Hugh Rich Sizemore, Sr.

Arden, NC – Hugh Rich Sizemore, Sr., of 12 Four Oaks Drive, Arden, died on June 17, 2005. A native of Welch, West Virginia, he lived most of his life in Buncombe and Henderson Counties. He was the son of the late Ord Kelly and Ella Mae Sizemore. He was a veteran of World War II serving with the U. S. Navy. He participated in the initial invasion of Normandy Beach. He was a Quartermaster Third Class. He was a graduate of Fletcher High School. He received a BA degree from Brevard College in 1948; a BS from Western Carolina University in 1949; a M.Ed. in history from George Peabody College in Nashville, Tennessee in 1953; and then a M.Ed. in administration from Western Carolina University in 1959. He was a teacher, coach and assistant principal at Valley Springs High School. He then served as principal of Venable Elementary for one year and principal at Charles C. Bell Elementary for 18 years prior to retiring from Buncombe County Schools in 1978. He was preceded in death by his wife, Gloria Maxine Sizemore; four sisters, Ruth Cardwell, Thelma Ward, Helen Burchett and Rita Pack; and three brothers, Dwight Sizemore, Ord Kelly Sizemore and Stewart Sizemore. Surviving are his daughter, Kathy Sizemore Wagstaff and her husband Brinkley; one son, Hugh Rich Sizemore, Jr. and his wife Pam; three grandchildren, Katherine Brinkley Wagstaff, Joseph Sizemore Wagstaff and Kathryn Richelle Sizemore; one brother, Rupert Sizemore of Dunn, N.C.; one sister, Joanne Blair of Elizabethton, Tennessee; many nephews and nieces, and a special and faithful friend, Joe Youngblood. He was a member of Fletcher United Methodist Church and the Sales Brotherhood Sunday School Class. Graveside services will be held at 1:30 pm Monday, June 20, 2005 at Calvary Episcopal Church in Fletcher. Immediately following the graveside services, there will be a memorial service at Fletcher United Methodist Church at 2:00 pm with Reverend Ed Hillman officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Fletcher United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 205, Fletcher, NC 28732.