Ray A. Charbonneau

Ray A. Charbonneau, 84, of 4 Northview Lane, Weaverville, died Monday, July 22, 2002, at his home, surrounded by his family. Mr. Charbonneau was born in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, and was a son of the late Thomas J. and Rosalie Daniels Charbonneau. He was raised in Detroit, MI and served in the Army Air Corps from 1941 - 1945, flying in A-20’s in the 97th Bomb Group in North Africa. After being wounded and receiving the Purple Heart he was returned to the US for recovery where he met and later married Helen Cole, a WAC from Asheville. Together they moved to Asheville in 1946. He attended Asheville-Biltmore College where he served as editor of the Bluets School Literary Magazine and later attended the University of Detroit. He worked as a supervisor for the US Postal Service in Asheville until his retirement in 1976. He was a loyal UNC Basketball fan and also loved the diversity of all music. He was a former member of the Knights of Columbus and was a member of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church. Surviving are his wife, Helen Cole Charbonneau; three daughters, Helen Rae Charbonneau of Marietta, SC, Anne Feltham-Charbonneau and her husband Richard Feltham of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and Katherine Lee of Durango, CO; one son, Thomas Cole Charbonneau and his wife Brenda of Fairview; two sisters, Violet Barbett of Citrus Springs, FL and Jill Bolton and her husband (Ray’s lifelong friend) Sam of Luddington, MI; seven grandchildren, Heather Rogers Verdino and her husband Jerry and Charles Rogers of Columbia, SC, Warren Feltham, Ned Feltham, and Rich Feltham and his wife Michelle, all of Halifax, and Kimbrough and Leah Charbonneau of Fairview; six great-grandchildren, Garrett, Sam, Michael and Jerry Verdino and Daniel and Jessica Feltham; and by his pet dog Woofie. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 3:00 pm Thursday at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church. The Rev. Fr. John M. Pagel and the Rev. Dr. Guy Sayles will officiate. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery. His family will receive friends Thursday at the church fellowship hall one hour prior to the service and request that in lieu of flowers memorials be made to St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 919 Haywood Road, Asheville, NC 28806. Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue is in charge of the arrangements.