.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James T. "Lobo" Wolfe.

Surviving are four sons, James, Charles, Edwin and Donald Wolfe, all of Cherokee; one daughter, Elaine Austin of Cherokee; one sister, Rosie Hornbuckle; one brother, Johnson Sequoyah; 11 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Moody Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. An online memorial and guest registry is available at www.pemoody.com.

Eleanor Williamson

Eleanor H. Williamson, 79, of Spring Hill, Fla., formerly of Baltimore, died Friday, Jan. 25, 2002.

A memorial service will be held at a later date in Sylva.

She was a math/science department head and a teacher in the Baltimore County Public Schools. She was preceded in death by her husband, John A. Williamson.

Surviving are one son, Ellis S. Nolley III of St Paul, Minn.; one daughter, Susan J. Anspacher of Sylva; two brothers, Charles A. Hood of Spring Hill, Fla., and Howard J. Hood of Baltimore; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Bonnie Dillard

Bonnie Parrish Dillard, 87, of Sylva, died Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2002, in a Swain County health care facility after a period of declining health. Moody Funeral Home will announce arrangements.