Judith Patton Rhinehart

Judith Patton Rhinehart, 94, passed away on July 8, 2024, at Silver Bluff Nursing Home.

She was a native of Haywood County and the daughter of the late James Benjamin and Hazel Crawford Patton, of Canton and the granddaughter of the late James Soloman and Rachel Kirkpatrick Patton and Thomas Narvel and Charlotte Stephenson Crawford all of Haywood County. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Carter Lee Rhinehart, Jr. and a brother, James B. Patton, Jr. She graduated in 1948 from Canton High School, attended Wake Forest University, and graduated in 1952 with a B.A. degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and in 1955 with a M.A. degree from Western Carolina University at Cullowhee. She taught in the North Carolina public schools for 36 years including the Haywood County school system, Hendersonville High School, and Enka High School where she retired in 1988 after 29 years of service. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Canton, the Barbara Bishop Sunday School class, and various church ministries. She and her husband had a great love for nature and the outdoors, and they especially enjoyed camping, hiking, spending time at Fontana Lake and the beach, and traveling both in the United States and abroad.

She is survived by her sister-in-law, Joyce Patton, of Canton; a niece, Laura McLean (Fred), of Oak Ridge, TN; two nephews, Keith Patton (Carrie), of Waynesville, NC, and Todd Patton (Yvonne), of Durham, NC; two great nephews, three great nieces, and several cousins.

Judith requested no funeral service. Private interment will be at the Bon-a-Venture cemetery in Clyde, NC.

In Judith’s memory, she requested that you do something kind for someone or an organization of your choice.

The care of Mrs. Rhinehart has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Home of Canton.