Howard Wesley Rhymer

Mr. Rhymer was a native of Buncombe County and was a son of the late Lawrence R. and Exum Duckett Rhymer. He was a graduate of Emma High School and served in the US Navy during WW II and in the US Army Reserves during the Korean Conflict. He was a Plank Member on the USS Wisconsin throughout the Pacific Theater.

Mr. Rhymer retired after 31 years as terminal superintendent for Southern Railway. He was also associated with Toyota Motor Company Southeast for 21 years and retired from Jim Barkley Toyota.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Mary Sams Rhymer; a daughter, Anne Rhymer of Asheville; a son, Ron Rhymer and his wife Gail of Lexington, SC; one sister, Mary Helen Buckner of Asheville; one brother, James R. Rhymer of Asheville; four grandchildren, Ronda Smith of Lexington, SC, and Adam Smith, Colin Redpath, and Anna Kate Hall of Asheville; and one great-grandson, James Jefferson Smith III of Lexington, SC.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 am Thursday in the chapel of the Western Carolina Veterans Cemetery, Black Mountain, with the Rev. Robert M. Blackburn, Jr. officiating.

His family will receive friends from 12:00 noon - 1:00 pm Thursday at Central United Methodist Church, Church Street, Asheville.

Memorials may be made to the Lions Club Eye Clinic, 45-A South French Broad Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801.

Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue is in charge of the arrangements.