Friday, Aug. 12, 2005

William Monroe Melear, 84, Rico Community, Palmetto, died Aug. 2, 2005. He was born in 1921 in Newnan, son of the late John Virgil and Ludie Melear. He was preceded in death by a great-granddaughter, Annabella Villacci, who died March, 2005 at six months from mitochondrial disease, a son-in-law, Don Wagner, a brother, Raymond Melear, and a sister, Florence Pope. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Pacific theater as a Navy coxswain aboard the USS Charles Carroll. He was a member of Providence Baptist Church in the Rico community where he lead congregational singing and was a deacon. He was a member and past Master of the Capitol View Masonic Lodge, as well as a member and former president of the South Fulton Chamber of Commerce. He was named “Mr. South Fulton” by his contemporaries and in 2003, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners honored him by naming a portion of the South Fulton Parkway in his honor. He operated a pit-cooked barbecue for nearly 25 years in Union City. It was begun in 1946 by his father. He retired in 1989. His restaurant was named “Best of Atlanta” in 1978 by the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Gov. Joe Frank Harris named him “Georgia’s Barbecue King” in 1985 as well as deeming Nov. 1, 1985 as “Bill Melear Day” in Georgia.

Services were at Providence Baptist Church with interment at the Rico Community Cemetery.

Survivors include wife, Nora Elizabeth “Betty” Smith Melear, Palmetto; a son, Carl and Faith Melear, Rome, Ga.; daughters, Linda Wagner, Newnan, and Bonnie and David Goode, Palmetto; grandchildren, Melea Goode and fiancée Greg Brett, Melanie and Rob Riddle, Jennifer and Freddie Villacci, and Conner Melear; great-grandchildren, Elizabeth Grace Riddle, Robert Riddle, and William Riddle, and Vincent Villacci; brother, Marvin Melear, Chattanooga, Kenneth Melear, Fayetteville, and Harvey Melear, Fairburn; and sisters, Dorothy Stephens, Palmetto, and Edna Mitchell, Fairburn.

Memorial donations may be made to the Providence Baptist Church Building Fund, 6402 Campbellton Redwine Road, Palmetto, GA 30268, or the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation, 8085 Saltsburg Rd., Suite, 201, Pittsburgh, PA 15239.

Carl J. Mowell & Son Funeral Home, Fayetteville, was in charge.

Ethan Christopher Alain

Ethan Christopher Alain, 4, Sharpsburg, died Aug. 3, 2005. He was born April 27, 2001 in Clayton County.

Services were at Crossroads Church with Pastor Ken Adams and Randy Gravitt officiating.

Survivors include his parents, Chris and Julie Alain, Sharpsburg; a brother, Ryan Alain, Sharpsburg; a sister, Haley Alain, Sharpsburg; and grandmothers, Carol Alain, Wildwood, Fla., and Carol Warren, Clermont, Fla.

Memorial donations may be made to the CureSearch, Processing Center, P. O. Box 8926, Topeka, KS 66608, or the Lighthouse Family Retreat, 5955 Shiloh Road, East, Suite 108, Alpharetta, GA 30005.

Parrott Funeral Home, Fairburn, was in charge.

David Lee “Pete” Clark

David Lee “Pete” Clark, 84, Senoia and Union City, died Aug. 3, 2005. He was born Aug. 25, 1920 in Draper City, Va. He was preceded in death by his first wife, of 57 years, Dorothy Harris Clark. He had worked for Delta Air Lines for 31 years, retiring in 1982. He was a deacon at the College Park First Baptist Church and the Emmanuel Baptist Church. He led Sunday School departments and was active in many charitable and community projects.

Services were at the Carl J. Mowell chapel with the Rev. Ron Whitlock and the Rev. Bill Barner officiating.

Survivors include his wife, Martha Gill Clark; a son, Ben and Carol Gill, Dublin, Ohio;  daughters, Barbara Bassett, Robinsville, N. C., Beth and Michael Zoffmann Sr., Atlanta and Toccoa, Ga., and Marla Gill and Tim Dugan, Villa Rica; grandchildren, Jim and Paola Bassett, Jeff and Crim Bassett, Chris and Audra Bassett, Shari Zoffmann and T. K. Boecker, Andrew Zoffmann, John Dugan, Thomas Dugan, James Dugan, Marissa and Nichole Gill; great-grandchildren; Elijah and Booth Bassett; and brothers, Hugh Burnette, Frank, and John Clark.

Memorial donations may be made to Emmanuel Baptist Church, 230 Highway 138 SW, Riverdale, GA 30274.

Carl J. Mowell & Son Funeral Home, Fayetteville, was in charge.

Anton Porupca

Anton Porupca, 71, Newnan, died Aug. 4, 2005. He was born in 1934 in Romania to Constantin and Elena Porupca. He married in 1969, living in Romania until 1988, then the moved to Holland, and in 1991, moved to America. He worked for Snapper Products until his retirement in 2002.

Services were at the Jones Funeral Home chapel with Pastor Father Nicolae Clempus officiating. Interment was at Westminster Memorial Cemetery, Peachtree City.

Survivors include his wife of 40 years, Veronica Porupca; daughters, Roxana Gazinschi, and Daniela Duran; a sister, Virginia Balan; and three grandchildren.

Jones Funeral Home, Newnan, was in charge.

 

John Roberson

John Roberson, 49, Newnan, died Aug. 5, 2005. He was born Jan. 4, 1956 in Fulton County. He was preceded in death by his mother, Lorine Elsberry Robertson, a brother, Sam Roberson, and a nephew, Stephen Roberson. He had been employed by Georgia Power Company for 25 years, and was in plant maintenance the last 16 years at Plant Yates, Newnan. He was a Georgia Bulldog fan, and loved NASCAR.

Services were at the Carl Mowell chapel with Pastor David Arrington officiating. Interment was at Camp Memorial Park, Fayetteville.

Survivors include his wife, Linda Roberson, Newnan; a daughter, Amanda Roberson, Athens; his father, George Roberson, Fayetteville; a sister, Norma and Percy Shierling, Fayetteville; a brother-in-law, Jim D. and Betty Smith, Eufaula, Ala.; step-sisters, Michael Ann Goff, and Sherrie Lee and Jimmy Fraley, all of Pasadena, Md.; nephews, Philip Roberson, Senoia, Aubrey Goff, Jeffery Fraley, and Jason Fraley, all of Pasadena, and Clinton L. Smith, Eufaula, Ala.; nieces, Kristin and Tom Brenna, Fayetteville, Kathy and David Screws, and Beth and Roger Fisher, all of College Park, and Audra Gem and Grey Youngblood, Selma, Ala.; and great-nephews, Brandon Reagan, Matthew Screws, Jeff Brenna, Jon Brenna, Tyler Goff and Cal Youngblood.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association.

Carl J. Mowell & Son Funeral Home, Fayetteville, was in charge.

 

Andrew Schlick

Andrew Schlick, 70, Sharpsburg, died Aug. 8, 2005. He was born Nov. 10, 1934 in Place, Penn. He was a retired Easter Airlines pilot.

Services were at Holy Trinity Catholic Church with interment at Westminster Memorial Gardens.

Survivors include his wife, Martha R. Schlick; daughters, Amy Schlick, and Erin Schlick; and a sister, Audrey Faessel.

Carmichael-Hemperley Funeral Home, Peachtree City, was in charge.