Category: 1963

Aubrey Frank Lancaster ’63, of Ooltewah, Tenn., died July 26, 2007, after a brief illness. Aubrey was retired from SCT, Inc. and Corley Manufacturing, Co. He was a member of New Hope Presbyterian Church and was preceded in death by his mother, Doris Lancaster. Survivors include his wife, Michael Jean Lancaster, 8507 Streamside Dr., Ooltewah, TN 37363-9468; son, Frank Hilton Lancaster (Susan); daughter, Elizabeth Lancaster Hopson (Anthony); six grandchildren, Michael Tabb Lancaster, Thomas Aubrey Lancaster, Gary Paul Hopson, Sam Anthony Hopson, Maxfield Hilton Lancaster, and Rachel Elizabeth Hopson; father, Hilton Lancaster; three sisters, Arlene White (Albert), Claire Rosanne Lyford (Bill), and Suzanne Roberson (Sonny); and several nieces and nephews.

Walter Olin Nisbet III ’63 of Charlotte died at home on June 25 from complications related to Alzheimer’s disease. Following in his father’s footsteps, he graduated from Davidson College. At Davidson, he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Following graduation in 1963, he served in the U.S. Army as a first lieutenant 1963–65 and attended Harvard University where he earned an M.B.A. Returning to Charlotte, he was employed by Interstate Securities and in 1973, founded Sterling Capital Management, an investment management firm, where he served as president, chairman, and director until he retired in 2000. He also founded the N.C. Cash Management Trust. His service on corporate boards included United Asset Management, Conner Corporation, Kitty Hawk Capital, Process Systems, Data South Computer Corporation, and Manetta Mills, Inc. Olin was greatly committed to his beloved alma mater, Davidson College, and he served as a successful leader in a number of critical endeavors focused on the future of the college. His last term as a trustee was served as chairman of the board during which he presided at the inauguration in 1997 of Davidson’s sixteenth president, Robert F. Vagt. He was the founding chairman of the board of directors of The Duke Mansion and the William States Lee Institute. Also, he was a founding director of the World T.E.A.M. Sports, a trustee of Episcopal High School, and a member and deacon of the Myers Park Presbyterian Church. Survivors include his wife, Marian McGowan Nisbet, 401 Hermitage Rd., Charlotte, N.C. 28207, two sons, W. Olin “Chip” Nisbet IV ’86 and his wife Amanda, of New York City, and William McGowan Nisbet and his wife Lynne of Charleston, S.C., and two grandchildren, Alannah and Travers Nisbet of New York City. He is also survived by two sisters, Rebecca Nisbet Rencher, and Jane Nisbet Goode and her husband Seddon ‘Rusty’ Goode ’54. His legacy is that of a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather and a loyal friend, as well as a respected businessman and investor, and a generous supporter of his community he so loved. We will always remember his engaging smile and his infectious laugh. Memorial contributions, in lieu of flowers, can be made to the W. Olin and Marian Nisbet Scholarship at Davidson College, Box 7174, Davidson, N.C. 28035, or to Hospice and Palliative Care of Charlotte, 1420 East 7th Street, Charlotte, NC 28204.

Kurtis C. Hess ’63 of Irvington began his final journey on April 25, 2007, after a seven-year battle with He taught for twenty years at Union Theological Seminary–PSCE in Richmond, serving as director of field education and placement and as director of institutional effectiveness. In 1958, he spearheaded a petition to overturn Gov. Lindsay Almond’s decision to avoid integration by closing schools in Prince Edward County. Look magazine called Dr. Hess “Dixie’s Newest Rebel,” attracting nation-wide attention of the press for this historic meeting. At Davidson, he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon. He was a graduate of Union Theological Seminary-PSCE, and McCormick Seminary. He served three churches: Faison Presbyterian Church (N.C.), Mt. Horeb Presbyterian Church (Va.) and Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church (Va.). As presbytery executive of the Blue Ridge, he was a staunch advocate of female clergy, introducing a large number to the Presbyterian Church. In 1981, he established the TASTE of Ministry, training young pastors during their first years of ministry. In the fall of 2005, Union named him professor emeritus of supervised ministry. Dr. Hess authored multiple manuals, book and quick reference guide for church government. Recently, Kurtis served as an advocate for the elderly as Chaplain of Palliative Care at Rappahannock General Hospital. Survivors include his wife, of forty-one years, Jean C. Hess, PO Box 2269, Kilmarnock, Va. 22482-2269; daughters Karen H. Carr and husband Peter; Susan H. Pickeral and husband Doug; son John K. Hess and wife Kimberly; seven grandchildren; Jessica, Crystal, Rachel, Alexis, Eleanor, April and Allison; mother, Dorothy M. Hess; brother, Ronald Hess.

George Thomas Abernathy, Jr. ’63 died in Augusta, on December 26, 2006. He was a WarwickHigh School, Davidson, and the University of Virginia Law School. He was a practicing attorney with the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate; Marshall, Blaylock, Garner and Millner; and retired from Bell South Legal Dept. Survivors include his sister, Susan Abernathy McCreary, and husband, Robert; niece, Mallory McCreary and nephew, Robert G. McCreary. He was preceded in death by his parents, Estelle and George Abernathy. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Riverside Health System Foundation (AbernathyGarden at Causey’s Mill) in Tom’s memory. Address is: 701 Town Center Dr., Suite 1000, Newport News, Va. 23606

David S. Breiten ’63 of New York City and Newark Valley, N.Y., died on July 16. After graduating from Davidson, he served as an executive officer in the U.S. Navy and received his M.B.A. from Rutgers University in 1974. He is survived by his wife of thirty-seven years, Kathleen, 565 West End Ave., Apt. 2D, New York, New York 10024-2708; his daughter Kristen Breiten of Washington, D.C.; his son and daughter-in-law, Paul and Lynn Breiten, of Williamsport, Penn.; three grandchildren; and his brother John W. Breiten of Hancock, N.Y.