Waynesville-Leon Bolden, 88, died peacefully on Sunday, August 12, 2018, at Autumn Care Nursing and Rehabilitation surrounded by his loving family. Leon was born in Haywood County on November 23, 1929, to the late Austin and Grace Cagle Bolden. He supported his family by working many hours at the local Tannery. Leon was well known for his musical abilities especially singing alongside his old friend Luther Sutton and with the Redeemed Quartet. He loved gardening and Ginseng digging. Leon will be remembered as a kind and loving man of God who never had a bad word to say about anyone.
In addition to his parents, Leon was preceded in death by grandson, Mark Wayne McClure; brothers, Frank and Paul Bolden; and sisters, Hester Moody and Ellen Duncan.
Leon is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Annie Mae Conner Bolden, four daughters, Mary Lanning (Gary), Patty Atkinson, Peggy Payne (Charles), and Maggie Bolden, all of Waynesville ; two sons, Randy Bolden (Peggy), Ricky Bolden (Dede), both of Waynesville; sisters, Aletha Hoyle and Nila Brown, both of Waynesville; 12 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, August 16, in the chapel of Garrett Funerals and Cremations with Pastors Billy Ferguson, Jody Shuford, Dwayne Riddle, Calvin Simms, and Cameron Bolden officiating. Burial with full military honors will be held at Green Hill Cemetery with Reverend Coy Wheeler offering a prayer. Pallbearers will be the grandsons and great-grandsons. Honorary pallbearers will be Luther Sutton, Skip, Bruce Rathbone, Kenny Shuler, Frank Lowe, and Wayne Pressley. The family will receive friends from 6-8 PM on Wednesday, August 15, at Garrett Funerals and Cremations and at other times at the home.
A message of comfort may be left for the family and an online guest registry may be signed at www.garrettfuneralsandcremations.com
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