Virginia Mendez

Asheville - Virginia Arnold Haney Mendez, 82, of 81 Mount Clare Ave. died Friday March 6, 2009 at Memorial Mission Hospital. A native and lifelong resident of Buncombe County, she was a devoted homemaker and Mother of many children she helped raise and they referred to her as their MaMaw. She was a former member of Special Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and served as a volunteer at Asheville Catholic School for many years. She was the daughter of the late Dee Arnold Haney and Nellie Calloway Haney Ashmore and was also preceded in death by her sister, Willie Louise Knight. Surviving are her husband Andres Andy Blas Mendez whom she married in 1947; daughter, Susan Natalie Cook (John) of Leicester; sons, Allen Mendez (Frances) of Monroe, GA and Neil Mendez of the home; 5 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held in the chapel of the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery at 12 noon on Tuesday. Burial will follow in the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery. Anders-Rice Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.