ASHEVILLE – George Wayne Faulkner, 97, passed away on Dec. 18, 2020.
Mr. Faulkner was born in Madison County to the late George McKinley and Laura Ramsey Faulkner. After graduating from Cecil’s Business College, Mr. Faulkner was employed by Zickgraf Enterprises in Franklin. He retired in 1984 as executive vice president and controller after 43 years of service.
In addition to his dedication to family and career, Mr. Faulkner was a member of the First Baptist Church in Asheville and a former member of the First Baptist Church in Franklin, where he served on the board of deacons, chair of the finance committee and the board of trustees. He was also affiliated with many community and fraternal organizations during his lifetime. Mr. Faulkner was a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason, recently reaching his 50-year milestone, a York Rite Mason and an Oasis Shriner. He was a member and past master of the Junaluskee Masonic Lodge 145 A.F. & A.M., and an honorary member of several other N.C. masonic lodges. As a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, he was a past worthy patron and district deputy grand patron. Mr. Faulkner was also active in the Boy Scouts, and a member and past president of the Franklin Lions Club, receiving the Milestone Chevron award for 75 years of service in 2019. He served on the board of directors of First Union National Bank in Franklin for 22 years.
Mr. Faulkner enjoyed a variety of leisure activities and was an accomplished woodworker with many beautiful, handcrafted pieces that are treasured by his family.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Faulkner was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Helen Marie Wild Faulkner; and his two brothers and a sister. He is survived by his daughter, Beth Faulkner Farmer and her husband Rick of Asheville; sons, Gerald Wayne Faulkner of Pahrump, Nevada and Donald George Faulkner of Mills River; two granddaughters and one great-granddaughter; as well as many nieces, nephews and other extended family.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the G. Wayne and Helen Wild Faulkner Scholarship Fund, c/o First Baptist Church, 69 Iotla St., Franklin, NC 28734 or to the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford at mhc-oxford.org, or Shriners Hospitals for Children at shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/shc.
Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is assisting the family. A memorial guest register is available at grocefuneralhome.com.