Denton Kinzer Emery

Denton Kinzer Emery, 84, passed away in the peace of the Lord on Monday, September 11, 2017. He was born in Honey Brook, P.A., October 28, 1932 as the second child of Anna Leslie and W. Kinzer Emery. Mr. Emery received a BS degree from Pennsylvania State University in 1955. Following his military service in the U.S. Army and teaching in secondary education for a short time, “Doc” as he was affectionately known, took a job in industrial sales and was soon transferred to Charlotte, N.C. to run the sales office for U.S. Motors (formerly Emerson). He worked in sales across the southeast for several firms until retiring to Lake James in 1995.
It was during the brief period of teaching when he met Carolyn May Thomas and the two were married in 1959. They spent 57 wonderful years together and they had three children, three grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Denton was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, his sister, Janet Sauder, and one son, David Emery. He is survived by two of his sons, Mark Emery and James Emery; brother, Raymond Emery; grandchildren, Jacob Standafer, Connor Emery, and Alex Emery; and great-grandchild, Hudson Standafer.
Denton was a photography enthusiast, who meticulously documented the domestic and international trips which he and Carolyn enjoyed, particularly during their retirement years. He was an active servant across his life including: as a little league basketball coach and adventure guide leader during his sons’ formative years, in various capacities in the churches that he and Carolyn attended, as a member of a Lake James environmental group, and at Grace Ridge – the retirement community where he and Carolyn lived for the last decade+ of their lives. Denton was a skilled craftsman, building and refinishing several pieces of furniture that his family still enjoys. He also spent time charting the family genealogy research assembled by his father, producing a vellum chart documenting the Emery family history dating back to some of the earliest colonists arriving in Massachusetts in the 1600s.
The memorial service will be held at 3 p.m., Saturday, September 23, at First Presbyterian Church, Morganton with the Rev. Dr. Wanda Neely officiating. The family will greet friends in the church fellowship hall following the service.
The family is grateful for your prayers and requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be sent to First Presbyterian Church, 100 Silver Creek Ro., Morganton, NC 28655; or Grace Ridge Retirement Community, 500 Lenoir Rd., Morganton, NC 28655.
Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements. The family would like to thank the congregation and pastors of First Presbyterian Church and the residents and staff of Grace Ridge for their loving prayers and support over the years. The family would also like to thank the care-givers of the Skilled Nursing Unit at Grace Ridge and Grace Hospital for their care of Denton.