Arnold James Hyde

Arnold J. Hyde died on Saturday, March 27, 2010, at Givens Estates Health Center after an extended illness. He was born on Sept. 9, 1914, in Graham County, NC, son of Troy and Rilla Phillips Hyde. He was a graduate of Western Carolina University where he served on the Board of Trustees for 22 years. In 1964 he received the Distinguished Service Award given by the Western Carolina University Alumni Association. Later he pursued graduate work at the School of Social Work at UNC-Chapel Hill. He taught at schools in Stecoah, Robbinsville and Polk County where he also coached basketball, winning the championship with his girls' basketball team. He was a social worker in Graham County, and during World War II he worked for the federal government in New Orleans, LA. In 1950 he moved to Buncombe County where he assumed the position of field representative with the NC State Commission for the Blind, working there until he retired in 1973. He was a dedicated Lion from 1946 until his death. He was a charter member of the Enka Lions Club where he served in many capacities. He was the recipient of many awards for his work with the Lions, including being given the Melvin Jones Fellow Award for his dedicated humanitarian services by the International Lions Foundation. One of his proudest accomplishments was raising the funds with the Lions for the development of the McCune Center for the Handicapped. His avocation was developing hybrid rhododendron and his award winning azalea and rhododendron gardens were enjoyed by many people. The International Rhododendron Society toured his gardens on Queen Road, Candler, where he lived with his wife and family for 41 years before moving to Givens Estates in 2005. He is survived by his beloved wife of 66 years Dorothy R. Hyde who resides at Givens Estates. In his later years, he would say many times his biggest accomplishment was his family. He was proudest of his two daughters Drs. Brenda Hyde Rogers and Diane Hyde Sasson, who is married to Dr. Jack Sasson. He is survived by three grandsons David Sasson and his wife Gabrielle and their two children Adina and Benjamin; Dr. Noah Sasson and his wife Dr. Amy Pinkham; and Daniel Sasson. In addition, he is survived by two sisters Reba Hamilton and Ruby Nell George of Robbinsville and a nephew who was devoted to him in his later years Jerry Hyde as well as numerous other loved nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by brothers Claude, Bill, and Marshall and sisters Leone and Maggie Lee. The funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 30, 2010, at Groce Funeral Home, 1401 Patton Avenue, Asheville. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home prior to the service. Memorials can be made to the Arnold J. and Dorothy R. Hyde Scholarship Fund, c/o Enka Lions Club, P. O. Box 250, Enka, NC 28728 or the Marjorie McCune Center, 101 Lions Way, Black Mountain, NC 28711.