Edwin Ralph Church

Mr. Church was born July 29, 1925, in Wilkes County to William Albert and Bessie Lee Eller Church. He was a past deacon at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church and was the church’s 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 North Wilkesboro; his daughter, Teresa Bynum, and husband, Clancy, of Ferguson; two brothers, Bobby Church, and wife, Maxine, of Ferguson, Lloyd Church, of Wilkesboro; one sister, Doris Kearney, of Pfafftown, and one granddaughter, Sarah Holleman, and husband, James; and one great-grandson, James Holleman Jr (JJ) and by numerous nieces and nephews.

Dad retired from the N.C. Department 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, where she was the secretary at Mount Pleasant Elementary School. Dad and Miss Betty were married for 68½ years at the time of her passing.

Dad was the last remaining member of The Church Brothers and Their Blue Ridge Ramblers, a 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 the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum in Owensboro, Ky.

Dad was a member of Mount Pleasant Masonic Lodge #573 for 77 years and was a past master of the lodge in 1968 and a faithful member. He was the oldest member of Mount Pleasant in 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 of his brothers. Dad received numerous awards for being an active Mason, which were 25-, 50-, 60-, 70- and 75-year certificates. On May 4t, 1968, he became a 32 degree Scottish Rite Mason.

He was a WWII veteran. He entered the Army on Aug. 19, 1944, and was private first class with theb 5th Army Co. A 101st MP Battalion. He was deployed on April 5, 1945. He landed in Naples, Italy, and traveled through Florence and was stationed in Rosetta, Italy. He was awarded the Meritorious Unit Award, GO 15 HQ CBS and World War II Victory Medal on Feb. 1, 1946. He was honorably discharged on Nov. 9, 1946, at Fort Bragg.

A funeral service will be held at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, with Rev. Kevin Brown. Visitation will be from 12:30-1:45 p.m., with service at p.m., followed by 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, N.C., 27055; Mount Pleasant Masonic Lodge #573; or to Mount Pleasant Baptist Church cemetery fund.

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