Wes Sluder, 66, of Elk Park, N.C., went home to be with the Lord unexpectedly on Sunday, December 6, 2015, at Johnson City Medical Center after a brief illness.
A native of Avery County, N.C., he was a son of the late Simp and Pauline Gwyn Sluder. He was also preceded in death by a brother-in-law, Dennis Storie.
Wes was a member and Deacon of Open Door Baptist Church, where on Wednesday nights, he would visit nursing homes, the elderly and people throughout the community. He retired as a Corrections Officer with the North Carolina Department of Corrections.
Wes will always be remembered as a true friend who was always helping others.
Surviving is his loving wife of 48 years, Judy McKinney Sluder; son, David Sluder and wife, Rhnea, of Johnson City, Tenn.; granddog, Fiesty; sister, Rita Storie of Roan Mountain, Tenn.; brother, Winfred “Dink” Sluder and wife, Jane, of Johnson City, Tenn.; and nieces, Ginger Cobb, Glenda Miller, Denise Storie and Jan Angel.
Funeral services for Mr. Sluder will be held at 8 p.m. Wednesday, December 9, at Open Door Baptist Church. His Pastor, Reed Callahan, Rev. John Henry McCurry, Rev. Bryan Griffith and Rev. Ronnie Beam will officiate. The family will receive friends at the church from 5 until 8 p.m. prior to the funeral service. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, December 10, at Elk Park Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Joe Byrd, Rick Huskins, Sam Daniels, Ed Cobb, Ronnie Beam and Kenny Martin. Honorary pallbearers will be Charles Buchanan, J.D. Cook, Wade McGuire, John Boone, Sam Eller, Tony Eller, Joe Eller, Randy Pittman, Herbert Hoilman, Eddie Yarber and Melvin Jones. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Gideons International at P.O. Box 92, Newland, NC 28657. To send online condolences please visit our website at www.yanceyfuneralservice.com.
II Timothy 4: 7-8 KJV: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
Yancey Funeral Services, Burnsville, N.C., is in charge.