The Rev. Dr. C. Fred Werhan

The Reverend Fred Werhan, former pastor of Hominy Baptist Church in Candler, died peacefully surrounded by loving family on September 30, 2022, at the age of 85.

A native of Asheville, he was the grandson of Charles Griffin Lanning, and Asheville police Captain (1907-1933) and the brother of Gus Lanning Werhan, an Asheville fireman, killed in the line of duty in a fire on Biltmore Avenue in December, 1963, in whose memory the main downtown fire station was dedicated 50 years later in 2014.

For most of his life, up to graduation from Lee H. Edwards High School in 1955, he lived with and was reared by his aunt and uncle, Polly and Craig Cloninger, and their two children, Don Cloninger and Ann Cloninger Anderson, though first cousins, became his brother and sister.

After high school graduation in 1955, already a Naval Reservist at the Asheville Naval Reserve Cente5, he went on active duty in the Navy where he served for 8 years (2 years on the USS Damato DDE-871 out of Norfolk, VA, 5 years with the Heavy Attack Wing Command at the Naval Air Station in Sanford, FL, and a final year on the USS Ely PCE 880 on Lake Michigan out of Sheboygan, WS). He was a Yeoman 2nd Class Petty Officer when discharged in August, 1963.

On April 2, 1956, he married Patricia Henry, the only daughter of John and Alma Henry of Asheville, whom he met working as a “soda jerk” at the Palace Pharmacy in West Asheville his senior year in high school. His wife, Pat, survives him and they celebrated their 66th anniversary on April 2nd this year. A daughter, Deborah Lynn Werhan Smith (husband Jim), born in 1957 survives along with her children, April Riedel (wife Kristen Silvers) and Autumn Riedel (husband Andrew McGuinn) and a great-grandson, Skyler Lewis (son of April Riedel). Preceding him in death in 2011 was their adopted daughter, Teri Lynn Werhan Sexton (surviving husband Mark Sexton) and surviving grandson, Hayden Sexton.

Following his Navy service, in 1963 he attended Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, TN, graduating with a BA degree (Magna Cum Laude) in 1967. He was awarded a full scholarship to Vanderbilt Divinity School in Nashville, TN, where he attended from 1967 to 1970, receiving a Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree. Completing his dissertation and other work begun while still at Vanderbilt, he received the Doctor of Ministry (DMin) degree from Vanderbilt Divinity School in 1973.

From August 1970 through 1972 he served as Associate Pastor to Nane Starnes at West Asheville Baptist Church and on January 1, 1973, became Pastor of Hominy Baptist Church in Candler where he served until his retirement December 31, 1995 (23 years).

In addition to his pastoral ministry he was active in Various community ministries and organizations: he served two 2 year terms as President of ABCCM (1973-74, 1982-83), he was a member and President of the Advisory Board of the Personal and Family Counseling Center (1980-94), member of Asheville-Buncombe United Way Board and President of the board for the Asheville Volunteer Association, President of the Candler School PTA, and served on the Memorial Mission Hospital committee which hired its first hospital chaplain in 1985.

He was a member of the General Board of the NC Baptist State Convention from 1994 to 1998.

In retirement he worked for over 20 years as a wedding officiant in WNC at dozens of different wedding venues, officiating nearly 2,000 weddings (over 300 at Grove Park Inn).

By this remember me, he wrote:

“To leave my world better than found
For me was to walk on holy ground

I seek no Heaven, nor Hell to shun
When this my earthly life is done.

What more did God ask of me
Than like the Son I seek to be.

And Love my neighbor was His plea
If like Him I would seek to be.”
CFW

An informal memorial service will be held at Hominy Baptist Church in Candler, NC on Saturday, October 8th at 1:00 p.m.. Visitation begins at noon.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hominy Baptist Church and ABCCM.