Seventh Generation

2955. Rev. Virl Richard HEFNER was born on 21 March 1919 in Catawba County, North Carolina. He died on 7 December 2010 at the age of 91 in Pallative Care & Hospice of Catawba Valley, Newton, North Carolina.²⁷¹⁸ He was buried in Catawba Memorial Park, Hickory, Catawba County, NC. His obituary appeared as follows: HICKORY - The Rev. Virl Richard Hefner passed away Dec. 7, 2010, at Palliative CareCenter and Hospice of Catawba Valley. He was born March 21, 1919, in Catawba County, the son of Robey A. and Rosa Lail Hefner. He graduated from Hickory City Schools, Lenior-Rhyne College and Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio. As an ordained Lutheran Pastor he served the dual parishes of Trinity/St James in Ft. Recovery, Ohio, the ALCA mission in Portsmouth, Ohio, and St. John in Ellicott City, Md. Upon returning to North Carolina on a sabbatical, Pastor Hefner served the parish of Mt. Hebron Lutheran in Hildebran. Pastor Hefner upon his retirement served as interim pastor at Calvary Lutheran, Morganton, Good Shepherd Lutheran, Hickory, and St. John Lutheran, Lenoir. He was chaplain at the Lutheran Home for three and one-half years and supply preached for 50 years to the Lutheran congregations in the Unifour area. Pastor Hefner was just recognized for serving 65 years in the Lutheran Ministry. He was also honored as Pastor Emeritus at Old St. Paul's Lutheran Church, having served numerous times as interim pastor to this congregation. He first preached in the old church at an Easter service in 1943. Pastor Hefner was an active genealogist and member of the Catawba County Genealogy and Catawba Historical Association. He was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and founding officer of the Catawba Chapter Sons of the American Revolution. He also served four years as the North Carolina state chaplain of the Sons of the American Revolution. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Dorothy Jane Hefner; his daughter, Margaret Rose Wagner; his great-grandson, Jacob Ubert; his brothers, Roy, Berman, Ira, Floyd and Foy Hefner; and sisters, Pearl Bryant, Clara Sherrill and Bertie Bowman. Survivors include his son, John Hefner, and wife, Kathy, of Raleigh; his daughters, Silvia Finelli and husband, Bob, of Wilton, Mass., Verla Ubert and husband, Bill, of Belgrad, Maine, and Betsy Adams and husband, Jon, of Conover; 14 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12, at Old St. Paul's Lutheran Church by Pastor Robert Sain and Bishop Leonard Bolick. Burial will follow in Catawba Memorial Park. The family will receive friends Saturday, Dec. 11, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Catawba Funerals and Cremations. Memorials may be directed to Palliative CareCenter and Hospice of Catawba Valley, 3975 Robinson Road, Newton, N.C. 28658; or Old St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 2035 Old Conover-Startown Road, Newton, N.C. 28658. Online condolences may be made at www.catawbamemorialpark.com Catawba Memorial Park, Funerals and Cremations is providing professional services to the Hefner family. [Published in Hickory Daily Record on December 10, 2010]

Rev. Virl Richard HEFNER and Dorothy G. GOCKENBACH were married on 18 September 1945 in Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio. Dorothy G. GOCKENBACH was born on 4 October 1922 in Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio. She died on 29 November 2008 at the age of 86 in Abernethy Laurels, Newton, North Carolina. She was buried in Catawba Memorial Park, Hickory, Catawba County, NC.