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Edna Trupia
Funeral services for Edna Ruth Burnie Trupia, 66, of Albemarle, were held February 26, 2000, at Hartsell Funeral Home's Lefler Memorial Chapel.
Burial was in Stanly Gardens of Memory in Albemarle. Mrs. Trupia died February 23, 2000, at Stanly Memorial Hospital.
She was born March 3, 1933, in St. Lawrence County, N.Y., daughter of Cecil and Hazel Burnie. Mrs. Trupia was a homemaker.
Survivors include husband, Salvatore Trupia of the home; sons, Patrick Trupia of Mt. Pleasant, Thomas Trupia of Albemarle, and Salvatore Trupia of Wichita, Kan.; daughters, Paula Fischer of Nokomie, Fla., Theresa Trupia of Babylon, N.Y., and Linda Lauer of Babylon; brothers, Thomas Burnie of Texas and Robert Burnie of Connecticut; sisters, Vera Hazen, Doris Laturno and Betty Dobler, all of New York, Viola Wilson of Florida, Beulah Rowe of New Jersey, Geraldine Bubar and Gladys Garner, both of Georgia, and Myrtle Cain of New York; eight grandchildren.
Katherine Tarantino
Katherine Lee Tarantino, 74, of Charlotte, died Tuesday, February 22, 2000 at Presbyterian Hospital.
She was born November 28, 1925 in Hendersonville, N.C. to the late Emory Baylus and Katie Lee Justice. She worked with her husband, Dr. D.A. Tarantino, in his Locust, N.C. chiropractic office from 1970-1990. She was a member of Hickory Grove Baptist Church and the Sunday School Class.
In addition to her husband, Mrs. Tarantino is survived by her daughter, Katie Lee Brett of Mooresville and grandson Ian Hayes Brett of Ahoskie, N.C.
Graveside services were held February 24 with the Rev. John Harrill officiating. A memorial service to celebrate the life of Mrs. Tarantino was held February 29 at Hickory Grove Baptist Church.
The family requests memorial contributions me made to Hickory Grove Baptist Church, 6050 Hickory Grove Road, Charlotte, N.C. 28215.
Vada Mills
A graveside service for Vada Viola Mills, 89, of Black Mountain, was held February 25, 2000, at Mills Cemetery in Marshville, with the Rev. Crawford A. White presiding.
Miss. Mills died February 23, 2000, in Midland.
She was born January 26, 1911, in Stanly Cunty daughter of Vernon and Mollie Mills. Miss. Mills was a retired registered nurse with the Black Mountain Sanatorium.
Suvivors include sisters, Buna Mills of Charlotte and Dorothy Barnette of Milborn Beach, Fla.; brothers, Clyde Mills of Stanfield, Judge Mills of Leonora and Roy Mills of Orlando, Fla.; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Harold Austin
Harold Turner Austin died Tuesday, February 8, 2000 in Seattle, WA. He was 85. He was born in Midland and moved as a teen to California. In the mid-30's, he worked in Seattle as a logger. He got the idea for a "broaster," according to a colleague, John McFarland, when he was eating a dry steak sandwich for lunch. He quit his job and put together an oven that blows pressurized hot air into meat to cook it in seconds, retaining its juices.
According to McFarland, Mr. Austin sold the idea to Col. Harlan Sanders, who worked in a Seattle restaurant in the 1940's before founding his fried-chicken empire.
Mr. Austin became a Boeing machinist in 1940, doing his own work on the side. He retired in 1980. As a machinist he helped invent dozens of aircraft-enhancing parts in his years with Boeing, including a ridged nose wheel that revolves in the wind to soften landings.
At the end of a work day he would head for his own welding shop and work on private projects, such as a portable gurney with pop-down wheels that still is used in ambulances and hospitals.
He liked to buy and tinker with aluminum, tin and other surplus materials after World War II.
"In addition to his work at Boeing, he was always chasing his dreams," said his son, Alvan Austin of Puyallup. "His imagination was endless, and then there was his support of 'causes' - the environment, politics, humanity."
To delight his son, Mr. Austin once welded together two oil cans and mounted them on a beam bolted to a hub, thus creating a prototype for what became the Jet Plane carnival ride.
