Mr. McCaskill

Roderick E. McCaskill, age 87, of Estate Drive, Blowing Rock, died Wednesday, November 22 in Blowing Rock.
Mr. McCaskill was born in Maxton, North Carolina on March 14, 1919, a son of the late John and Virginia McCall McCaskill.
He was educated at Oak Ridge Military Institute and the University of North Carolina. A highly decorated veteran, he was a distinguished pilot in World War II and Vietnam and retired as a Colonel from the United States Air Force in 1971 after thirty years of service to his country. Over fourteen years of his military service was in foreign assignments.
His many medals included the Legion of Merit Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Nation Defense Service Medal and the prestigious Air Force Commendation Medal.
After retiring from the United States Air Force, Col. McCaskill became an executive for the Northrop Corporation, making his home in Pinehurst, N.C. prior to moving and settling in Blowing Rock.
Col. McCaskill is survived by his wife, Esther, his granddaughter, Joy Auren, and numerous nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and one son Roderick II, who preceded him in death last year.
Private family services were held, with Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory of Boone serving the McCaskill family.

Mrs. Lawrence

Mrs. Kathryn Ada Roney Lawrence, age 102, of Blowing Rock, passed away Saturday, December 2 at the Blowing Rock Hospital.
Mrs. Lawrence was born June 11, 1904 in Burlington, N.C., the daughter of the late Dr. Robert Henry Roney of Burlington and Minna Lee McKey Roney of Mooresville. She attended Burlington schools and Elon College. She grew up in Rocky Mount, N.C. and lived in Fayetteville and Greensboro where she was a dietitian at Greensboro College. She was married to the late Larry Carlton Lawrence, Jr., who died in 1949.
In 1963 she moved to Blowing Rock to make her home and in 1968 became the owner and operator of The Sunshine Inn (now Crippens) until her retirement in 1980. She enjoyed reading, working in the yard and cooking. In Blowing Rock, she was a member of St. Mary of the Hills Episcopal Church and was voted Woman of the Year by the Blowing Rock Community Club.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a son, Larry Carlton Lawrence III in 1992, three sisters, Blanche Roney Gaynor, Gladys Roney Kivett, Alma Lee Roney Lawrence, along with two brothers, Ben E. Roney and John R. Roney.
Mrs. Lawrence is survived by a grandson, Larry Carlton Lawrence IV of Blowing Rock, a granddaughter, Kim Lawrence Poteat of Arlington, Tx., her daughter-in-law, Sylvia Johnson Lawrence of Columbia, S.C., a sister, Frances Roney Belmore of Hickory, two great grandchildren, Kathryn Elizabeth Poteat and Christian Michael Poteat of Arlington, Tx. Also surviving are 16 nieces and nephews, including Ginger Roney Evaugh of Blowing Rock.
A memorial service was held on Tuesday, December 5 at St. Mary of the Hills with the Rev. Rick Lawler and the Rev. Kent Belmore, Jr., her nephew, officiating. A graveside service was also held Tuesday at Snow Creek United Methodist Church with Rev. Kent Belmore, Jr. officiating.
Memorials may be made to St. Mary of the Hills Episcopal Church or to the Blowing Rock Community Club.

Mr. Walsh

Bernard (“Rabbit”) William Walsh, 88, died on December 1, 2006, at Hillsborough, New Hampshire, of Alzheimer’s disease.
  Mr. Walsh was born on May 6, 1918, in Brooklyn, NY, a son of Susan (Maher) and William Arthur Walsh. He was raised in Jacksonville, Fl, where he graduated from Landon High School and went on to attend the University of Florida. During World War II he served in the U.S. Navy. He worked for 49 years in the wholesale beer business, first in Jacksonville for Neal Tyler and Sons. Later he managed and became owner of Central Florida Distributing Company in Holly Hill.
  He lived in Ormond Beach, Florida for many years before retiring to Blowing Rock, N.C. and eventually New Hampshire.
 He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Carol (Collins) Walsh; three daughters, Jeannie Latimer of Gainesville, Florida; Suzanne Fox of Decatur, Georgia; and Bonnie Fanning of Ormond Beach, Florida; and five grandchildren.
 The funeral was held at All Saints Parish, Concord Street, Peterborough, on Tuesday, December 5. Interment followed at All Saints Church with the Rev Adrian Robbins-Cole, Rector, officiated.
  In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Alzheimer's Association Headquarters, 225 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1700, Chicago, IL 60601, or to the Patient Recreation Fund at Hillsborough House Nursing Home, PO Box 400, Hillsborough, NH, 03244.
 Jellison Funeral Home and Cremation Services was in charge of the arrangements.