Obituaries from the Saturday, May 31, 2008 issue of the Roxboro-Courier Times

Jon C. Butler

The funeral for Jon C. Butler, 35, of Rougemont, who died Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at Person Memorial Hospital due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident that occurred Aug. 12, 2007, will be conducted at 2 p.m. today, May 31, in the Clements Funeral Chapel in Durham by the Rev. Troy Rust.

Mr. Butler was born in Huntersville, the son of Joseph and Joan Armstrong of Fort Mill, S.C. and Ken and Victoria Butler of Blackstone, Va., who survive.

Although he had a criminal law degree, his heart was in landscaping, and he was the owner of Extreme Landscapes.

He attended Somerset Baptist Church in Roxboro.

His passions were his children, deep sea fishing with Daniel and friends, sleeping on Flat River at his parent’s home and creative landscaping.

Surviving in addition to his biological parents are his wife, Christy Glosson Butler; a daughter, Autumn Elizabeth Butler; a son, Austin Lee Butler; two brothers, Greg Armstrong of Fort Mill and Chris Butler of Blackstone; and his parents, Daniel and Patty Glosson of Rougemont.

Pallbearers will be Mike Christiansen, Jimmy D’Andrea, Glenn Thompson, Jerry Hornbuckle, Jamie Arthur and Jason Adams.

Memorials may be made to the immediate family for his children.

Robert E. Loftis

The funeral for Robert Eugene (Gene) Loftis, 78, of 6600 US Hwy. 70, Mebane, who died Wednesday, May 28, 2008 at his home, will be conducted at 2 p.m. today, May 31, in Grace Independent Baptist Church by the Rev. Charles Hamilton. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Born in Caswell County, Mr. Loftis was the son of the late Robert Franklin and Alice Hamlett Loftis. His late sister was Elaine L. Wade.

He was retired from farming, and for the past 18 years he had worked for the N. C. Department of Transportation out of Hillsborough.

He loved to play bluegrass music on the guitar with his sons, brothers, and uncles.

Surviving are his wife, Frances Parker Loftis; his children and their spouses, Linda and Deroy Loyd of Burlington, Ronnie and Brenda Loftis and Diane and Roy Martin, all of Roxboro, Timmy and Marlene Loftis of Haw River, Danny and Sonja Loftis of Elon, Raymond and Frances Loftis of Mebane and Loretta and Tony Martin of Roxboro; four brothers Ralph Loftis of Roxboro, Richard Loftis of Elon, Roger Loftis of Elon and James Loftis of Roxboro; four sisters, Irene West of Roxboro, Elizabeth Cochran of Swepsonville, Pearlie Mae Irby of Roxboro and Hope Lunsford of Roxboro; 14 grandchildren, Deroy Loyd Jr., John Loyd, Crystal Bennett, Angel Loftis, Candy Walker, Robbie Loftis, Sandy Parham, Jerry Ford, Crystal Rhew, Bridget Loftis, Jesse Loftis, David Loftis, Makayla Loftis and Adam Martin; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Franklin Loftis, Jesse Loftis, David Loftis, Alvin Corter, John Loyd, Jonathan Loftis, Steve Jordan and Hyunsuk Seo.

Memorials may be made to the Grace Independent Baptist Church Building Fund, 9922 NC 86 N., Cedar Grove, NC 27231.

Arrangements are by Brooks & White Funeral Home.

Condolences may be sent to www.brooksandwhite.com.

Coralee B. Matthews

Coralee Blalock Matthews, 73, of 454 Mt. Harmony Church Rd., Timberlake, died Friday afternoon, May 30, 2008, at her home.

Funeral arrangements were incomplete at presstime.

Arrangements are by Strickland Funeral Home.

Eva H. Smith

DURHAM — The funeral for Eva Mae Humphries Smith of Carolina House of Durham and formerly of JFK Towers in Durham, who died Monday, May 26, 2008 at Durham Regional Hospital, was conducted at 2 p.m. Friday, May 30, in the Brooks & White Funeral Home chapel by Dr. Tom Greener. Burial was in the Burchwood Cemetery.

Mrs. Smith was a native of Guilford County, the daughter of the late Thad M. Humphries and Mollie P. Tatum Humphries.