In the late 1940's, he and several other Boeing employees developed the finished product, which starts vertically like a Ferris wheel and rotates to the horizontal while planes orbit the center. He also created other carnival rides. "He was very industrious and inventive," said McFarland. "He was always entertaining us with his ideas."
Mr. Austin recently invented a plow that makes cup-like furrows to hold water and thwart erosion. He also pioneered a motorized wheelbarrow with a clawed wheel that climbs trees and banks.
"Harold was right on the fringe of greatness," said McFarland. "We used to say, 'If we're so smart how come we're not rich?' Truth was, he was an idea man, not a marketing or business man, but he was happy and led a good life."
Services were held February 11 in Seattle.
Margaret Gray
Margaret Blomberg Gray, 83, of Midland died February 18, 2000 in NorthEast Medical Center, Concord. A memorial service will be held at a later date.
She was born April 1, 1916 in Deerwood MN, the daughter of Carl John and Selma Tornstrom Blomberg.
She was a retired secretary at Central Piedmont Community College, Charlotte. A member of Carolina Presbyterian Church, Locust, she was a member of the Abundant Life Sunday School class, a past member of the Midland Lioness club and a member of the County Homemaker Extension Club.
She was married
to Robert Howard Gray and is survived by two sons, Jerry Gray and Darrell Gray, both of Midland; a daughter, Mrs. Cheryl Lemmond of Midland, a sister, Mrs. Dorothy Cinn of Minnesota and three grandchildren.
Bronnie Morton
Funeral services for Bronnie Ellie Hill Morton, 77, of Oakboro were held February 23, 2000 at Smith's Grove Primitive Baptist Church. Elder Ted Morton and Rev. Dwayne Hinson officiated. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Mrs. Morton died February 21 at Forest Oakes Healthcare Center. She was born September 30, 1922 in Union County. Her parents were Bessie Thomas and Jason Hill. She was a homemaker. She was a member of the World Wide Church of God.
Her survivors include her husband, Dewey Leander Morton of Oakboro; a son, Ted Morton of Oakboro; two daughters, Lois Morton Hinson of Norwood and Louisa Norton Curlee of Oakboro; two brothers, Lane Hill of Charlotte and Ned Hill of Mt. Pleasant; seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be sent to Smith's Grove Primitive Baptist Church cemetery fund, c/o Kent Burgess, 24082 Barbees Grove Road, Oakboro, NC 28129.
Gladys Wise
Gladys Maxine Austin Wise, 67, died February 19, 2000 at Britthaven of the Piedmont. A funeral service was held February 22 at Hartsell Funeral Home, Albemarle. Rev. Henry Dunaway and Rev. Ben Dunaway officiated. Burial was in Aquadale Baptist Church cemetery in Norwood.
Mrs. Wise was born March 29, 1932 in Stanly County, the daughter of Zula Troutman and John Clarence Austin. She was a homemaker, married
to the late George Edward Wise. She was a member of Caanan Baptist Church and was a Morgan Business School graduate.
Survivors include a daughter, Pamela Edwards of Albemarle; a son, Donald Wise of Concord; a brother, Ronnie Austin of Oakboro, a sister, Ruth Crisco of Albemarle and a sister, Roseann Jordan of Albemarle; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. A sister, Lois Little, and a brother, Jay C. "Rooster" Austin, preceded her in death.
Annie Mae Jennings
A funeral service for Mrs. Annie Mae Phillips Jennings, 88, of Midland, was held November 12, 1999 at Hartsell Funeral Home in Midland. Reverend Cecil Buchanan officiated. Burial was in Carolina Memorial Park, Kannapolis.
Jim Poplin
Mr. James Firth "Jim" Poplin, 70 of Monroe, died November 10, 1999 at Hospice of Union County. He was born in Stanly County. He was a retired staff sergeant, serving in the US Air Force for 21 years. He received full military rites from the Pope Air Force Base Honor Guard.
Carl Harvell
Funeral services for Carl Therman Harvell , 67, who died November 10, 1999 in Northeast Medical Center, Concord, were held at First Baptist Church, Midland. Reverend Thomas Gibbs and Reverend Tony Wood officiated. Burial was in the church cemetery.
