Lt. Col. Edward Smoot Finley

1916 - 2011  (95 years)

• Name	Edward Smoot Finley
  Prefix	Lt. Col.
  Born	06 Apr 1916	Alexandria, VA
  Gender	Male
  Died	20 Jul 2011	Wilkes Co. NC
  Buried	Mountlawn Memorial Park, North Wilkesboro Wilkes Co. NC
  	Grave location, obituary,portrait and tombstone photo: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=124618517
  Notes	OBITUARY: From Find A Grave: Edward Smoot Finley, Lt. Col U. S. Air force (ret) died on July 20, 2011. He was born April 6, 1916 in Alexandria, Virginia, son of Edward G. and Sibyl Smoot Finley. A graveside service with military honors by Post #1142 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Honor Guard was held Saturday, July 23, 2011at Mountlawn Memorial Park. A memorial service followed at North Wilkesboro Presbyterian Church with Rev. Dr. Benjamin Trawick officiating. He grew up in North Wilkesboro, NC where he attended North Wilkesboro public schools. He graduated from Davidson College, class of 1937. Afterwards, he returned to North Wilkesboro where he was employed by Meadows Mill Company until being ordered to active duty with Army Air Force in June, 1941. On May 2, 1942 he married Elizabeth Stewart Heath who preceded him in death in 2008 after 66 years of marriage. During World War II, he served in China Theater of Operation, commanding air bases in Sian, Ankang and Pai-Shi under the ultimate command of Gen Claire Chennault attaining the rank of Lt. Colonel. Returning to civilian life in 1946, he was again employed by Meadows Mill Company as Secretary-Treasurer and General manager. He served at Chairman of the North Wilkesboro Board of Education from 1957 to 1967; President of Wilkes Jaycees; North Wilkesboro Lions Club; Vice President of Wilkes Chamber of Commerce; Treasurer of Friends of the Wilkes County Library. In North Wilkesboro Presbyterian Church, he has served as Deacon, receiving treasurer, Elder and Clerk of Session and Boy Scout Leader. He was a member of the Board of Visitors of Davidson College and its Ne Ultra Society. He raised cattle and trees on his Brushy Mountain Farm. He is survived by Edward S. Finley, Jr. and wife, Virginia Doughton Finley; Ann Finley Reynolds and husband, Fairfax C. Reynolds; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
  Person ID	I30420	Master File
  Last Modified	1 Aug 2015

  
  

  Father	Edward Gordon Finley,   b. 09 Sep 1884, Wautauga Co. NC ,   d. 05 Jan 1962, Wilkes Co. NC  (Age 77 years)
  Mother	Sibyl Harriet Smoot,   b. 29 Jan 1888, Alexander Co. NC ,   d. 18 Oct 1962, Wilkes Co. NC  (Age 74 years)
  Family ID	F12864	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Elizabeth Stewart Heath,   b. 02 Oct 1920, Union Co. NC ,   d. 01 Aug 2008, North Carolina  (Age 87 years)
  Children	1. Edward Smoot Finley   2. Ann Finley
  Last Modified	1 Aug 2015
  Family ID	F12866	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart