Thelma Ruth Barlow Deal

NEWTON - Thelma Ruth Barlow Deal, 79, of Newton, passed away Tuesday, June 22, 2009, at Carillon Assisted Living following a lengthy battle with cancer. Thelma was born July 2, 1929, to the late Parks Thomas Barlow and Vella Lillian Goodnight Barlow. She grew up in Granite Falls, graduated from Granite Falls High School in the spring of 1948, and, in June of 1948, married Glenn E. Deal of Newton. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Newton for more than 60 years and worked in the cafeteria at Startown Elementary School for 26 years. She volunteered for the Corner Table of Newton and was a member of the Red Hat Society. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Glenn Deal, and sisters, Dorothy Annas and Evelyn Blanche Clark. She is survived by her son, Timothy Deal of Newton; sisters, Emma Jean Yount Boughton of Willis, Texas, and Kay Payne of Greensboro; a brother, Bill Barlow of Lenoir; a granddaughter, Lisa Whisnant and her husband, Shannon Whisnant; a grandson and his wife, Joey and Chanda Deal; five great-grandchildren, Danny Lee Smith, Nicole Elizabeth Smith, Ashley Moses, Erin Deal and Courtney Deal; numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives; a close family friend, Danny Wayne Smith; and a host of friends, including a devoted brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Rob and Wilma Deal of Newton. A service of remembrance will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, June 26, 2009, in the chapel of Willis-Reynolds Funeral Home, with the Rev. James Bumgarner officiating. Burial will follow in Catawba Memorial Park in Hickory. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, June 25, 2009, at Willis-Reynolds Funeral Home. Great appreciation is expressed to the directors and staff of Carillon Assisted Living, who not only were excellent caretakers but also granted her last wish of riding in a limo for a special dinner, and to Palliative CareCenter & Hospice of Catawba Valley for their loving care during the last couple of months. Memorial donations may be made to Palliative CareCenter & Hospice of Catawba Valley, 3975 Robinson Road, Newton, N.C. 28658 or American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, Okla. 73123-1718. Condolences may be sent to www.drumfuneralhome.com. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Willis-Reynolds Funeral Home & Crematory in Newton.