Lamar Gudger

ASHEVILLE - Lamar Gudger, a former U.S. Congressman, Superior Court judge, solicitor, and state senator, died Monday, Aug. 2, 2004, in his home in Asheville at the age of 85. Lamar Gudger was born April 30, 1919, to Vonno Lamar Gudger and Elizabeth Wilson Gudger. Mr. Gudger received his A.B. degree from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill in 1940, and then went on to obtain his law degree from UNC Chapel Hill Law School in 1942. He then joined the U.S. Army Air Corps at the age of 22. Among other assignments, he studied navigation at Monroe Air Force Base, underwent primary flight training at Lafayette Air Force Base and even studied gunnery at Tyndale Field in the Florida panhandle. He served as a navigator and became captain in the Eighth Bomb Group, from 1942 to 1945 and earned the Flying Cross, Air Medal, ETO Campaign Ribbons and other decorations. After completing his tour of duty in Europe, he returned to Asheville. He became active in Democratic politics, was elected solicitor for Buncombe and Madison Counties in 1951 for a term of four years, served as the State Party secretary from 1960 to 1964, served in the N.C. House of Representatives for two years and served as a state senator for three terms. He was elected in 1976 to the U.S. House of Representatives as congressman for the 11th District and served there for two terms. Thereafter, in 1984, he was appointed Special Superior Court Judge for the State of North Carolina and in 1987 was named outstanding trial judge of the year by the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers. In December of 1988, Mr. Gudger left the bench to start a new law firm with his son, Butch. Mr. Gudger is survived by his wife of 56 years, Eugenia Reid Gudger; sons V. Lamar "Butch" Gudger III and his wife, Sally Tickle Gudger of Asheville, and Eugene Reid "Skip" Gudger and his wife, Carol Eastman Gudger of Sarasota, Fla.; daughters Carol G. Hardman and her husband, Bill Hardman of Atlanta, Ga., and M.E. "Betsy" Gudger of Asheville; a sister, Elizabeth G. Williamson of Asheville; and seven grandchildren, Christopher Gudger Hardman, Dorothy Eugenia Hardman, Bryan Thompson Hardman, Morgan Elizabeth Gudger, Christie Brooke Gudger, Reid Wilson Gudger and Sarah Elizabeth Gudger. A funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, Aug. 6, at Central United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dr. Robert M. Blackburn Jr. officiating. The family will receive friends following the service in the fellowship hall. Burial will be held at 3 p.m. Monday, Sept. 20, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the hospice of one's choice. Morris Funeral Home of Asheville is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be sent via www.Morrisfamilyfuneralhome.com