Virtie Mashburn Ballew

Asheville - Virtie Verdell Mashburn Ballew, 90, went home to be with the Lord on May 20, 2008 and to be united with her husband of 68 years William Ballew who past away October 13, 2003. A native of Swain County, she had lived most of her life in Buncombe County. She retired from Minico Cleaners after 23 years of service. She was a member of Arden Missionary Baptist Church and of the Ladies Bible Class. She was a daughter of the late John and Martha Mashburn and the wife of the late William Ballew. Surviving are her daughters, Martha Huffman and husband James of Asheville, Mary Fortner and husband Loy of Asheville, Kathleen Rice and husband Benjamin of Swannanoa and Louise Bradley and husband Mitchell of Asheville; sons, Steve Ballew and wife Betty of Arden and Dillard Ballew and wife Julie of Asheville; special sisters-in-law, Geneva Ballew and Eva Mae Hunter; 20 grandchildren; 39 great grandchildren and 11 great great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Friday at Anders-Rice Funeral Home with the Revs. Douglas Ballew and Bud Marler officiating. Burial will be in Ashelawn Gardens of Memory. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9:00 P.M. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to: Four Seasons Hospice, Elizabeth House, P.O. Box 2395, Hendersonville, NC 28793.