Earl James Bumgarner

Asheville Earl James Lindsey Bumgarner, 93, of Asheville, went to be with his Lord on Wednesday, November 26, 2008. Mr. Bumgarner was born May 14, 1915 in Canton. He was the son of the late Rev. Walter Lindsey Bumgarner and Mamie Lonese Davis Bumgarner. He was also preceded in death by sisters: Catherine Gibson and Ruby Stamey; and brother, Gilbert Bumgarner. Mr. Bumgarner retired in 1981 from Champion Paper, following 40 years of service. He was a member and deacon of Grace Baptist Church. In his earlier years, he helped to establish East Canton Church. Surviving are his wife, Mabel McLemore Bumgarner, of the home; daughters: Gail Nelson of Asheville and Vickie Gray and husband Mack of Canton; granddaughters: Cherie Beltran and husband Jaime of Hobbs, NM, Jill Nelson of Asheville, Teresa Gray of Maggie Valley, Crystal Kirkpatrick and husband Joey of Clyde and Marissa Gray of Canton; and great-grandchildren: Emily and Eric Beltran, Drayton and Tanner Kirkpatrick, Gray Sexton and Aydan Mull. Funeral services will be held at 11 AM Saturday in the chapel of Anders-Rice Funeral Home, with the Rev. Dr. Wayne Adkisson officiating. Burial will follow in Green Hills Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Mack Gray, Joey Kirkpatrick, Robert Felker, Bill Elliott, Jeff McKinney, and Frank Silvers. The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 AM Saturday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to CarePartners Hospice, PO Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813.