IN MEMORY OF Steven Subotnik, Sr. Dec. 20, 1951-April 23, 2021 Steven Subotnik Sr., 69, passed away Friday, April 23, at Cone Hospital in Greensboro. Steve has joined his Dad and many compatriots: Mike Hockett, Roy Hill, Harry Gauldin, Tom Brookbank, Floyd Allred, Ricky (Smiley) Goins, Robert Gaither, Vic Melville, Ken Wilson, and Luther Hicks, who are all together now to take care of the yard sales and the C and D in heaven. Steve’s earthly life began Dec. 20, 1951, in Boston township, Ohio, with parents Joseph Subotnik and Rosemary Puchalski Subotnik. After graduating from Woodridge High School in 1970, Steve decided he might like to come to the “sunny South,” so he moved to North Carolina in 1971. He secured a job as a heavy equipment mechanic at E.F. Craven Company in Greensboro and for 18 years he traveled throughout North Carolina working on compactors in various landfills. In August 1989 Steve began working for the City of Greensboro at the Greensboro Landfill as a heavy equipment mechanic and operator. He knew everything you would ever want to know about any piece of heavy equipment and what made it tick, and he had the ability to fix anything mechanical. Later in his 30-year career with the city Steve became a supervisor at the Greensboro Transfer Station. With a helping hand and a huge giving heart, Steve reached out and touched
many lives with his generosity. He never met a stranger, and his tenacious work ethic and sense of humor endeared him to everyone he met. Steve was accomplished at many endeavors – one year for Christmas he even made quilts for his grandchildren. He enjoyed music and in his younger years he sang with a quartet. Steve is survived by his mother, Rosemary Subotnik of Doylestown, Ohio; brother Joe Subotnik and wife Carol of Barberton, Ohio; and sister Debbie Knight of Cusseta, Alabama. Steve is also survived by his wife of 25+ years, Emily Tucker Subotnik; son Steve Jr. and wife Jennifer of Gordensville, Virginia; son Rick and wife Dana of Akron, Ohio; son Rob and wife Sue of Stokesdale; and daughter Sarah Nash of Portsmouth, Virginia, plus stepdaughters SueAnn Safriet and husband Keith of Trinity, NC, and Jackie Locklear of Jacksonville, NC, and stepson Eric Tucker of Stokesdale. He is also survived by 17 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren with one grandchild who predeceased him. A celebration of Steve’s life will be held Saturday, May 1, starting 2 p.m. at the Full Throttle Biker Church, 1014 Nesbit Road in Pleasant Garden, NC. If you knew Steve and would like to share a story about him, join us to celebrate his marvelous and glorious life. A private family ceremony for internment at Lakeview Memorial Cemetery will be held at a later date and time. In lieu of flowers and to honor Steve’s wishes, contributions can be made to any charity of your choice.
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APRIL 29 - MAY 5, 2021
Marie Lowrey Armstrong Stewart Aug. 1, 1920-April 21, 2021 Marie Lowrey Armstrong Stewart, 100, died Wednesday, April 21, 2021. She was born Aug. 1, 1920, the daughter of the late Samuel Coy and Ina Dillon Lowrey of Oak Ridge. Also preceding her in death were husband, Donald Armstrong; husband, David Carlton Stewart Sr.; her brother, Sgt. Samuel Coy Lowrey Jr. USMC; her sisters, Bille Lowrey Redman and Janie Lowrey Clendenin. Surviving are her brother, Thad Moore Lowrey, and his wife, Bobbie, of New Port Richey, Florida; step-daughter, Terry Armstrong Stanley of Port Richey, Florida; stepdaughter-in-law, Willie Moore Armstrong of Marshall, Missouri; and a host of other family members. Marie graduated from Summerfield High School at 14 and then attended Salem College. Later, she moved to Washington, D.C., working as a secretary for an Army official. In 1942 she was recognized as the second woman in the U.S. to sign up for officer training with the W.A.A.C.s. Moving to Alaska; she was employed in the Cold Weather Testing Detachment of the Army Air Corps. With her late husband Don, Marie danced all over the world, teaching square dancing, contra, and folk dancing. She traveled to more than 80 countries and every continent. Marie and Don introduced the first radio station to New Port Richey, Florida, in 1963 and developed properties in Grand Cayman and Costa Rica. After Don’s death she returned to Oak Ridge and continued her community involvement. A staunch supporter of Oak Ridge Military Academy, Marie played a significant role in the development of the Academy’s museum. Her work there was reported in the Northwest Observer on her 90th birthday, and after reading
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the article, David Stewart contacted her. They resumed a pre-war courtship and were married within a year. An active member of Oak Ridge Presbyterian Church, Marie volunteered at Urban Ministry and sang in the choir. One of her greatest joys was teaching Spanish to 4-year-olds at Oak Ridge Presbyterian Church’s preschool. Having become fluent in Spanish at the age of 55, she was passionate about sharing her knowledge with her young charges. As a trustee of the Old Union Graveyard, she successfully petitioned the town of Oak Ridge to assume control of the graveyard to ensure its perpetuity. Family history was also a passion. When she returned to Oak Ridge she began to research the genealogy of the Lowrey family, documenting it back to 1749 including the Revolutionary War. Marie was a member of the W.O.W. Circle of the Presbyterian Church, P.E.O. and D.A.R. A memorial service for Marie will be held at Oak Ridge Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, May 4, at 11 a.m. (COVID protocols will be observed) with inurnment to follow at 2 p.m. at Union Grove Baptist Church. Condolences may be mailed to niece Kelly L. Giubileo at 5210 Saddle Brook Road, Oak Ridge, NC 27310. Memorial donations can be made to Oak Ridge Presbyterian Church, 2614 Oak Ridge Road, Oak Ridge, NC 27310, or Oak Ridge Military Academy, 2317 Oak Ridge Road, Oak Ridge, NC 27310. Friends and family may view and sign the guestbook online at www.Pierce-JeffersonFuneralService.com. To read previously published articles about Marie’s life and her contributions to the Oak Ridge community, visit www.nwobserver.com, select “Advanced Search” on the homepage, change date range to January 2010 to present, and enter the keywords “Marie Armstrong.”
