Elbert Ross Church

February 5, 1934 - February 22, 2019

Elbert Ross Church, age 85, of Newland, North Carolina passed away on Friday, February 22, 2019 at Charles A. Cannon Memorial Hospital in Linville, NC. He was born on February 5, 1934 in Avery County, North Carolina, a son of the late Hobert Church and the late Fairy Jones Church. Ross was a United States Army Veteran having served in the Signal Corps. He began his career with the North Carolina Department of Corrections in Ashe County and retired as the Superintendent of the Avery County Correctional Facility. A faithful Christian, he was a member and Deacon of the Sugar Mountain Baptist Church. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two Sisters, Nadine Glover, Joyce Reece. Ross was loving husband, father, and grandfather who truly cherished every minute with his family and friends. He leaves behind to cherish his memory his Wife of 54 years, Billie Banner Church of Newland, NC; Son, Lynn (Melissa) Church of Newland, NC, Grandson, Ethan Ross Church of Newland, NC, Grandson, Eli Justin Church of Newland, NC, Sister, Vivian Schackow of Peoria, IL, Brother, Dale (Jeanette) Church of Kernersville, NC, Brother, Hobert (Elsie) Church, Jr. of Elk Park, NC, Brother, Lowell (Anita) Church of Elk Park, NC, Host of nieces and nephews. Services for Elbert Ross Church will be held on Tuesday, February 26, 2019 beginning at 2:00 pm from the Sugar Mountain Baptist Church with Rev.Rick Heinz, Rev. Don Ford, Rev. David Burnop, and Rev. Josh Calvert officiating. Interment will follow in the Fall Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm on Monday at Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be: Grant Gibson, Greg Gibson, Blake Banner, Brent Banner, Toby Church, Chris Church, Lance Wright, and Mark Parlier. Honorary pallbearers are: Roger Banner, Mickey Banner, Randy Banner, Ed Gibson, Rick Huskins, Mark Taylor and Glen Watts. The Church family would like to offer a sincere thank you for the loving care of Ross to the Staff of Medi Home Hospice, the Nurses at Cannon Memorial Hospital and to Dr. Alfred Earwood and Staff. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Gideons International. Words of Comfort and Memories may be shared with the Church family by visiting our website www.rsfh.net The care of Ross and his family has been entrusted to Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home of Newland. (828) 733-2121