Category: 1966

Dr. Stephen Edwin Rostan, a well-loved Moore County physician, died at his home on July 10, 2024. He was 79. Dr. Rostan joined Dr. John Haserick at Pinehurst Dermatology in 1976. He was proud and honored to have served the sandhills and surrounding communities as a dermatologist and dermatopathologist for 34 years. He felt fortunate to have been associated with Moore Memorial Hospital, serving many years as a member and chair of the hospital’s education committee, and once as chief of staff. Dr. Rostan graduated from Valdese High School where he was an outstanding athlete and student leader, serving as president of his Senior Class. He graduated from Davidson College where he was a Dana Scholar, president of Alpha Epsilon Delta (pre-med honorary society), and a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity. Dr. Rostan graduated from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and completed his internship and residency in dermatology at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, TX, where he was promoted to Major. He also served at Womack Army Hospital in Fort Bragg, NC. Dr. Rostan was active in the community and with his sons’ sports teams. He was a generous donor to charitable causes and a member of Brownson Memorial Presbyterian Church. Steve loved Davidson College, especially Wildcats basketball. He became a very good tennis player and enjoyed a competitive game followed by a cold beer. He was preceded in death by his parents, Stephen and Hattie Reynolds; and by his first wife and mother of their sons, Barbara Hay.

He is survived by his wife, Wendy Brown Rostan; sons, Robert S. Rostan (Elizabeth), Charlotte, NC, and Scott W. Rostan (Stephanie) Hoboken, NJ; sisters, June Rostan (Bob Ferguson and his sons, Robbie and Mike Ferguson) and Renee Rostan and her daughter, Holly Anderson; grandsons, Luke and Xavier Rostan of Hoboken, NJ; stepdaughters, Olivia Webb (Brett), Jenna Webb (Michael Todd) and Holly Webb; stepgrandchildren, Larkin Webb and Adeline Todd; and loyal friend, Pat Henderson.

The family thanks the nurses and caregivers of FirstHealth Hospice and Comfort Keepers for their wonderful care for Dr. Rostan after his health and mobility declined due to Parkinson’s.

According to Dr. Rostan’s wishes, burial will be in Valdese, NC. Friends and family are invited to the graveside service at the Waldensian Presbyterian Church Cemetery at 1141 Praley Street SW and to the visitation/reception following at Le Phare des Alpes hall at 301 Laurel Street SE. The graveside service will be held at 11 a.m., on Thursday, July 18, 2024.

Friends, family, and patients of Dr. Rostan are invited to a celebration of life at Brownson Memorial Presbyterian Church, Southern Pines, NC, held at 11 a.m., on Friday, July 19, 2024 followed by a visitation/reception.

Memorials can be made to FirstHealth Hospice, 215 Campground Road, West End, NC 27376.

James Pinckney Whitson, 78, of Talladega, AL passed away on November 24, 2023, of heart failure. James, known as “Jim”, was a beloved husband, father, and grandfather.

Jim received his AB in Economics at Davidson College in 1966 while registered in the Reserved Officer Training Program. After graduation, Jim served as a Captain in the United States Army’s 3 D Infantry Division, stationed in Würzburg, Germany from 1966 to 1969. While in Germany, Jim met and married. his beloved wife, Josiane, of 51 years. Jim and Josi then returned to the US where Jim attended Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration earning an MBA with Distinction. Upon Jim’s graduation from Harvard, they relocated to Charlotte, NC where Jim was employed by Arthur Andersen & Co and where he and Josi started their family. After eight years with Arthur Anderson, Jim moved on to join ITT Europe, Inc. in Brussels, Belgium as Director, Tax Operations. While in Brussels, Jim and the family found great joy in reconnecting with Josi’s family, traveling all over Europe and beyond, enjoying many fine meals, and being heavily involved in scouting and youth soccer. In 1985, Jim completed his assignment in Brussels and was transferred to ITT World Headquarters in New York City, where he rose to Vice President and Director of Taxes. In 1998, Jim accepted the position of Chief Tax Officer of Delphi Automotive Systems in Troy, MI and relocated to Oakland, MI where he and Josi. lived until they moved to Talladega in 2016.

Jim loved entertaining, cooking and eating fine food, enjoying great wines, and traveling far and wide. He especially loved spending time with his friends and family over a home cooked meal. Jim had a fierce intellect and a voracious appetite for learning on any subject and was a wealth of knowledge on a wide range of topics. Throughout his life, Jim loved to lend his time, talents, and knowledge to countless causes, individuals, and organizations. Even after a serious illness in 2021, Jim stayed engaged as head of Talladega’s Industrial Board and Treasurer of the Talladega Main Street non-profit organization.

