William Franklin Alder, 98, of Sophia, NC, formerly of Spring Creek, WV, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, February 8, 2020, at the Graybrier Rehabilitation Center in Trinity, NC, following a brief illness.
Born on January 7, 1922, in Spring Creek, he was the youngest child born to William Robert Alder and Hannah Caroline Lewis Alder Lane.
He was retired from the Carbide Saw Company in High Point, NC, with many years of service.
He was a Pastor of the Laurel Hill Regular Baptist Church in Friars Hill, WV, and pastored several churches within the Mt. Union Association of Churches. He was a man of strong faith, loved the Lord, and loved singing gospel hymns. He also enjoyed spending time with family, including nieces and nephews, which included numerous trips to Greenbrier County, WV. He never failed to share the word of God with all who would listen.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Arlene McMillion Alder, in 1996; two daughters, Charlotte Ann Sinko and Mary Elizabeth Alder; three grandchildren, William Joseph Howell, Timothy T. Alder, and an infant granddaughter, Mary; and one great-grandchild. Also preceding him in death were six sisters, Stella Alder, Mary Rudd, Blanche Lewis, Florncie Workman, Thursey Rudd Barben, and Frankie Lewis; and four brothers, Sam Alder, Leslie Alder, Solomon Lane, and John Anthony Lane.
He leaves to mourn six daughters, Jewell Lutz, Zella Staley, and Donna Wilson (David), all of Thomasville, NC, Debbie Freeman and Andrea Alder, both of Sophia, and Juanita Anstine of Windsor, PA; three sons, Roger Lee Alder (Joyce) of Lewisburg, WV, Billy D. Alder (Cathy) of Williamsburg, WV, and Dennis Alder of Airville, PA; 29 grandchildren; 62 great-grandchildren; 22 great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral service will be at 1 p.m. on Sunday, February 16, 2020, at the Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home in Lewisburg with grandsons, Donald Robertson and Steven Monninger, officiating. Interment will follow at the Ellis Chapel Cemetery on Brushy Flat Road near Renick, WV, officiated by his great-nephew, Otis Lewis.
The family will receive friends from noon until time of the service at the funeral home on Sunday.
Donations of sympathy may be made to Ellis Chapel Cemetery Fund c/o Otis Lewis, 486 Trout Road, Williamsburg, WV 24991.
A covered dish reception will be held at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine Alumni Building in Lewisburg following the interment.
Send online condolences by visiting www.WallaceandWallaceFH.com.
Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home in Lewisburg is in charge of arrangements.
Obituary originally published in the February 11, 2020, edition of The West Virginia Daily News.
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