Rhobena Israel Smathers

RHOBENA I. SMATHERS Rhobena Israel Smathers, 84, of 3 West Oakview Road, Asheville, died Tuesday, March 15, 2005, at Mission Hospitals after a period of declining health. Mrs. Smathers was born in Buncombe County and was a daughter of the late Otto L. and Lizzie Osborne Israel. She was also preceded in death by a grandson, Mark Smathers, two brothers, Osborne Israel and Tom Israel and three sisters Carrie Breeland, Mabel Peebles and Myra Allen. Mrs. Smathers was a former secretary at American Enka and was a member of the Sand Hill Good Neighbors Club. She was a member of Enka Baptist Church where she was a Sunday school teacher and was active in the WMU. She is survived by her husband Kettron C. Smathers; one daughter, Rachel Smith and her husband Truett of Fletcher; one son, David Smathers and his wife Shirley of Asheville; four grandchildren, Steven Smith and his wife Laurie of Charlottesville, VA, David Smith and his wife Elizabeth of Newark, DE, and Laura Lawrence and her husband Jody of Candler and Carla Brank of Candler; four great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m. Friday at Enka Baptist Church with the Revs. Ron Brown and G. Scott Lynch officiating. Burial will be at Piney Mountain United Methodist Church Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Steven Smith, David Smith, Ray Brotherton, Jon Buckner, Jim Sharp and Jody Lawrence. Her family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Enka Baptist Church, PO Box 219, Enka, NC 28728. Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue is in charge of the arrangements.