Individual Details
Edith Alberta Kindley
(10 May 1923 - 8 Dec 2015)
Edith Alberta Kindley McElreath, of Asheboro, passed away on Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at The Randolph Hospice House in Asheboro at the age of 92 and 7 months.
She was born in the Tabernacle community on May 10, 1923, the oldest daughter of the late John Wesley Kindley and Hazel Spoon Kindley. Being the oldest daughter she played a huge role in helping raise her younger siblings. Farm life was hard work but she was filled with determination and could accomplish anything she set her mind to do. Because of living in the hardest of times, she was always so thankful for all she had in her adult life.
She met her husband, Donald McElreath, in the third grade when his family moved to the area from Asheville. They remained sweethearts and were married in July, 1942. When he went into W.W.II she counted the days for his return (he was in service for 3 years, 3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days). She had a job during the war sewing parachutes for the soldiers.
In 1954 she began work in the cafeteria at Tabernacle Elementary School and continued work there for 34 years (only missing one sick day). The meals were cooked "from scratch" then. After her retirement in 1988, former students would often talk about the homemade yeast rolls, turkey & dressing, cobbler, home-cooked veggies and melt-in-your-mouth chocolate cake. She loved the school environment and knew all the children, living just about a mile from the school. She would often put money in the cash box so a child could have an extra plate.
During the summer, she kept some children. Her nieces, nephews and neighboring children were most always in and out visiting her home. They enjoyed her adventurous spirit and she always had a project of interest going on to keep them entertained.
She loved her dogs, Buster, Sambo and Abby. Mrs. McElreath cherished and loved her family and friends.
She loved her garden and growing all varieties of flowering plants. She liked it when visitors would say "I think you have at least one of everything."
Her philosophy of life, which she shared very often with family, was "work like your going to live forever and pray as if you will die in the next minute".
We will miss her love, wit and wisdom. She was the spark in our lives.
In addition to her parents and husband she was preceded in death by her brothers, Frank Kindley, Bennie Lee Kindley, Lewis Kindley, and William Arthur Kindley; sisters, Marie Hunt, Lois Dickens and Elizabeth Carter.
Mrs. McElreath is survived by her daughter, Barbara M. Davis and husband, Eddie of Asheboro; sister, Stella Edwards of Asheboro; and stepsister, Janet Hollifield of Asheboro. She is also survived by many cherished nephews and nieces, who lovingly call her "Aunt Ede".
Viewing hours will be at Ridge Funeral Home on Thursday, December 10, 2015 from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A private graveside service will be conducted by Revs. Joe and Judy Beane at Randolph Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Hospice of Randolph, P.O. Box 9, Asheboro, NC 27204 or Tabernacle Elementary School (Library Fund), 4901 Tabernacle School Rd., Asheboro, NC 27205
She was born in the Tabernacle community on May 10, 1923, the oldest daughter of the late John Wesley Kindley and Hazel Spoon Kindley. Being the oldest daughter she played a huge role in helping raise her younger siblings. Farm life was hard work but she was filled with determination and could accomplish anything she set her mind to do. Because of living in the hardest of times, she was always so thankful for all she had in her adult life.
She met her husband, Donald McElreath, in the third grade when his family moved to the area from Asheville. They remained sweethearts and were married in July, 1942. When he went into W.W.II she counted the days for his return (he was in service for 3 years, 3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days). She had a job during the war sewing parachutes for the soldiers.
In 1954 she began work in the cafeteria at Tabernacle Elementary School and continued work there for 34 years (only missing one sick day). The meals were cooked "from scratch" then. After her retirement in 1988, former students would often talk about the homemade yeast rolls, turkey & dressing, cobbler, home-cooked veggies and melt-in-your-mouth chocolate cake. She loved the school environment and knew all the children, living just about a mile from the school. She would often put money in the cash box so a child could have an extra plate.
During the summer, she kept some children. Her nieces, nephews and neighboring children were most always in and out visiting her home. They enjoyed her adventurous spirit and she always had a project of interest going on to keep them entertained.
She loved her dogs, Buster, Sambo and Abby. Mrs. McElreath cherished and loved her family and friends.
She loved her garden and growing all varieties of flowering plants. She liked it when visitors would say "I think you have at least one of everything."
Her philosophy of life, which she shared very often with family, was "work like your going to live forever and pray as if you will die in the next minute".
We will miss her love, wit and wisdom. She was the spark in our lives.
In addition to her parents and husband she was preceded in death by her brothers, Frank Kindley, Bennie Lee Kindley, Lewis Kindley, and William Arthur Kindley; sisters, Marie Hunt, Lois Dickens and Elizabeth Carter.
Mrs. McElreath is survived by her daughter, Barbara M. Davis and husband, Eddie of Asheboro; sister, Stella Edwards of Asheboro; and stepsister, Janet Hollifield of Asheboro. She is also survived by many cherished nephews and nieces, who lovingly call her "Aunt Ede".
Viewing hours will be at Ridge Funeral Home on Thursday, December 10, 2015 from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A private graveside service will be conducted by Revs. Joe and Judy Beane at Randolph Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Hospice of Randolph, P.O. Box 9, Asheboro, NC 27204 or Tabernacle Elementary School (Library Fund), 4901 Tabernacle School Rd., Asheboro, NC 27205
Events
| Birth | 10 May 1923 | Tabernacle, Randolph, North Carolina, United States | |||
| Marriage | 18 Jul 1942 | SC - Donald Willam McElreath | |||
| Death | 8 Dec 2015 | Randolph Hospice House, Asheboro, Randolph, North Carolina, United States |  | ||
| Burial | 10 Dec 2015 | Randolph Memoral Park, Asheboro, Randolph, North Carolina, United States |
Families
| Spouse | Donald Willam McElreath (1922 - ) |
| Child | Barbara McElreath ( - ) |
| Father | John Wesley Kindley (1902 - 1983) |
| Mother | Hazel Spoon (1907 - 1938) |
| Sibling | Anna Marie Kindley (1927 - ) |
| Sibling | Mary Lois Kindley (1929 - ) |
| Sibling | Stella Lucille Kindley (1930 - 2018) |
| Sibling | Frank Kindley (1932 - ) |
Endnotes
1. Death Notice: Ridge Funeral Home, Asheboro, NC.