Tona Louise Lawter

July 2, 1947 - January 11, 2015
Tona Louise Lawter

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Tona Louise Lawter, 67, of Saluda, NC died on Sunday January 11, 2015 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Columbus, NC.

Tona was preceded in death by her father, Boyd Harold Lawter who died in 1977 and her mother, Ruth Pace Lawter who went to be with the Lord in November 2014. She lived with her mother where she was her faithful caregiver until her mothers passing.

Tona graduated from Saluda School in 1965. She attended two years of dental assistant school in Atlanta . She began her 40 year dental career in Brevard, NC with Drs. Davis & Massey in 1971. In 1973, she began dental assisting with Dr. Corbin O. Williams in Hendersonville, NC and remained in that general dental practice until his retirement in 1998. She then worked assisting in an endodontic practice for 3 1/2 years before returning to general dentistry . She began working in Fletcher, NC with Dr. Robert Avery until she retired in 2013. She volunteered at the Dental Free Clinics on Thursday nights for 11 years. Tona’s kindheartedness and cheerful disposition touched everyone, patients and other volunteers at the clinic.

She was a devoted member of Hendersonville First Baptist Church since June 1994 where she was a faithful servant with the “kitchen crew” every Wednesday night and anytime that she was needed to help serve or even just clean up. She was also a beloved nursery sitter where she has helped raise many, many children through her years of service with the sunday school preschool. Her love for children was endless.

Tona is survived by her sister, Elizabeth L. Justus and her husband Sonny of Saluda; her nephews, Kenneth B. Justus and Jason T. Justus and wife, Melissa M. Justus of Saluda, and Rodney M. Justus of Rutherfordton. Tona is also survived by her beloved twin great niece and great nephew, Alyssa and Hunter Justus of Saluda, who were the “light of her life”. She is also survived by many, many friends and everyone knew her as “Aunt Tona”.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 P.M. Saturday, January 17, 2015 at Hendersonville First Baptist Church. Rev. Steve Scoggins and Rev. Steve Gibbs will officiate. The family will receive friends following the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Free Clinics of Hendersonville, 841 Case Street, Hendersonville, NC 28792, or to Wee School of First Baptist Church, 312 5th Avenue West, Hendersonville, NC 28739.


Memorial

Saturday, January 17, 2015
12:00 AM

First Baptist Church of Hendersonville - Directions
312 5th Avenue West
Hendersonville, NC 28739

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  • January 14, 2015
    Alton Connor says:
    Tona will be missed by so many people ... she had a great love for children and was always a vital part of many activities at First Baptist Hendersonville. I can never think of a time that our paths crossed that she did not greet me with her smile and kind greeting! I will miss that ... My love and prayers to her family, especially as her Homegoing comes so soon after that of her precious Mother. They were always together - now they are together for all eternity and at Home with our Lord. With Deepest Sympathy, Alton

  • January 15, 2015
    Janice Shelton says:
    Tona was a sewing customer of mine and I grew to love that lady. ,I am so sorry at your loss. Saw her just a few days ago with Vivian. Prayers to you all

  • January 15, 2015
    Dolores Baker says:
    I am very sorry for your loss. In time may all the wonderful memories fill your hearts with smiles and ease your sorrow. Jesus said; "Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out,..."(John 5:28-29) May Jesus' promise of a resurrection also help to comfort you.

  • January 15, 2015
    Jenny Thompson says:
    As many of you know, heaven received a very special angel this week. The family is requesting that everyone attending the memorial service on Saturday wear red, Tonaís favorite color.

  • January 15, 2015
    Gerri Gordon says:
    In 1975 God sent to me a friend, someone who loved me with understanding ~ a true friend named Tona. We worked together for 40 years in the dental field. Around 20 of those years we worked in the same dental practices. She was not just a dear friend, she and her mother were "members" of the Gordon family. We were true friends together in sunshine and rain. Yes, she gave me many angel's as gifts, but she was the "real" angel. She loved everything red, if you knew Tona, you knew that. We will wear red to honor her on Saturday. Love and prayers to the family and especially the twins, Alyssa and Hunter. Tona, I will write you letters, and send you cards in my thoughts until we all get to heaven, and what a day of rejoicing that will be ! gg