Edwin Ralph Church

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A celebration of life for Mr. Edwin Ralph Church, age 99 years 9 months and 9 days of Ferguson. 

Mr. Church was born July 29, 1925, in Wilkes County to William Albert and Bessie Lee Eller Church. He was a past Deacon at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church and was the oldest living member at his passing. 

He was preceded in death by his wife Betty Huffman Church, four sisters-his twin sister Edna Crotts, Iris Church, Melba Barnett and Alona Veneta Church; and four brothers-Ralph Church, Thomas Gwyn Church, Jimmie Gary Church, and William Cears Church. 

Surviving is his son Dwight Church and wife Loretta of N. Wilkesboro, his daughter Teresa Bynum and husband Clancy of Ferguson. Two brothers, Bobby Church and wife Maxine of Ferguson, Lloyd Church of Wilkesboro and one sister Doris Kearney of Pfafftown, and granddaughter Sarah Holleman and husband James and great-grandson James Holleman, Jr (JJ) and numerous nieces and nephews. 

Dad retired from the NC Dept. of Agriculture as a Poultry Inspector and ran his farm, which he loved to do. “Miss Betty,” as he affectionately called her, retired from the Wilkes County School system which she was the secretary at Mt. Pleasant Elementary School. Dad and Miss Betty were married for 68 ½ years at the time of her passing. 

Dad is the last remaining member of The Church Brothers and Their Blue Ridge Ramblers bluegrass band back in 1948-1951 in Wilkes County. The band was made up of his two brothers William Cears Church and Ralph Church, cousin Ward Eller, Drake Walsh and many others. The Church Brothers were inducted into International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum in Owensboro, Ky. 

Dad was a member of Mt. Pleasant Masonic #573 for 77 years and was a past Master of the lodge in 1968 and a faithful member. He was the oldest member of Mt. Pleasant with age and the number of years too. He started his masonic journey in October 1948 and loved to come to the lodge and be with all his brothers. Dad received numerous awards for being an active mason which were 25, 50, 60, 70 and 75 years certificates. On May 4th, 1968, he became a 32 degree Scottish Rite Mason. 

He was a WWII veteran. He entered the Army on August 19, 1944, and was Pfc with 5th Army CO A 101st MP Battalion and was deployed on April 5, 1945. He landed in Naples, Italy and traveled thru Florence and was stationed in Rosetta, Italy. He was awarded the EAME Service Medal, Meritorious Unit Award, GO 15 HQ CBS and World War II Victory Medal on February 1, 1946, he was honorably discharged on November 9, 1946, at Ft. Bragg, NC. 

A funeral service will be held at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, with Rev. Kevin Brown. Visitation will be from 12:30 PM until 1:45 PM with service at 2:00 PM, thereafter with a burial in the church cemetery with Military Honors and Masonic Rites. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to SECU Hospice Center of Yadkin, 243 N. Lee Avenue, Yadkinville, NC 27055, Mt. Pleasant Masonic Lodge #573, or to Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church cemetery fund. 

Online condolences may be made to www.reinssturdivant.com.

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