Wilburn Edward Zimmerman

Asheville - Wilburn Edward Ed Zimmerman, 84, of 279 Bear Creek Rd. died Sunday, April 25, 2004 at Mountain Area Hospice Solace Center following a period of declining health. A native and lifelong resident of Buncombe County, he was a member of Calvary Baptist Church where he was a Sunday School class teacher of the young men. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving during WW II and was a former Babe Ruth Baseball coach. Mr. Zimmerman retired as an auto mechanic from Matthews Ford after 30 years of service and he had been formerly employed with Southern Railway for 5 years. He was the son of the late John Otis and Dovie Buff Zimmerman. Surviving are his wife of 57 years, Betty Suttle Zimmerman of the home; sons, Philip Zimmerman and wife Fran of Brandon, FL, Michael Zimmerman and wife Mary and Patrick Zimmerman and wife Susie all of Charlotte and Jeffrey Zimmerman of Asheville; grandchildren, Elizabeth, Joshua, Nicholas, Scott and Katherine; sisters, Ruth Worley of Black Mtn, Vivian Worley of Leicester, Louise Hayes of Harrisonburg, VA and Nancy Rhodes of Kennesaw, GA; brother, John Zimmerman of Leicester. Funeral services will be held at 11 AM Thursday in the Anders-Rice Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Dr. Buddy Corbin officiating. Burial will be in Green Hills Cemetery with military graveside services performed by the Buncombe County Veterans Council Memorial Team. The family will receive friends from 7 until 9 PM Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Calvary Baptist Church Building Fund, 531 Haywood Rd., Asheville, NC 28806 or to Mountain Area Hospice, P.O. Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813.