Joe Wilde DeBruhl

A native and lifelong resident of Asheville, Mr. DeBruhl was a son of the late George Wade DeBruhl and Hattie Minerva Wilde DeBruhl.

Mr. DeBruhl graduated from Lee H. Edwards High School and attended UNC Chapel Hill.

During World War II he served his country as a 1ST Lieutenant in the 3rd Air Division, 388th Bomb Group (H), 561st Squadron of the 8th Army Air Corps. He piloted the B-17 “Ready Maid” on 33 combat missions in the Ardennes, Central Europe, and Rhineland and an additional 2 “Chow Hound” humanitarian food drop missions over Holland. He was awarded the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters “for exceptional meritorious achievement”, the EAME Theater Ribbon with 3 Battle Stars, and the Distinguished Unit Badge.

He was a former manager of the Asheville branch of the Allison-Erwin Company and retired as a sales representative of the Dixon Ticonderoga Company. He Received the President’s Award “for outstanding leadership”. The National Office Products Association’s 25 year Service Award. The South Carolina Art Education Association’s Service Award for “outstanding service to art education in South Carolina”. He was a Life member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Asheville Lodge #608. He had great interest in children and was active in fund raising for the Elks annual Christmas Shoe Party for needy children and their annual Orphan’s Day Picnic. For his efforts he twice received the Elk of the Year Award. He was a member of Biltmore Masonic Lodge #446 and a 32degree Scottish Rite Mason of the Valley of Asheville, for the past 34 years. He was also a former member of the Order of the Eastern Star Biltmore Chapter #38 and the Oasis Shrine Temple. He was a member and Deacon of the Kenilworth Presbyterian Church where he was affectionately known as the “candy man” for the treats he gave the children after church on Sunday. He was the Elks National Veterans Service Commission Deputy Representative and volunteered for the past 12 years at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Oteen.

Mr. DeBruhl is survived by his wife of 58 years, LuRetta Miller DeBruhl; one son, LaMont Miller DeBruhl and one sister, Helen Lovena DeBruhl Greene, all of Asheville. In addition to his parents, Mr. DeBruhl was preceded in death by four sisters, Willie Dell DeBruhl White, Thelma Rose DeBruhl Fenwick, Addie Reba DeBruhl Cunningham, and Georgia Jo DeBruhl Smith and four brothers, Fuller McCoy DeBruhl, James Raymond DeBruhl, Charles Talmage DeBruhl and Max Woodrow DeBruhl.

A graveside service will be conducted Saturday, May 5 at 11:00 AM at Green Hills Cemetery in Asheville, NC with Rev. John David Stewart officiating.

The family will receive friends following the service at the cemetery. Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is assisting the family.