Ronald G. Underwood

Asheville - Ronald Gene Underwood, 70, passed away Friday May 15, 2009 at his home. A native of Johnston County, he had lived in Buncombe County since 1968. He was a member and former Deacon of Merrimon Avenue Baptist Church and a former president of the Erwin Optimist Club. He also loved music and sang in a quartet for several years. He was the son of the late Johnnie and Ethel Mae Underwood. Surviving are his wife, Frances Underwood of the home; daughter, Kelly Williams and husband Gregg of Weaverville; son, Johnny Underwood and wife Cathy of Morehead City; sisters, Shirley M. Hicks and Joyce Hill and husband Bill of Clayton and grandchildren, Kayla, Braxton and Madison Underwood. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Sunday at Merrimon Avenue Baptist Church with the pastors Bill Bingham, Jim Russell, Tom Lomax and Larry Basinger officiating. Burial will be in Ashelawn Gardens of Memory. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8:00 P.M. Saturday at Anders-Rice Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to: Merrimon Avenue Baptist Church Building Fund, 283 Merrimon Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801 or to Care Partners Hospice, P.O. Box, 25338, Asheville, NC 28813.