Ervin Lamar Sanford

Ervin Lamar Sanford, 75, of Asheville, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, November 24, 2018. A native of Charleston, SC, Ervin was a son of the late Robert Lonnie Sanford and Lila Mae Melton Sanford. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Robert Eugene Sanford, and his step daughter, Wanda Gosnell. Mr. Sanford was a Veteran of the U.S. Air Force, and he worked for Ball Manufacturing. Surviving are his wife, Jewel Ball Sanford; step-daughter, Kathy Duncan (Lawson); step-sons, Rev. Ron Rhodes (Pam), and Kevin Caldwell; 7 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and sisters, Frances Stevens (Mitch), Floree Robinson, Daisy Metcalf, and Martha Hatten (Greg). A celebration of life service will be held at 12:00 noon Thursday, November 29, at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, with Rev. Keith Watkins and Rev. Ron Rhodes officiating. The family will receive friends at the church from 11:00 to 12:00 prior to the service. Interment with Air Force honors will follow at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday at the Western Carolina State Veteran's Cemetery in Black Mountain. Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue is assisting the family.