August 2005

Fred C. Gilbert, Jr August, 28, 2005

Fred C. Gilbert, Jr., of Saluda, NC, died Sunday, August, 28, 2005 at the St. Luke’s Hospital.
Mr. Gilbert was born in Newberry, a son of the late Fred C. and Vivian McNeill Gilbert. He was the retired owner and manager of Gilbert Orchids in Saluda.
Mr. Gilbert was a US Army veteran of the Korean War, where he served as a Tank Commander while stationed in Germany. He was a member of Saluda Methodist Church, the Western North Carolina Apple Growers Co-operative, and the North Carolina Apple Growers Association.
Mr. Gilbert is survived by his wife, Narvice Cousins Gilbert of the home; a daughter and son-in-law, Cassie G. and Tim Conner of East Flat Rock, NC; two sons, Wendell F. Gilbert and Randall C. Gilbert both of Saluda, NC; and two granddaughters, Megan C. Davis and Heather A. Conner both of East Flat Rock, NC. He was predeceased by his sister, Rebecca Turner.
Graveside funeral services were conducted at 3:00 PM Wednesday in Rosemont Cemetery in Newberry, SC by the Rev. Virgil Hull.
Visitation was from 1:00 to 2:00 PM Wednesday at the Whitaker Funeral Home.
Active pallbearers were Wendell Gilbert, Randall Gilbert, Ronnie Gilbert, Bill Hawkins, Alan Gilbert, Mark Turner, Edward Turner, James Turner, and Michael Turner.
Messages to the family may be sent via email at notes@whitakerfuneralhome.com.
Whitaker Funeral Home, Newberry, is assisting the family.

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Grace Betts Spinks August 25, 2005

Grace Betts Spinks, 86, died Thursday, August 25, 2005 at the J.F. Hawkins Nursing Home.
Mrs. Spinks was born and educated in Shelford Cambridgeshire, England. She served in the English Royal Air Force during WW II where she met and married her late husband, Andrew D. Spinks. He was an American GI serving in England during the war.
Mrs. Spinks lived for many years in Prosperity, SC near Lake Murray. She was a faithful member of Macedonia Lutheran Church in Prosperity and was also a member of the Macedonia Goldies Group.
Mrs. Spinks is survived by three sisters, Nora Allen of Shreveport, LA, Thea Potter of England, and Joan Roberts of Prosperity; a niece Suzanne Chinn, and a number of nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a brother, Henry Bartlett Betts and two sisters, Elizabeth Smith and Mabel Rayner.
Funeral services were conducted at 11:00 AM Wednesday at Macedonia Lutheran Church by the Rev. Randy Derrick with interment in the church cemetery.
Messages to the family may be sent via email at notes@whitakerfuneralhome.com
Whitaker Funeral Home, Newberry is assisting the family.

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William Beale Moore August 8, 2005

William Beale Moore, reknowned pianist and professor emeritus of music at the University of Regina, died August 8 in his home, 39 LaVerendrye Way, Regina, Saskatchewan. He was 62. Mr. Moore was born in Newberry, SC, in 1942, the son of the late Dr. Milton Moore, chairman of the music department at Newberry College and the late Evelyn Cromer Moore, grand-daughter of Dr. George Cromer, former president of the college.
While at Newberry High School, Mr. Moore was recognized as Musician of the Year for South Carolina. His first piano teacher, Darr Wise of Newberry College, inspired and guided him to two of the world's great piano teachers, Cecile Genhart at the Eastman School of Music and Mme. Rosina Lhevinne at the Juilliard School of Music. Mr. Moore received full scholarships to both schools.
Early in his piano career Mr. Moore toured university concert halls in the eastern United States. He joined the department of music at the University of Regina, Canada in 1968 and served as head of its bachelor of music program 1982-88. He appeared with the Regina Symphony, on TV and radio for the Canadian Broadcasting Company, and in many chamber recitals. He was an accomplished accompanist, performing with vocalists Irene Solemka, Lynn Channing and many others.
Among his compositions, his "Three Little Romances" were performed by Joseph Fennimore at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Frederick Harris Ltd. of Ontario published his work. He made several recordings, including "The Taste of Brass, " with brass player Ed Lewis, a colleague.
Reknowned as a master teacher, Mr. Moore's students have received national and international awards. Many received PhDs from Eastman, Juilliard, Indiana and other major universities and most perform widely. His devotion to his students is legendary, and his influence remains profound.
He was a past president of the Regina Musical Club and a former board member of the Teacher's Club. He served as adjudicator of major music festivals.
Mr. Moore acquired a significant art collection, including works by Jules Olitski, Larry Poons, and contemporary Canadian artists. The collection will be housed for a time in a memorial setting at the MacKenzie Art Gallery in Regina, and a concert honoring him is being planned.
Survivors include: two daughters, Margaret Holland Zeltner of Bedford, New Hampshire from his first marriage to Carol Zerkel of Wyoming, Pennsylvania and Annabel Holland Moore of Atlanta, Georgia from a second marriage to Lila Elizabeth Summer of Newberry, South Carolina; two stepsons, James and Rob Knox, from a third marriage to Patricia Bradley-Moore of Regina; a brother, Dr. George Moore of Stockbridge, Georgia, and two sisters, Evelyn Moore of Cambridge, Massachusetts and Anne Duffie of Prosperity, South Carolina.
A service in his honor was held at 4 p.m. Wed., Aug. 31 at Whitaker Funeral Home, 1704 College St. in Newberry, SC. Mr. Moore's ashes were interred nearby at Rosemont Cemetery. Condolences will be conveyed through George Moore, 4256 Janet Dr., Stockbridge, GA, 30281. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Bill Moore Memorial Edition, aiding the music library of the department of music, Newberry College, where his books will be housed.

