James Ernest Van Dyke, 97

James Ernest Van Dyke, 97, of Golden Valley, died Thursday, October 12, 2023.

He was the widower of Vangie Queen Van Dyke, who died on July 26, 2010. He was the son of the late Roy Ernest Van Dyke and Ellie Mae Davis Van Dyke, and was born in Burke County. He was also preceded in death by his son, Douglas James Van Dyke; his sisters, Kathleen Savino and Sarah Watts; and 2 brothers, Theodore Van Dyke and Hubert Van Dyke. James was a member of Fairview Baptist Church and was a lifelong Baptist. He worked many years at the Old Morganton Shop, Drexel Furniture and Henredon Furniture Manufacturing. He loved wrestling, baseball games, working in the garden, farming, and especially his grandchildren - and he had a bunch of them. 

He is survived by his daughters, Nancy Van Dyke McCurry, Wanda Van Dyke Smith and her husband Morris; and a daughter-in-law, Lori Buff; and his brother Charles Van Dyke, all of Golden Valley; there are seven grandchildren, Vanda M. Withers(Brad) of Rutherfordton, Derek Smith(Tammy) and Railey Van Dyke, of Golden Valley, Jessica Van Dyke of Bostic, Joni Self(RJ) of Sunshine, Jordan Pruett(Carissa) of Mooresboro, and Anna Blackwell(Jamie) of Ellenboro;  fourteen great grandchildren, Tiffany Smith(Bradley) of Morganton, Kala Highsmith(Dalton) and Dustin Smith(Megan) of Golden Valley, Kara McCurry, Kaylee Hunt and Jonathan Hunt, all of Bostic, Lylli Smith of Casar, Dalton Blackwell of Ellenboro, Bella Newton of Forest City, Dominic Pruett and Payton Pruett of Mooresboro, Gabriel Self and Jason Self of Sunshine, and Waylon Blackwell due in February 2024; eight great great grandchildren, Malachi Smith, Amos Bailey, Reid Merrill, Nehemiah Smith, Asher Bailey, Axel Highsmith, Wyatt Smith, and Anakin Highsmith; a large number of nieces and nephews. Paw James will be missed dearly by all of them.  

The Funeral will be conducted at 3:00 pm Sunday, October 15, 2023 at Fairview Baptist Church. The Rev. David Ledford and Rev. Kenneth Queen will officiate. The body will lie in state 30 minutes prior to the service.  Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Active Pallbearers are Bobby Smith, Dalton Blackwell, Jamie Blackwell, Brad Withers, Jonathan Hunt, Terry Self, Stacy Hudson, Dustin Smith, and Derek Smith. Honorary Pallbearers are Dominic Pruett, Nehemiah Smith, Anakin Highsmith, Malachi Smith, Axel Highsmith, Wyatt Smith, Asher Bailey, Amos Bailey, and Reid Merrill. 

The Visitation will be from 4 pm until 6 pm Saturday at Washburn & Dorsey Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Carolina Foothills, PO Box 336, Forest City, NC 28043. A special thank you to the Hospice of the Carolina Foothills for their kind care.

Online condolences @www.washburndorsey.com.