Olive Hipps Hulme

Asheville - Olive Hipps Hulme, after enjoying 93 years with her family, friends and flowers, went to be with her Savior and heavenly family this Wednesday, August 22, 2007. She will be remembered by her two sons, Richard Sloan Hulme, Jr. and David Marvin Hulme, and by her two grandsons, Dylan Sloan Hulme and Francis Cody Hulme, as a wonderful mother and grandmother. Her husband, Richard Sloan Hulme, Sr., preceded her in death in 1977. She was known as "Aunt Olive" to a generation of young men and women while she worked for Winners Department Store during the '60's and '70's. Among her interests were preserving the natural beauty of Western North Carolina, which she did through years of work transplanting flowers to the UNC-Asheville Botanical Garden, the creation of the park beside what is now The Fresh Market (the old A&P store) in north Asheville, and planting flowers everywhere she lived, as well as in the hearts of those she knew. She was an avid camper and fisher, and taught many to bait a hook or to build a campfire. She served as a Den Mother to Cub Scouts and was very proud that both of her grandsons achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. When her sons were in high school, she worked to establish two coffeehouses where the teens could gather, listen to music, and have non-alcoholic fun. This was done with the help of several area churches. One of those was the "Middle Earth" on Broadway, and may be remembered by some still. The graveside service is planned for 11 AM Friday in Riverside Cemetery. Please make memorial donations to Hospice, which helped so much in her last days.