Verlin Maxwell Battle, Sr.

Verlin Maxwell Battle, Sr., 76, of 795 Asbury Road, Candler, died Friday, September 27, 2002, in an Asheville hospital. Mr. Battle was born in Buncombe County and was a son and stepson of the late Lena Battle and Clarence LeRoy Clontz, Sr. He was married to Fannie Cooke Battle who died in 1998. He was a Navy veteran assigned as a Gunners Mate 2nd Class, LST 605, during WW II and was retired from the Local #421, United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters. He also formerly worked with the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Department under Sheriff Harry Clay. He was past-president of the Asheville Shrine Club and a Past-Master of Blackmer Masonic Lodge No. 170 in Weaverville. Surviving are two sons, Maxwell Battle, Jr. and his wife Barbara of Candler and Joel S. Battle and his wife Carolene of Williamston, NC; three grandchildren, Joey, Chris and Catie Battle; and two sisters, Sarah Lowrance of Greenville, SC and Linda Freeman of Hendersonville. Funeral services will be at 2:00 pm Monday at Francis Asbury United Methodist Church, where he was a member, with the Rev. Richard C. Clough, Jr. officiating. Masonic rites will be provided by the Blackmer Lodge at Pisgah View Memorial Park. The lodge will open at 12:00 noon. His family will receive friends from 7 - 8:30 pm Sunday at Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue.