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Obituaries
Gilbert Alexander Kincaid
Gilbert Alexander Kincaid
Gilbert Alexander Kincaid, 93, of Morganton, passed away Monday, Oct. 12, 2026.
Born in Burke County, on June 7, 1933, he was the son of the late Marvin Byron Kincaid and Sarah Rusmisell Kincaid.
Gilbert was a member of Brookwood Baptist Church and a lifetime member of Oak Forest United Methodist Church. He served with the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict, and he was a former treasurer of Camp McCall.
Gilbert retired from Grace Hospital as director of plant operations after 39 years and was a former member and officer of the N.C. Hospital Engineering Association.
Those left to cherish his memory include his son, Jeffrey Kincaid (Lisa); a daughter, Carol Kincaid Odell (Mark); grandchildren, Alex Mann (Dana), Megan Brooks (Joel), Lindsey Kincaid (Greg), Jeanna Embree (Blake), Matthew Odell (Ella), and Mara Shuping (Brian); and 14 great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, Gilbert was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Jean Tallent Kincaid; brother, Max Byron Kincaid; and sisters, Dorothy Kincaid Moran, Virginia Kincaid Drury, and Martha Kincaid Powell.
The family received friends from 1-2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, at Sossoman Funeral Home. The funeral was held at 2 p.m. in the colonial chapel of the funeral home with the Rev. Earl Cross officiating. Burial followed in Burke Memorial Park with military honors provided by the U.S. Air Force and the Caldwell County Veterans Honor Guard.
Memorial contributions may be made to Amorem Hospice (amoremsupport.org/donate).
Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.sossomanfh.com.
Obituaries
Dr. Larry F. Willis
Dr. Larry F. Willis, known to many simply as “Doc,” beloved
father, grandfather, and brother, passed away peacefully on
Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, at the age of 82.
FOR THE PAPER
Dr. Larry F. Willis, known to many simply as “Doc,” beloved father, grandfather, and brother, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, at the age of 82.
Larry was born on Oct. 14, 1943, in Bartow County, Ga. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, he earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia. He devoted his career to ophthalmology as the founder of Morganton Eye Physicians, where he practiced for many years and helped generations of patients in the foothills see the world more clearly. He took great pride in caring for his patients.
Outside of medicine, Larry loved the outdoors and spent many happy hours hunting and fishing, both close to home and as far away as the remote Alaskan wilderness. He enjoyed traveling and visited many places throughout the world. His family has fond memories of taking a helicopter ride in Hawaii and scuba diving in Aruba with him. He cherished his time at Lake James, where he enjoyed his home, boat, fish pond, pets, and family. An avid animal lover, he was the pet parent over the years to many animals, including two English bulldogs, Onassis and Scarlett, many cats both domestic and wild, two highly opinionated birds, and even a hedgehog. A Georgia native through and through, he was a devoted fan of the University of Georgia Bulldogs and rarely missed a football game.
Larry loved his family and will be deeply missed by his daughter, Heather Willis, and her husband, Ryan Nesbitt, of Blowing Rock; his son, Derek Willis, and his wife, Corina, of Santiago, Chile; his grandchildren, Bridger, Emory, and Luca; and his sisters, Nadine Croft and Vickie Willis. He was preceded in death by his parents, Willy “Bill” Franklin Willis and Geneva Bessie Ella Sanders Willis.
Larry will be remembered for his generosity and his willingness to help those in times of need, whether it was a family member, a friend, or an employee. He was adventurous, funny, and often fierce in his convictions. At work, he appreciated the people around him and understood that his work was possible because of the work and devotion of others. Doc leaves behind a legacy not only through his distinguished career and the lives he touched as a physician, but through the memories he created with the people he loved. From grilling out on his porch at home to tailgating at Georgia football games and traveling with his family, his life was filled with experiences that will be remembered and treasured.
As he wished, Larry will be cremated, and a gathering of family and friends will be planned to celebrate his life and memory.
Go Dawgs!
Obituaries
Linda Smith Wall
Linda Smith Wall
FOR THE PAPER
Linda Smith Wall, 89, of Morganton, died Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, at Grace Ridge Retirement Community following a period of declining health.
She was born in Burke County on Aug. 6, 1937, and was the daughter of the late Harold Russell Smith Sr. and Lolita Oxford Smith Hoyt.
A 1958 graduate of Meredith College in Raleigh, Mrs. Wall was a homemaker with a love for horses and a keen interest in history and archaeology. In addition to being a homemaker, she volunteered with the Morganton Service League and the Quiz Bowl team at Freedom High School, while also serving terms on the Burke County Board of Education and the Western Piedmont Community College Board of Trustees, as well as the Western Piedmont Community College Foundation. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Morganton.
Surviving are her children, a daughter, Jenner Wall of Charlotte, and a son, Edward Wall of Morganton; sister-in-law, Harriet Smith Proctor (Dean) of Hickory; and nephews Eric Smith (Monica) and Brad Smith (Laurie), all of Charlotte.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Wall was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Carl H. Wall Jr.; and her younger brother, Harold Russell Smith Jr. (Bucky).
The family is grateful for the care Linda received at Grace Ridge Skilled Nursing Center, and especially for the love and devotion of her care givers, Berit, Emily, Teresa, Anita, Ari, and Denise, with special love to Christie who had been with her the longest.
A memorial service for Mrs. Wall will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, in the sanctuary of the First Presbyterian Church of Morganton with the Rev. Lance Perry and the Rev. Dr. Thomas A. Bland Jr. officiating. A reception will follow in the church fellowship hall.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Exploring Joara Foundation, P.O. Box 296, Morganton, NC 28680 or the First Presbyterian Church, 100 Silver Creek Road, Morganton, NC 28655.
Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.sossomanfh.com.
Five train cars came off the track near Food Lion on U.S. 70 on
Tuesday.
TRIPLE COMMUNITY FIRE DEPARTMENT / FOR THE PAPER
Just as things were seemingly getting back to normal after a soaking rain courtesy of Hurricane Isaias, Tuesday brought another surprise: a train derailment.
Five cars came off the track as the train made its way through Morganton, not far from the Food Lion on U.S. 70. The highway was closed between East Fleming Drive and East Union Street for more than 48 hours as crews worked to clear the wreckage and investigate what led to the derailment.
One person was transported to the hospital with minor injuries, according to Morganton officials.
No hazardous material spilled from this incident and no evacuation orders were necessary.
Assisting agencies Burke County Emergency Management and Burke County EMS. Triple Community Fire Department reports that its Squad 1 covered Morganton Fire Station 3 while crews continued operations at the site of the derailment.
The City of Morganton led the initial response and Norfolk Southern is now the lead agency on the derailment investigation. The cause of the derailment is still unknown and the investigation is active.
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