Dean Harvey Ross

HUNTERSVILLE – Funeral services for Dean Harvey Ross will be held in Ohio at a later date.

Ross, 65, of Huntersville, died Sept. 8.

Born Aug. 31, 1947, in Cleveland, Ohio, he was a son of Dorothy Francis Ross of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, and the late John Harvey Ross.

A U.S. Army veteran, he received the Bronze Star medal for service in Vietnam.

In addition to his mother, he is survived by his brother, John Francis Ross and wife Tamara of Cornelius; sister, Sandra McGuire of Aurora, Ohio; nephews, Jonathan Dean Ross of New York, N.Y., and Jeffrey Francis Ross of Atlanta; and niece, Jennifer McGuire Fernandez.

Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association 222 S. Church St., Suite 303, Charlotte NC 28202

Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home, Huntersville assisted the family.

Doris Elizabeth Hooks Fortner

HUNTERSVILLE – Funeral services for Doris Elizabeth Hooks Fortner were held Sept. 15 at Huntersville Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Vern Dodd officiating.

Fortner, 77, of Huntersville, died Sept. 13 at the Gordon Hospice House in Statesville.  Born June 30, 1935, in Iredell County, she was a daughter of the late Rusty Hooks and Lola Pauline Hooks.  She was a retired bookkeeper, loved to dance, read, travel spend time with her family and bake cookies for her grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Ralph and Jimmy Hooks and sisters, Betty Ranson and Ruth Walters.

Survivors include her husband, Roy T. Fortner; daughters, Lorie Overcash of Statesville, Jacquelyn Overcash of Palisades, Calif., Elizabeth Settlemyre and Jennifer Meadows of Mooresville; step-children, James Fortner, Myra Skinner and Elissa Huffsteller; grandchildren, Jared Settlemyre, Amber and Zack Meadows, Dylan, and Jack and Liam Palladino; step-grandchildren, Emily Biggs, Adam Huffsteller, and Jonas and Drew Skinner; great-grandchildren, Isabell, Charlie and Lila Biggs and Jacob and Kara Skinner.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Iredell County, % Gordon Hospice House, 2347 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625.

Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home, Huntersville, assisted the family.

Virginia Tarlton Harris

CORNELIUS – Funeral services for Virginia Tarlton Harris were held Sept. 12 at Bethel Presbyterian Church with the Revs. Dr. Bill Cain and J.E. Wayland Jr. officiating. Burial followed at Sharon Memorial Park.

Harris, 88, of Cornelius, died Sept. 9 at her home.

Born Feb. 15, 1924, in Charlotte, she was a daughter of the late William Alexander Tarlton and Della Messer Tarlton.

She graduated from Central High School, attended Queens College and was a member of Bethel Presbyterian Church, Cornelius.

Including her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Rupert Emerson Harris, Jr.

Survivors include her niece, Becky Balentine of Charlotte; nephews, Alan Balentine and wife Sherrie of Mooresville, Rick Balentine and wife Kathy of Charlotte,  and Bob Balentine of Charlotte, and great nephews, Adam Balentine of Mooresville, Nathaniel Balentine of Landis, William Balentine and wife Jennifer of Kannapolis, and Darren Balentine and wife Karen of Waxhaw; and great nieces, Elizabeth Fife and husband Bill of Mocksville, Ashley Balentine and Leslie Balentine of Charlotte, Jessica Balentine, Rebekah Balentine and Sarah Balentine of Gans, Okla.

Memorials may be made to Bethel Presbyterian Church, 19920 Bethel Church Road, Cornelius, NC 28031, and Hospice of Lake Norman, 705 Griffith St., Davidson, NC 28036.

James Funeral Home, Huntersville, served the family.

Joseph Patrick Cullen

HUNTERSVILLE – Funeral services for Joseph Patrick Cullen will be held Oct. 24 at Arlington National Cemetery.

Cullen, 79, of Huntersville, died Sept. 10 at his home.

Born Jan. 20, 1933, in Portsmouth, N.H., he was a son of the late Capt. Carl Edward Cullen and Margret Clark Cullen.

He served in the U.S. Navy as a highly decorated fighter pilot. He served aboard the USS Coral Sea and USS Midway and flew two combat tours over Vietnam.

He was preceded in death by his brother, William Cullen, of Waterford, Conn.

Survivors include his sons, Michael Joseph Cullen of San Luis Obispo, Calif., and Joseph Patrick Cullen of Waterford Conn.; daughter, Katherine Cullen Farrar of Treasure Island, Fla.; brother Charles “Chick” Cullen, of Huntersville; and six grandchildren.

James Funeral Home served the family.

Ray Allen Ballard

DAVIDSON – Ray Allen Ballard, 71 of Davidson, died Sept. 14, 2012, at Levine Dickson Hospice House.

Born June 14, 1941, in Asheville, he was a son of the late William Jennings Ballard and Maybelle Head Ballard.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his brother, Alvin Jennings Ballard.

Survivors include his wife of 30 years, Amy Jo Ballard; sister, Linda Gail Kennedy Ballard; brother, Gary Eugene Ballard, and Tanner, Whittle and Roxi.

Donations may be made to your local animal shelter.

Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home & Cremation Service is assisting the family.