Earl Austin

LAKE PARK — William Earl Austin, 93, died Wednesday (Oct. 7, 2009) at Lake Park Nursing Center.

Memorial service will be at a later date.

Heritage Funeral Service of Indian Trail is in charge. Online condolences may be left at www.heritagefuneral.net.

Nolan Blackburn

MARSHVILLE — Nolan Wayne Blackburn, 70, died Wednesday (Oct. 7, 2009).

Funeral will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Gordon Funeral Service in Monroe, with burial in Lakeland Memorial Park in Monroe.

Born Aug. 31, 1939, in Union County, he was a son of the late Murphy B. and Jennie Lynn Williams Blackburn. He was retired from the N.C. Department of Transportation.

Survivors include his wife, Peggy Baucom Blackburn; three sons, Michael Blackburn of Monroe, Ronnie Blackburn of Fayetteville, David Blackburn of Marshville; one daughter, Renee Nolan of Indian Trail; two sisters, Jessie Blackburn, Sally Blackburn; and six grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 6000 Fairview Road Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28210.

Online condolences may be left at www.gordonfuneralservice.com.

Wayne Carter

MONROE — Mr. Wayne Vernon Carter, 68, died Friday, October 2, 2009, at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, October 10, 2009, in the Chapel of Leavitt Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Lilesville Cemetery.

Viewing may begin at 1:00 p.m. Friday, October 9, 2009, with the visitation from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Leavitt Funeral Home.

Wayne was born July 10, 1941, in Anson County, N.C., a son of the late Bryant R. Carter and the late Anna McIntosh Carter Lindsey. He had worked for many years as a USDA poultry inspector and was most recently employed with the maintenance department with Wingate University.

Surviving are his wife, Maria Ortega Carter of the home; his children, Yvonne Allen of Hamlet, Sybil Threatt of Rockingham, Sabrina Furr of Albemarle, Joshua Carter and Adam Carter, both of Monroe; his grandchildren, Courtney Garner, Randi, Whitney and Lydia East, Lauren Carter, Kasey Tarlton and Micaela Davis; his great-grandchildren, Noah and Aleigha Hogan, Zachary Moore and Chandler Garner ,and his brother, Kenneth Carter of Kannapolis.

The arrangements are in care of Leavitt Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.leavittfuneralhomewadesboro.com.

PAID OBITUARY

John Robert Ellinger

GREENSBORO — John Ellinger, 53, of Greensboro, N.C., died unexpectedly on Sunday, October 4, 2009, after a short illness. He is survived by his wife Tara E. Ellinger, and children Joshua and Meghan. In addition, John is survived by parents Doris and Eugene, by brother Michael and his wife Patricia, by mother-in-law Susan Salmen, and by many friends and members of the extended family. John was born in Lancaster, Pa., and spent his early childhood in nearby Manheim before relocating with his parents and brother to Monroe, N.C., in 1969. He went to Monroe High School where he played baseball, and graduated from Wingate University in 1976. Most recently he worked for SB Capital Group. Honored and promoted throughout a thirty-year career in retail management, John worked with Eckerd Drugs (Rite Aid), Waccamaw and Roses. An avid golfer and loyal fan of the Panthers and of Duke sports, John was a regular donor to the Children’s Miracle Network at Duke’s Children’s Hospital. He enjoyed time outdoors landscaping his yard, and the compliments it earned him. John and the family traveled widely but most treasured the summer beaches and fall festivals of the Carolinas. Beloved son, brother, husband and father, John was open, optimistic and accepting of all he met. He made the world a better place.

Visitation will be on Friday October 9, 2009, 6-8 p.m. at Forbis and Dick, 1118 N. Elm St, Greensboro, N.C. Memorial Service on Saturday, October 10, 2009, 1:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, 2715 Horse Pen Creek Rd, Greensboro, N.C.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Duke Children’s Miracle Network c/o Development Office, Duke Children’s Hospital, 512 S. Magnum St, Suite 400, Durham NC 27701. Please include a note that the donation is made in John’s honor, and make the donation payable to the Children’s Hospital.

The family expresses heartfelt thanks to the Intensive Care Nurses at Wesley Long Community Hospital and the Doctors of LeBauer Pulmonary/Critical Care.

Online condolences may be made at www.forbisanddick.com/condolences.htm.

PAID OBITUARY

Herman Pigg Sr.

MATTHEWS — Mr. Herman Watson Pigg Sr., 83, of Matthews, passed away Wednesday, October 7, 2009, at the Harris Hospice Unit of Presbyterian Hospital.

A service to celebrate Mr. Pigg’s life will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, October 10, 2009, from the sanctuary of Mt. Harmony Baptist Church, with his son, The Reverend Dr. H.W. “Buddy” Pigg Jr., Reverend Neal Lickliter, and Reverend Ronnie Iles officiating. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn East Cemetery. The family will greet friends Saturday from 1:00 – 2:15 p.m. at the church.

Mr. Pigg was born August 1, 1926, in Mecklenburg County, a son of the late T.J. Pigg and Carrie Mae Mullis Pigg. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Earl Pigg. Mr. Pigg was a veteran of the U.S. Navy Seabees having served his country during W.W. II. He retired in 1984 as an automatic transmission Sspecialist from Beck Pontiac in Charlotte. Mr. Pigg was an avid drag racer and he enjoyed building hot rods and restoring cars.

Mr. Pigg is survived by his beloved wife of sixty-two years, Sue Jean Beachum Pigg; children, Nancy Threatt and her husband, Edison, Dr. H.W. “Buddy” Pigg, Jr. and his wife, Candy, and John Darrell Pigg; grandchildren, Andrew Pigg, April Newell, and Cari Stackpole; and great-grandchildren, Jonah and Eli Newell.

Memorials may be made to Mt. Harmony Baptist Church, Building and/or Radio Ministry Funds, 2817 Mt. Harmony Rd., Matthews, NC 28105.

Arrangements by McEwen – Mint Hill Chapel.

PAID OBITUARY

Donald Sturdivant

MONROE — Donald Wayne Sturdivant, 41, died Wednesday (Oct. 7, 2009) at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte.

Arrangements will be announced by Harris Funeral Home.

Wayne Thomas

MINT HILL — Mr. Wayne Heath Thomas, age 74, of Mint Hill, North Carolina, passed away on Tuesday (October 6, 2009) at the Brian Center of Charlotte.

A funeral service to celebrate the life of Mr. Thomas will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Friday (October 9, 2009) at the Davis Funeral Home Chapel, 1003 East Franklin Street, officiated by Reverend Frank Barwig. Interment will follow at Lakeland Memorial Park Cemetery.

Mr. Thomas was born on March 6, 1935, in Union County, a son of the late Olin Heath Thomas and Beulah Laney Thomas.

He was a retired city bus driver for CATS. He formerly was a car salesman with City Chevrolet and a truck driver.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara Thomas Thomas of Mint Hill; a daughter, Kim Thomas Colvard and husband Steve Colvard of Mint Hill.

The family will receive friends from 12:30 p.m. until 2:15 p.m. Friday (October 9, 2009) at the funeral home prior to the service.

Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312.

Davis Funeral Home of Monroe is serving the family of Mr. Thomas. An online guest register book is available at www.davisfuneralservice.com.

PAID OBITUARY