Roy A. Townsend

HUNTERSVILLE – Roy Allen Townsend, 97, of Huntersville, died May 2, 2011, at his home.

Born Aug. 13, 1913, in Chicago, Ill., Mr. Townsend was a son of the late D.J. and Gertrude Miller Townsend.

He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and worked for Southern Pacific Railroad for 45 years. He was a member of Mountain Island Church of Christ in Charlotte.

His wife of 66 years, Myrteal Rasbeary Townsend; son, Kenneth Allen Townsend; grandson Christopher Blake Whitson; and brothers David M. and Oscar L. Townsend preceded him in death.

Survivors include his daughter, Judy T. Albert, and husband, Jim, Huntersville; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

A funeral service was held Friday, May 6, at Rosewood Funeral Home, in Humble, Texas, with burial in the Rosewood Cemetery. Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home, assisted the family locally.

Memorials: Hospice of Lake Norman, 705 Griffith St., suite 203, Davidson, NC 28036.

William A. Tracy

HUNTERSVILLE – William Anthony Tracy, former director of the New Jersey State Employment Service, died May 3, 2011, of complications stemming from lymphoma. Mr. Tracy also served as the first executive director of the New Jersey State Employment and Training Commission and the first executive director of the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University.

Survivors include his wife, son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter.

A funeral service was held Saturday, May 7, at Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home.

Memorials: Levine & Dickson Hospice House, Huntersville, NC 28078.

Frederick B. Prior

HUNTERSVILLE – Frederick Bingham Prior, 81, of Huntersville, died May 5, 2011, at Levine & Dickson Hospice House.

Born Dec. 30, 1929, in Newburgh, N.Y., Mr. Prior was a son of the late Harry Bingham and Eva Mae Carlue Prior.

He retired from the U.S. Army Security Agency, Unit 10 at Arlington Hall Station, Va., and later from Shell Oil Co. He was an avid craftsman and woodworker, and some of his folk art has been exhibited at the Smithsonian Institution and Museum and appeared in Smithsonian and Southern Living magazines.

Survivors include his wife, Sarah Riddle Prior; sons David Prior and wife, Lynda,  Huntersville, Harry Prior and wife, Kathy, Seattle, Wash., Michael Prior and wife, Linda, Jeffersonton, Va., and Frederick Prior Jr. and wife, Debbie, North Beach, Md.; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. Samuel S. James, Funeral Service Licensee, is assisting the family.

Memorials: Levine & Dickson Hospice House, 11900 Vanstory Drive, Huntersville, NC 28078.

Vernie C. Brotherton

DAVIDSON – Vernie Curley Brotherton, 88 of Davidson, died Friday, May 6, 2011, at Brian Center Mooresville.

Born Nov. 25, 1922, in Mecklenburg County, Mrs. Brotherton was a daughter of the late William Gaither and Ola Woods Curley.

Her husband, Marvin Kenneth Brotherton, died in 2005.

Survivors include her son, Kenneth William Brotherton; daughters Lynne Hybarger, Kathy Arnold and Lisa Brotherton and husband, Dennis Hopkins; sister, Nadine Freeze; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held Thursday, May 12, at 3 p.m. at Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home, Huntersville, with burial following in Mimosa Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

David G. Bullock

DAVIDSON – David Gary Bullock, 76, of Davidson, died May 5, 2011, in Front Royal, Va.

Born Dec. 16, 1934, in Trenton, N.J., Mr. Bullock was a son of the late Samuel Edward and Mildred Harriet Bullock.

After growing up in Flemington, N.J., he married Minerva Hoffman on Aug. 4, 1954, and the family lived in Neshanic Station, N.J., until 1983 when he retired to Davidson.

He worked for the N.J. Department of Transportation, where he was a principal bridge inspector, for 31 years. He was a life member of the Neshanic Volunteer Fire Department and served as president in 1961 and 62, and chief from 1968 to 70. He was a member and former director of the National Hudson, Essex & Terraplane Club since 1961, a 55-year member and past master of Darcy Lodge 37 in Flemington, N.J., past grand chaplain of New Jersey and a dual member of Williams Lodge 176 in North Carolina. He was a 31-year member of OES and officer of Mecklenburg 90 OES, Cornelius, and past patron of Darcy Chapter 138. He was a longtime member of the Converted Coach chapter, FMCA, Dixie Travelers and Southeast Bus Nuts and belonged to Mount Zion Methodist Church in Cornelius. On his last day, he drove his converted Greyhound bus to an automobile show for Hudson cars.

His sister, Laura Lou Snyder Fraunfelker, and brother, Alan Bruce Bullock, preceded him in death.

Survivors, in addition to his wife of 54 years, include their daughter, Karen, Davidson; sons Peter and wife, Allison, Statesville, Richard and wife, Joann, Neshanic Station, N.J.; Gary and wife, MaryAnn, Anchorage, Alaska; and four grandchildren.

A Masonic graveside service will be held Saturday, May 14, at 2 p.m. at Mimosa Cemetery. A memorial service will follow at 3 p.m. Saturday at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, conducted by the Rev. Mike Bailey, with the family visiting with friends afterward. Samuel S. James, Funeral Service Licensee, Huntersville is in charge.

Memorials: Mount Zion United Methodist Church, 19600 Zion Ave., Cornelius, NC 28031 or donor’s choice.

Ruby H. James

HUNTERSVILLE – Ruby Lee Hager James, 88, of Huntersville, died May 7, 2011, at Huntersville Oaks.

Born Feb. 10, 1923, in Mecklenburg County, Mrs. James was a daughter of the late Robert W. and Ada Porter Hager.

Her husband, John Wesley “Guy” James, and daughter, Cynthia Louise James, preceded her in death.

Survivors include her son, Ronnie James, and wife, Linda, Huntersville; two grandchildren; and a great-grandson.

A funeral service was held Tuesday, May 10, at Christ Community Church, conducted by the Rev. Jack Homesley, with burial following at First Baptist Church-Huntersville. Samuel S. James, Funeral Service License, was in charge.

Memorials: Hospice of Lake Norman, 705 Griffith St., suite 203, Davidson, NC 28036.