Surviving is a son, Steve Smith of Los Angeles, Calif.

Pallbearers were Ronnie Jones, Gary Jones, Doug Jones, Jimmy Hite, Bob Sumpter, John Wrenn, and Bran Humphries.

Condolences may be sent to www.brookandwhite.com.

Joe B. Sparks

A graveside funeral for Joe Bernard Sparks, 83, of 1626 N. Main St., who died Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at the Roxboro Nursing Center, was conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, May 30, in the Person Memorial Cemetery by the Rev. Jim Jones.

Born in Mercer County, W.Va., Mr. Sparks was the son of the late Floyd and Annie Mae Church Sparks. His late son was Vernon Keith Sparks.

He was retired from Collins & Aikman Corp. and was a member of Ca-Vel United Methodist Church.

He was a U.S. Army veteran, having served during World War II with the 36th Texas Division Infantry throughout the entire European campaign. He was a member of the VFW.

Surviving are his wife, Margaret Robertson Sparks; three children, Joe David Sparks and wife, Connie, of West Jefferson, Reba S. Wesley and husband, Mike, and Steve A. Sparks and wife, Liz O’Briant, all of Roxboro; and three grandchildren, Jenny Sparks Lawrence, Allison Sparks and Carly Sparks.

Memorials may be made to the Roxboro Nursing Center, 901 Ridge Rd., Roxboro, NC 27573, Ca-Vel UMC, c/o Alice Gordon, 444 Tanglewood Cir., Roxboro, NC 27573, or to the National Kidney Foundation, 5950 Fairview Dr., Suite 708, Charlotte, NC 28210.

Condolences may be sent to www.brooksandwhite.com

Ida B. Thompson

The funeral for Ida B. Thompson, 83, who died Thursday, May 29, 2008 at the Brian Center in Yanceyville, will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday, June 2, in Old Mt. Zion Baptist Church by the Rev. Clyde Glass. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Ms. Thompson was a member of Old Mt. Zion Baptist Church.

Surviving are two sons, Harold Thompson and Jimmy Thompson; two sisters, Shirley Thompson and Wilma Thompson; and several grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, June 1, at Cunningham & Nelson Funeral Home and at other times at 430 Woodsy View Ln., Roxboro.

Irene B. Tomlin

A memorial service for Irene Brooks Tomlin, 100, formerly of the Canterbury House, who died on Tuesday, May 27, 2008, will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 3, in Long Memorial United Methodist Church.

Mrs. Tomlin was a native of Hendersonville, the daughter of the late Charles Edward and Hazel Johnson Brooks.

A graduate of Greensboro College, she taught fifth grade in the Person County Schools for over 30 years.

She was a member of Long Memorial United Methodist Church and a former member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society.

Surviving are her nieces and nephews, Barbara and Leon Frederick of Albemarle, Ella Lee Crews of Danville, Va., James J. and Darcus Woody of Roxboro and Brooks Crews of Danville.

Memorials may be made to the Long Memorial UMC Capital Campaign, P.O. Box 310, Roxboro, NC 27573.

Arrangements are by Brooks & White Funeral Home.

Condolences may be sent to www.brooksandwhite.com.

John S. Yarbrough

The funeral for John Samuel Yarbrough, 76, of 315 Olive Branch Rd., who died Saturday, May 24, 2008, at Person Memorial Hospital, was conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, May 26, in Brooks & White Funeral Home chapel by the Rev. Buddy Hall. Burial was in Person Memorial Cemetery.

Born in Person County. Mr. Yarbrough was the son of the late Victor and Laura Harris Yarbrough. He was retired from Collins & Aikman Corp.

He served in the N. C. National Guard for nine years.

Surviving are his wife, Shirlie Weaver Yarbrough of the home; two sons, Mitch Yarbrough and wife, Betty, of Oxford and Mark Yarbrough of the home; a brother, Ronald Yarbrough of Burlington; a sister, Nancy Allen of Hillsborough; and two grandchildren, Joshua Yarbrough and wife, Shannon, and Logan Yarbrough.

Pallbearers were Barry Yarbrough, Curtis Yarbrough, Dennis Hodges, Winston Elliott, D.T. Neal, and Spurgeon Neal.

Condolences may be sent to www.brooksandwhite.com.