Fred Wannamaker Rivers

Fred Wannamaker Rivers, 86, of Bethel Rd., Morganton, NC died Friday, December 21, 2007 at Mission Hospital, Asheville, NC. Born May 21, 1921 in Chesterfield County, SC, he was a son of the late William Turnage Rivers and Hattie Hammond Rivers. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by sisters, Mary Vaughn, Connie Wimberly, Lena Haley, Louise Burr, and Stella Cole; brothers, Paul, Blease, Preston, and Ben Rivers. Fred was a World War II U.S. Navy veteran and was a member of Oak Forest United Methodist Church. He was a Mason and a member of the Catawba Valley Masonic Lodge #217. Fred was a retired employee of Burke Auto Supply.Surviving are his wife, Nan Walker Rivers of the home; daughters, Susan Carswell and her husband, Rick and Beatrice Whyle-Spitz and her husband, Jack, all of Morganton; grandchildren, Rebecca Mull of Calabash, NC, John Jr. Mull of Glen Alpine, and Tad Ehrlich of San Diego, CA; step grandchildren, Richie and Terry Carswell, and Katie Wise; three great grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.The graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, December 24, 2007 at Forest Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Rod Randolph officiating. The family will receive friends Monday from 10:00 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. at Sossoman Funeral Home. Memorial gifts may be made to Oak Forest United Methodist Church or to the Mary Taylor Green Scholarship Fund, c/o Oak Forest United Methodist Church, 101 Forest St., Morganton, NC 28655.