Fred Vernon Eggerton, Sr.

Fred Vernon Eggerton, Sr., (91), recently of Asheville, NC, passed away peacefully March 13. Born on Nov. 25, 1921 in Meridian, Miss., his parents were John Silas Eggerton and Della Rigby Eggerton, and his wife of 60 years was Lillian Celeste Ward Eggerton, who preceded him in death, in 2009. Mr. Eggerton attended Meridian Junior College, then graduated from Mississippi State University (BS, Chemistry). After college, he served in the U.S.Navy as a pilot, and instructor, serving during WW II. After working for the U.S. Dept of Agriculture, Mr. Eggerton went on to the U.S. Customs Bureau, where he retired as head of the Southeastern Regional Customs Laboratory, in New Orleans, LA. After living a long life in Mississippi, Fred moved to Asheville NC to be around his children. He is survived by two sons, Steven Ward Eggerton (and wife, Veronique Devic Eggerton) of Mandeville, LA, and Fred Vernon Eggerton Jr. of Asheville NC; one daughter, Susan Elizabeth Eggerton (and husband Richard A. Brown) of Asheville. Also surviving him are his grandchildren: Lisa Elizabeth Pearson, of Austin, TX; Naomi Salina Shastri, of Asheville, NC; and Sarah Ruth Brown, of Washington, DC. And his great grandchildren: Madeleine Shastri, Eloise Pearson, and Anders Pearson. Mr. Eggerton donated his remains to The University of North Carolina Medical School, at Chapel Hill, so there will be no funeral. Friends and acquaintances should contact his family about memorial services. Groce Funeral Home on Patton Ave. is assisting the family.