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 15, 2015
    Becky Banks says:
    Our thoughts and prayers go out to Tona's family. She spent her life caring for others, including sweet "Miss Ruth". Staff at Highland Medical Associates.

  • January 16, 2015
    Jackie Pace says:
    Tona was part of our "crowd" as teenagers. Her warm smile and gentle nature will always be remembered and appreciated.

  • January 16, 2015
    Dorothy Gillespie Starrett says:
    Dear Elizabeth and family, I am so very sorry for your loss. Tona will be missed, especially at the Lawter reunions. May God give you the peace and understanding to get through this difficult time. My love to all of you. Much love, Dorothy