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Bonnie Whitener Hamrick August 18, 2005

Bonnie Whitener Hamrick, 86, of 3265 College Street, Newberry, widow of John W. Hamrick, died on Thursday, August 18, 2005 at Newberry County Memorial Hospital.
Mrs. Hamrick was a daughter of the late Martin Luther and Ella Mae Sain Whitener. She was a member of the First Church of God in Whitmire. She was a former employee of Mecklenburg County Schools, Charlotte, NC.
She is survived by nieces and nephews. She was the last of eight children.
Funeral services were conducted at 10:00 A.M. Tuesday at the Whitaker Funeral Home by the Rev. Mitch Byers. Interment was conducted at 3:00 P.M. at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Charlotte, NC.
Visitation was from 7:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Monday at the Whitaker Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the First Church of God, 400 Duckett Ave., Whitmire, SC 29178.
Messages to the family may be sent via email at notes @whitakerfuneralhome.com.
Whitaker Funeral Home, Newberry is assisting the family.

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Ernestine Howard Ruff August 15, 2005

Ernestine Howard Ruff, 87, of 7421 St. Luke’s Church Road, widow of Andrew L. Ruff, died Monday, August 15, 2005, at her residence.
Mrs. Ruff was a daughter of the late Ernest A. and Hilda W. Howard. She was a member of Glenn Street Baptist Church and the W. M. U. She was retired from the Kendall Company, Mollohon Plant.
Mrs. Ruff is survived by her daughter, Lynda E. Ruff of Prosperity; two granddaughters and spouses, Andrea Floyd and Myron Cantrell of Prosperity; Jennifer Floyd and Ken Lindler of Little Mountain; three great-grandchildren, Blake Cantrell, Kendell Cantrell, and Ellen Lindler; an aunt, Inez H. Morrell of Greer. She was predeceased by a sister, Ellen G. Howard.
Funeral services were conducted at 11:00 A.M. Friday at the Whitaker Funeral Home by the Rev. Dr. Donald F. West and Rev. Delano Cantrell. Interment was at Newberry Memorial Gardens.
Visitation was from 7:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Thursday at the Whitaker Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers the family request memorials may be made to the Prosperity Rescue Squad, 131 North Main Street, Prosperity, SC 29127 or to the Newberry County Council on Aging, 1300 Hunt Street, Newberry, SC 29108.
Active pallbearers were Odell Ruff, Wayne Cassidy, Otto Morris, Bobby Ruff, Kenneth Floyd and B Wright. Honorary pallbearers were John Campbell, Edith Ruff, members of the Reapers Sunday School Class, Onie Boozer, Helen Wright, Polly Mills, Elizabeth Hayes, Doris Bartley, and Marvoureen Morris.
Messages to the family may be sent via email at notes@whitakerfuneralhome.com.
Whitaker Funeral Home, Newberry is assisting the family.

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Ricky D. Hamilton August 14, 2005

Ricky D. Hamilton, 46, of 9304 Macedonia Church Road, Prosperity, died Sunday, August 14, 2005 in motorcycle accident.
Mr. Hamilton was born on January 27, 1959 in Newberry, a son of the Robert D. and Ruth Sumner Hamilton. He was an employee of Day and Zimmerman International, Inc. and was a member of the Prosperity Church of God.
Mr. Hamilton is survived by his parents of Newberry; a daughter and son-in-law, Rebecca H. and Raymond Lowman of Kinards; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Robbie D. and Erica P. Hamilton and Richard D. Hamilton all of Prosperity; a sister, Joanne Nichols of Saluda; a brother, Barry R. Hamilton of Newberry; and his maternal grandmother, Savannah S. Sumner of Newberry.
Funeral services conducted at 1:00 P.M. Wednesday at the Prosperity Church of God by the Rev. Roy Puckett. Interment was in the Rosemont Cemetery.
The family was at the residence of his parents, 907 Lindsay Circle, Newberry.
Memorials may be made to Prosperity Church of God, PO Box 190, Prosperity SC 29127.
Active pallbearers were James Harris, Jr, Willie Byars, Jamie White, Kenny Ray Hamilton, Rev. Bobby Lowman, Kory Black, Terry Wise, and Larry Sweat.
Messages to the family may be sent via email at notes@whitakerfuneralhome.com.
Whitaker Funeral Home, Newberry is assisting the family.

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