Maurice Gardner Penland

Maurice Gardner Penland, 85, of 111 Ballard Cove Road, Candler, died Friday, April 23, 2004, at his home. A native of Buncombe County, he was a son of the late Cash Walter and Kathleen Eplee Penland. He was also preceded in death by his first wife, Trula Buckner Penland, who died in 1977. Mr. Penland was a US Army veteran of WWII and a member of VFW Post #9939. He retired from American Enka after 39 years of service and was also retired from First Step Rehabilitation Farm where he worked as a supervisor. An avid hunter and fisherman, he was a member of the Oakridge Hunting Club in Jackson, NC. He was also a member of Mt. Moriah Wesleyan Church. He was the beloved husband of Thelma Reece Penland and is also survived by three sons, Robert W. Penland and Michael E. Penland of Candler and Ronald Penland of Elizabeth City; three step-sons, Alan Gay of Candler, Robert Dodge of Puerto Rico and Charles Dodge of Grande Blanc, MI; four sisters, Sue Kates of Waynesville, Charlotte Johnson of Marrietta, OH, Grace Miller of Belmont, WA and Edith Luck of Melbourne, FL; five brothers, Walter Penland of Horseshoe, Wallace Penland of Pennsylvania, Lloyd Penland, Leonard Penland and Douglas Penland, all of Candler; eight grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; two step-great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Graveside services will be 2:00 pm Wednesday at Penland Family Cemetery with the Revs. Paul Mullinax and Terry Wayne Penland officiating. His family will receive friends from 7:00-8:30 pm Tuesday at Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue and request that memorials be made to First Step Farms, 184 Ballard Cove Road, Candler, NC 28715.