Category: 1948

Charles Mitchell Gibbs, Jr. ’48 of Cornelia, Ga., died December 27, 2005. He attended Davidson from 1941-1943 and left college to serve in the Fourth Marine Division, “The Fighting Fourth”, during World War II. Prior to being wounded in the Battle of Iwo Jima, he witnessed the raising of the first American flag on Mt. Suribachi. He was a Purple Heart recipient. He returned to Davidson and graduated in 1948. He graduated from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur 1957. He served as pastor in Presbyterian churches in Fork, S.C., Gainesville, and Clarkesville, as well as interim pastor in several other churches in northeast Georgia. He also served as the Stated Clerk of the Athens Presbytery for many years. Survivors include his wife, Ann Campbell Davis Gibbs, 156 Arbutus Trail, Cornelia, Ga. 30531-3800; daughters and sons-in-law, Lila Davis and Wyly Cameron, Los Alamos, N.M., Lee Ann Davis and David Smith, Athens, Shannon Gibbs and Dan Gasaway, Homer, and Carol Gibbs and Ken Crochet, Decatur; son, Charles Mitchell Gibbs, III; and daughter-in-law, Kendra Campbell Gibbs, Raleigh, N.C.; grandchildren, Larissa Cameron Greer, Benjamin Cameron, Justin Smith, Kathryn Smith, Carson Crochet, Clayton Crochet, Campbell Gibbs, Jacob Gibbs, and Cooper Gibbs; siblings, Tilda Gibbs Herrin, Clinton, N.C., and Dr. Stuart Wynn Gibbs, Sr. ’41, Gastonia, N.C.; and several nieces and nephews.

Newlin Pyle Schenck ’48 of Shelby, N.C. died December 7, 2005. He served as secretary and treasurer of Lily Mills Co. for many years and retired as president of Belding Lily Co. After the closing of Belding Lily, he rejoined the staff of Cleveland Mills Co. as director of purchasing until his retirement in 1990. He was a longtime member of Shelby Rotary Club, which honored him as a Paul Harris Fellow. He served as the president in 1970-71. He also served on the Cleveland Memorial Hospital Board for many years and as chairman for several years. He was a member of Masonic Lodge 202. He was one of the organizers of The Salvation Army in Cleveland County and the Cleveland County Boys Club. Cleveland Vocational Industries and Hospice of Cleveland County were also part of his activities. He was a lifelong member of First Baptist Church of Shelby where he was a Sunday school teacher for a period of time and deacon for several years. In addition, he served as a director of First National Bank and was director emeritus at the time of his death. He served in the Korean War with the Sixth Regimental Combat Team. While in the Army, he was awarded two Purple Hearts. Survivors include his wife, Rachel Spangler Schenck, 326 Lamar Ave., Apt. 4, Shelby, N.C. 28150; sons, Hal Emerson Schenck and Mark B. Schenck; daughter, Leslie Schenck Cofer, brother, Michael Schenck; four grandchildren; and a number of loving nieces and nephews.

Billy W. Lassiter ’48 died Dec. 4, 2005, in Davidson. Billy was born April 21, 1927, in Wake County, a son of Hugh and Jayne Cash Lassiter. He was former treasurer with Dize Awning and Tent Co. in Winston-Salem and was a member of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA). He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and was a member of the 9th Avenue Presbyterian Church in North Myrtle Beach, S.C. His wife, Hazel S. Lassiter, to whom he was married on Feb. 28, 1987, passed away Jan. 26, 2007. Surviving are two daughters, Sara Giroux, 1145 Kudzu Ln., Danbury, NC 27016, and Jayne O’Neal; three stepsons, J. Dwight Shoe (Cheri), C. Ralph Shoe, and A. Craig Shoe (Shelia); 12 grandchildren, Tyler Rowland Giroux, Sara Teresa Setzer, Billy Lassiter O’Neal, Colin Taylor O’Neal, Tara Brooke Ewald, Desiree Erin Shoe, Jordan Nicole Shoe, Dillon Michael Louis Shoe, Charles Robert “Rocky” Shoe, Tyler James Shoe, Teresa Shoe, and Andi Chad Shoe; and his beloved canine companion, “Josie.”

Samuel Rosler “Sam” Kimrey ’48 of Sanford, N.C., died August 13, 2005. He attended an army specialized training program in Williamsburg, Va., prior to serving three years in the U.S. Army with the 282nd Combat Engineers Batallion in the European Theatre. He worked with Department of Agriculture for two years in Mexico. He retired as an intelligence analyst from the Department of Defense with his last duty being at Ft. Meade, Md. While in Maryland, he was active in many civic and religious organizations. He served as an elder at Grace Presbyterian Church in Lanham, Md. After returning to Sanford, he served on the board of The Salvation Army, acting as guardian. He also enjoyed membership in the Sanford Kiwanis Club, N.A.R.F.E., American Legion Post #382 and Lee County Genealogical and Historical Association. He was a Mason and a member of First Presbyterian Church and attended the St. Luke Wednesday Morning Prayer Group. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Jacquelyn Siler Kimrey. He is survived by his wife, Margaret Post Rush-Kimrey, 2216 Cliffside Dr, Sanford, N.C. 27330-9320; a daughter, Anne Siler Simrey Weldon of Greenbelt, Md; sisters Emily Kimrey Blue of Sanford and Peggy Kimrey Turner of Weldon; and several nieces and nephews.

Dr. Hugh M. Hill ’48 longtime associate dean for student and alumni affairs in the University of Florida College of Medicine, died July 31, 2005. He was professor emeritus in the department of obstetrics and gynecology. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He earned his medical degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His first faculty appointment was as an instructor of gynecology at Johns Hopkins, and he served as an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. He later joined the faculty of the University of Florida College of Medicine and was honored with the college’s outstanding teaching award. He was named assistant dean of students in 1963. He retired in August 2001, as associate dean for student and alumni affairs, after forty-two years of service. He was a Diplomat to the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, as well as a member of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Medical Association. He was a member of the Johns Hopkins Medical and Surgical Association and vice president of the alumni association of the Johns Hopkins College of Medicine. He was a member of the Howard A. Kelly Society and the South Atlantic Obstetric Gynecologic Society. He also held memberships in the medical associations of Florida and Alachua County. He was elected to the honorary medical society, Alpha Omega Alpha. He was a member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. Survivors include his wife, Ann Lazonby Hill, 1801 NW 30th Ter., Gainesville, Fla. 32605, and daughter Grace Hill ’96 of Washington, D.C.