Otto Henry Woerner

Otto Henry Woerner, 93, of Morganton died Monday, June 10, 2013 at Grace Ridge Health Care Center. Born in Lincoln, NE on July 4, 1919, he was the son of the late Adolph Henry Woerner and Edith Gibson Woerner.Otto was the vice chairman of the board of H. H. Brown Shoe Company. He came to Morganton in 1963 to establish Carolina Shoe Company of which he was the president and general manager. He had a love for the people of Burke County. He was involved in many activities such as the Community Foundation of Burke, Burke United Christian Ministries, Habitat for Humanity, the Good Samaritan Clinic, First Presbyterian Church, Planning and Zoning Board, he helped establish the Foothills Higher Education Center, and was involved in many other charitable organizations. Otto was a member of First Presbyterian Church where he had served as an Elder and on numerous committees.Mr. Woerner is survived by his wife, Betty McConnaughey Woerner of the home; a son, Drew Woerner and his wife, Tammy, of Dunn, NC; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; a sister, Louise Gustin of Rosalie, NE; a step-daughter, Susan Duckworth and her husband, Ken; three step-grandchildren; and two step-great-grandchildren.In addition to his parents, Otto was preceded in death by his first wife, Wynne McAfee Woerner; a daughter, Kathy Miller and her husband, Wendell; brothers, Bob and Gene Woerner; and a sister, Marie Woerner.A celebration of Otto’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, June 13, 2013 at First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Michael R. Bailey officiating. The family will receive friends in the church fellowship hall following the service.In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Good Samaritan Clinic, 305 W. Union Street, Morganton, NC 28655, the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, c/o Betty and Otto Woerner Endowment Fund, CB# 7295, UNC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, or to the Community Foundation of Burke County, P.O. Box 1156, Morganton, NC 28680.Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.