William Ernest Maloney

William Ernest Maloney, 90, of Glen Alpine, NC took his final flight into heaven on Saturday, April 16, 2016.  Born in Burke County, NC on May 11, 1925, he was the son of the late Andrew Maloney and Anner Ruth Franklin Maloney.  Mr. Maloney was of the Pentecostal faith and was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII.  He retired from Valdese General Hospital and then continued to work for several years as a painter.  Ernest loved to pilot small planes and was an avid fisherman.  He loved watching the birds and deer outside his window.

Mr. Maloney is survived by his daughters, Millie Roann Maloney Coffey and her husband, John C., of Morganton, Marilyn Janice Maloney Harrison and her husband, Roger, of Glen Alpine, and Wanda Maloney Fox and her husband, Roger, of Morganton; step-children, Rex “Sput” Powell and his wife, Barbara, and Barbara Powell Stamey, all of Morganton; grandchildren, Michelle Burnette Wilson and her fiancé, Alan Cook, Ronnie Burnette, William D. Beck and his wife, Lisa, Dwayne Harrison and his wife, Amber, Melissa Lalonde and her husband, Scott; step-grandchildren, Angela Fox, Roy Coffey and his wife, Karen, and Frances Walker and her husband, Scott; eleven great-grandchildren; nine step-great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandsons; and a sister, Donnie Minton and her husband, Dennis, of Wilkesboro, NC.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Maloney was preceded in death by his first wife of 50 years, Velma Orders Maloney; his second wife, Mae Stewart Powell Maloney; a step-son, Levi Powell; and ten deceased siblings.

The family will receive friends from 6 – 8 p.m., Tuesday, April 19, 2016 at Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center.  The funeral will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, April 20, 2016 in the Colonial Chapel of the funeral home with the Rev. Ron Thompson, the Rev. Kenneth Milam, and great-grandson, Dakota Wilson officiating.  Burial will follow in Glen Alpine Cemetery with military honors provided by the N.C. National Guard and the Caldwell County Veterans Honor Guard.

Memorial contributions may be made to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 1721 Enon Road, Valdese, NC 28690.

The family would like to express their appreciation to the staff at Burke Hospice and Autumn Care.  They are especially grateful to his caregivers who were like his family: Pam and Howard Carswell, and Sheila Mays.