He is preceded in death by his parents J. Pinckney Whitson and Sarah Totherow Whitson, stepfather J. Carson (Kit) Whitson, and his beloved wife Josiane Vanlerberghe Whitson. He is survived by his son John (Katy) Whitson of Birmingham, AL and his grandchildren Garrett Whitson and Sophie Whitson. A visitation will be held at the Whitson residence in Talladega on Friday, December 1, 2023, from 10:00 to 11:30. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jim’s memory to Talladega First, Inc. – Friends of the Ritz in support of the Historic Ritz Theatre, an organization which he and Josi had supported wholeheartedly.

Donald William “Bill” Tetrick, age 78, of Elizabethton, died Friday, October 7, 2022, in the Johnson City Medical Center following an illness of six months. Bill was born March 26, 1944 in Elizabethton. He was the son of the late Donald W. Tetrick, Sr and Frances Jane Smith Tetrick. Bill lived his whole life in Elizabethton, a community he loved and was always loyal to.
Bill graduated in 1962 from Elizabethton High School where he was a star forward on the basketball team. His senior year the team won the Big 7 Conference Championship and Bill was the co-captain of the team. Following graduation from Elizabethton High School Bill went to Davidson College and then on to East Tennessee State University, graduating in 1968 with a degree in Business Administration.
Bill was a member of the Elizabethton High School Sports Hall of Fame and the Carter County Sports Hall of Fame.
He was in the United States Marine Corps Reserves serving for six years. During his tenure in the Marine Corps he was on the basketball team that won the Fleet Marine Corps Basketball Championship of the East Coast. For many years Bill also raced NASCAR Late Model Sportsman Racing, racing on many dirt and paved tracks throughout the southeast.
Bill coached Church League Basketball for the First United Methodist Church and Boys Club Basketball for many years. He was a Cub Scout Den Leader for five years.
Bill was a member of Memorial Presbyterian Church of Elizabethton where he served as a Deacon.
He owned and operated Happy Valley Memorial Park since 1980, where he worked hard to make the cemetery one of the finest cemeteries in the southeast.
He was a lover of animals, enjoying his horses, dogs and cats. Bill enjoyed traveling with his wife and family to many parts of the world. He and his wife Julie were fortunate enough to go two times to Africa on photo safaris of the African animals.
Bill is survived by his wife, Julie Williams Tetrick of the home, two daughters, Ashley Tetrick of Johnson City and Ronda L. Greaves of Charleston SC (Dr. Robert), one son, Jared Tetrick (Erica) of Johnson City, two grandchildren, Mason Tetrick and Maggie Elizabeth Crosby Tetrick, both of Johnson City, his brother Richard Tetrick (Norma) of Elizabethton, a nephew, Tyler Tetrick (Elizabeth), a grand nephew, Tristan Donald Tetrick, four cousins, Judy Pertle, Ken Bodner, Drew Bodner and Steve Smith, two sisters-in-law, Gail Buckles, and Teresa Holly (Garry).
A funeral for Bill Tetrick, will be conducted at 2:00 P M Sunday, October 16, 2022, in the Memorial Presbyterian Church of Elizabethton with Rev. Tim Mindemann officiating. Music will be under the direction Ziad and Katie El Helou, Teri Money, pianist and David Arney, organist.
A committal at Happy Valley Memorial Park will immediately follow the funeral. A military graveside will be conducted at the committal and the service will conclude with Jon Shell playing the bagpipes.
Active pallbearers who are asked to meet at the church by 1:45 PM Sunday will be; Tyler Tetrick, Garry Holly, Russell Hensley, John L Bowers, III, Charlie Bowman, Jeff Lewis, Mike Brock, Austin Clawson, Kyler Lewis, Kilroy Hill and Jeff Davis.
Honorary pallbearers will be; Sam Bradshaw, Jack Clark, Steve Hubbard, Roy Huskins, Mike Matthews, Larry Proffitt, David Robinson, Ed Robinson, Dick Ryan, David Sheffey, Pete Slagle, S. Joe Taylor, Employees and Former Employees of Happy Valley Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, October 15, 2022 from 6:00 PM till 8:00 PM in the chapel of the funeral home. Friends may register at the funeral home at their convenience.
Those wishing to make donations in memory of Bill may donate to the Memorial Presbyterian Church, 100 East F Street, Elizabethton, TN 37643
Words of sympathy may be sent to the family through our website, www.tetrickfuneralhome.com.
Tetrick Funeral Home-Riverside Chapel, 211 North Riverside Drive (423-542-2232) is honored to serve the family of Bill Tetrick.