Richmond County Daily Journal (Rockingham, NC) - Wednesday, July 6, 2005
Mr. Walter Webb Kiser, 93, went home to be with his Heavenly Father July 4, 2005, at Sandhills Regional Medical Center, Hamlet.
Mr. Kiser was born Feb. 23, 1912, in Bessemer City, on his parent's anniversary. He was the second child of Clifford C. and Minerva S. Kiser. Mr. Kiser was a long time resident of Charlotte. For the past four years, he was in the loving care of his daughter, Sylvia Greene in Hamlet.
He was one of the pioneer entrepreneurs of independent drug stores in the Charlotte area.
He and his family built and operated the first suburban shopping centers on Wilkinson Blvd. in Charlotte. Prior to that he owned and operated a candy making business in Florence, S.C. For many years he and his family also owned and operated the Sun Crest Bottling Co., in Charlotte and Florence, S.C.
Mr. Kiser was a very active lay man and long time member of the United Wesleyan Church, Charlotte, where he served in many leadership roles.
He was known as a very dedicated and loved lay man to all of the N.C. District churches where he served as District Treasurer for 55 years before a stroke in 1999 forced his retirement. He also served for many years on the Trustee Board of Southern Wesleyan University, formerly Central Wesleyan College in Central, S.C.
He is survived by his children, James W. Kiser and wife Nancy, Larry L. Kiser and wife Willena of Charlotte and Sylvia Greene of Hamlet; eight grandchildren, Stephen W. Greene and wife Jill, DeAnne G. Lawson and husband Mark, James L. Kiser and wife Elizabeth, Dr. Robert H. Kiser and wife Karen, Kenneth W. Kiser, Kip L. Kiser and wife Kim, Danny B. Kiser, Suzanne Knupp and husband Bryan; 14 great-grandchildren; sisters, Gertrude Sprinkle and Barbara Hodge; brothers, J.W. Kiser and Clinton Kiser; many nieces and nephews.
Mr. Kiser was preceded in death by his wife, Lottie Bumgarner Kiser; daughter, Dr. Gail Kiser-Turman; and son-in-law, John R. Greene and several brothers and sisters.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, July 7, at 11 a.m., First Baptist Church in Hamlet, with the Rev. Randy Bishop officiating.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service, beginning at 10 a.m. Burial and graveside services will be following at Forest Lawn West Cemetery at the Mausoleum on Freedom Drive in Charlotte at 4 p.m. The family will also receive friends after the graveside service.
Harrington Funeral Home of Hamlet is serving the family.