Edwin McDevitt
January 20, 1920 ~ August 5, 2015
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Asheville Butterfly Trail
Edwin McDevitt, of Asheville, died Wednesday, August 5, 2015, at the North Carolina State Veteran's Home.
A native of Madison Co., and resident for most of his life of Buncombe Co., he was a son of the late P.N. and Alphie Worley McDevitt. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Inez Ramsey McDevitt, son, Jerry A. McDevitt, sisters, Lillian Hatley, Cornelia Joyner, Olita Ponder, Ann Leake, Viola Ramsey, and Evelyn Banks; and brothers Ralph, Dwight, Oscar, Norman, Newman, and Zeno McDevitt.
Mr. McDevitt was a graduate of Mars Hill College. He received a B.S. Degree from Lincoln Memorial University, and a Masters of Education from UNC Chapel Hill. He served as Principal of Walnut High School, French Broad High School, Erwin High School, Red Oak Elementary, Biltmore Elementary, and retired in 1979 a Principal of North Buncombe High School.
He was a Veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in WWII. He was a member of West Asheville Baptist Church, where he formerly served as Sunday School Director, Teacher, and Deacon. He was also a member of the Buncombe Baptist Association and the North Buncombe Optimist Club.
Mr. McDevitt is survived by his daughter, Edwina Messer and husband Fred, of Asheville; grandchildren, Maria Morellino, Allen Messer, and Ryan Messer; 9 great-grandchildren; and sister Jean Morgan.
Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Monday at West Asheville Baptist Church, with the Rev. Dr. Stan Welch officiating. Interment will follow at Green Hills Cemetery.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.
Memorials may be made to the Building Fund at West Asheville Baptist Church, 926 Haywood Rd., Asheville, NC 28806.
Groce Funeral Home on Patton Ave. is assisting the family.
I’m so sorry to hear about Mr. McDevitt…he was my principal at NB high and the year I graduated he retired.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the family.
I am so sorry to hear about Mr. McDevitt. He was my principal at Biltmore. I loved Mrs. McDevitt as well. The schools need more principals like him. My thoughts and prayers are with him family. God give you peace and grace.
I am very sorry for your loss. He was my principal at NB. I will be praying for your family. May God comfort all of you during this time.
So very sorry for your loss. Mr. McDevitt was an awesome man. He was my principal at NBHS and he retired when my class graduated. So glad I had the opportunity to know him. May God comfort you during your grief.
I am so very sorry to hear that Mr. McDevitt has passed.He was my Principal at Biltmore School. He and Mrs. McDevitt were such wonderful mentors. Such lasting memories. Many thoughts and prayers to the family. …
The McDevitt Family, so sorry to learn of passing of another long time friend and church member. Our thoughts and prayers for you as a good man and friend is missed but not forgotten.
I’m sorry to hear Mr McDevitt passed! I always enjoyed seeing him at church when I was still living in Asheville! You’re all are in my prayers!
So sorry to hear of Mr. McDevitt’s passing. He was a great principal at Biltmore. I just want to thank him and his lovely wife for believing in me when a lot of others did. Mr. McDevitt you will be missed by many. GOD Speed
Mr McDevitt was the principal at Biltmore school in the 60’s.He was the best principal Ever.Thank you Mr McDevitt for all the great memories you left me with from Biltmore school.My Prayers are with the family.May God keep your family wrapped in his loving arms.
So sorry to hear of Mr. McDevitt’s passing. My dad often reminds me,’if we still had principals like Edwin McDevitt, the students would learn how to be better citizens and all around better adults’. My thoughts are prayers are with all the family.
I am so sorry to hearing about the passing of Mr. McDevitt. He was a wonderful man, and I was blessed to have him as my principal at Biltmore Elementary School. He had a very positive impact on my life. He touched the life of many people.
Dear Edwina and Fred:
I came to know and love your father as one of his caretakers and was privileged to escort him to West Asheville Baptist each Sunday for quite a while.
I will miss him, his wit, his kindness, his good nature. Such a fine human being. It was a joy, not a job, for me.
A great man and principal will always be remembered. He will be missed by many. I’m very happy to have had him for principal for three years and to have known him as a person.
Dear Family,
I am so sorry to hear of Mr. McDevitt’s passing, and the loss of your Father, Grandfather, and Brother. Mr. McDevitt was my Principal for 4 years at North Buncombe High School, and was a wonderful man to all of us students. God’s grace to all of you during this sad time.
I am so sorry for your loss. he was such a great man. He was my principal and I loved him. We moved to Weaverville from Michigan my sophomore year. I was so scared and he was beyond kind. He has always held a special place in my heart and always will. God bless you all..
Dear Edwina and family,
Your mom and dad will always have a special place in my heart. They both were a very important part in my years at Westwood Baptist Church and at Biltmore Elementary School where I began my teaching career.
Please know that my prayers are for you to have peace and comfort in the days ahead.
Edwina and Fred, My thoughts and prayers are with you during this time. He fought the good fight and now he is well and happy in his heavenly home.
Dear Edwina, Sorry to read about your Dad. He was a kind, friendly caring man. My Mom and Dad thought the world of him and your Mom. May God comfort you and your family during your time of grief. You will always be remembered in our hearts.
Martha Evans Maney and Dale Evans.
Our time at Westwood was some of the best years of our lives.
You are in our thoughts and prayers.
I am so sorry that I was unable to attend this service. To the family – my deepest sympathies to you.
Mr. McDevitt was a very special principal at North Buncombe High School. He was always willing to participate in Pep Rallies and was never afraid to promote school spirit. He was very fair to all students, cared for everyone, and always had a smile to share. I am grateful for his guidance during my years at NBHS. Finally, I loved his pipe! God bless you Mr. McDevitt!
i am so sad to loose my great uncle he was a smart and great man i still can remember scooting on my rear down the steps to get to load his pipe with the tobacco in the cans i am so sad he is gone edwina i am sorry for your loss uncle ed now you are with aunt inez and my grandparents heaven as gained a great angel into heaven
Dear Family,
I am so sorry to hear of Mr. McDevitt passing. He was the principal at NB during my high school years. And he retired the year that I graduated. He was a great man. He will be missed.
I was so sorry to learn of Mr. McDevitt’s passing. He was my home room teacher and history teacher my junior and senior years at Erwin High. (1956-57). History was my favorite subject and he was an excellent teacher. He would throw in a little of his dry wit along the way. He was never dull or boring. My prayers are with his family and close friends. He will be missed.