John H. Isenhour, Sr.

Mr. John Henry Isenhour, Sr. of Confederate Ave, Salisbury, formerly part-time resident of Blowing Rock, NC and Bay Hill Community in Orlando, FL, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 28, 2009 at Rowan Regional Medical Center. He had been in declining health for several years. Born in Salisbury December 11, 1911 to Charles Wesley and Rhoda Petrie Isenhour, he was educated in Salisbury School System, attended the University of North Carolina-CH, and received his degree in Ceramic Engineering from NC State University in 1933. He served as President of Isenhour Brick and Tile Co. from 1934 until 1972 and then Chairman of the Board from 1972 until 1995. He was voted “Man of the Year” by the Salisbury Lions Club in 1956, and for his “many innovations and his unselfish sharing of these with the brick industry,”he was awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award by the Brick Institute of America in 1981. He established the John and Nell Isenhour, Sr. First Family Scholarship at Catawba College which will provide financial assistance to Catawba College’s best and brightest students. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Security Bank from 1945 until 1981 and Piedmont Natural Gas Company from 1956 until 1984. He served on the Salisbury City Council from 1951 until 1955 and was Mayor of Salisbury from 1953 until 1955. He was an active member of the Country Club of Salisbury and served on the Board of Directors from 1953 until 1968. He became a member of the Blowing Rock Country Club in 1959 and served as president from 1968 until 1969. He is a former member of the Bay Hill Club in Orlando, FL. He was an active member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Salisbury and Blowing Rock Methodist Church in Blowing Rock, NC He was very passionate about his many endeavors and when he took up golf at age 40, he applied this zeal to mastering the game. He eventually obtained a 6 handicap when he was in his late 50’s. He will be remembered as being passionate about his family, his church, his business, his friends and his golf. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a brother, Charles Wesley Isenhour, Jr and two sisters Elizabeth Isenhour Steen and Katherine Isenhour Kerner. Surviving is his wife Nell Elizabeth Gordon Isenhour who he married March 30, 1935 and two children, John Henry Isenhour, Jr of Salisbury and Kay Gordon Isenhour Kyle of Bethesda, Maryland. Also surviving are five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, December 4, at St John’s Lutheran Church with Rev. Rhodes Woolly, pastor and Rev. John Propst, officiating. The family will see friends following in the church library. A private burial will be held. Memorials may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church, 200 W. Innes St., Salisbury, NC 28144 or the donors choice.

John H. Isenhour, Sr.

December 11, 1911 - November 28, 2009