Mr. Stephen R Chandler

Stephen Renick Chandler, 65, of Banner Elk and formerly of Salisbury died Tuesday, March 4, 2014 at Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center, Winston-Salem. Born February 28, 1949 in Salisbury, he was the son of Valerie Maeder Chandler of Terrell and the late Robert L. “Bob” Chandler. Steve was educated in the Salisbury school system, graduated from Boyden High School, Class of 1967 and attended Catawba College and Brevard College. He was part-owner of Home Oil and Coal and Home Concrete before selling the company. He owned and operated Clemmons Produce & Mountain Crafts in Banner Elk. Steve was a member of Banner Elk Christian Fellowship. He was involved in law enforcement and served with the Salisbury Police Department Reserves, the Rowan County Sheriff’s Department Auxiliary for 30 years. He served as President of the Salisbury Rowan Merchants Association for 2 different terms, was a former member of the Spencer Moose Lodge and served in the Coast Guard Auxiliary Steve joined the Boy Scouts as a child and remained active throughout his life, serving as Assistant Scout Master of Troup 448 and received the Silver Beaver Award. Steve was a Wood Badge Instructor and a Wood Badge Course Director. Every October for more than a decade he portrayed Professor Marvel at Autumn at Oz on Beech Mountain to the delight of thousands of children and adults. Currently, Steve was serving as Chairman of the Banner Elk Tourism and Development Association and Treasurer of the Greater Banner Elk Heritage Foundation. In addition to his father he was preceded in death by his brother, Robert L. “Robin” Chandler, III and a sister Linda Chandler. Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Rebecca Ruhlman Chandler whom he married March 20, 1970; sons, Brad Chandler of Banner Elk and Nick Chandler of Concord; granddaughter, Emma Chandler; sister, Susan Smith and husband Reis of Wilmington; sister-in-law, Gayle Chandler of Leesburg, FL; mother-in-law, Betty Ruhlman of Salisbury; brother-in-law, Robert Ruhlman and wife Jane of Salisbury and numerous nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be conducted 11:00 AM – Saturday (Mar. 15) at the Chapel in the Pine Mausoleum at Rowan Memorial Park, 4125 Franklin Community Center Rd., Salisbury, NC 28144 with the Rev. Carl Clawson, minister of Banner Elk Christian Fellowship, officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. A Celebration of Life will be held immediately following the service at the Hotel Salisbury & Conference Center, 530 Jake Alexander Blvd South (Former Holiday Inn) Memorials may be made to Banner Elk Christian Fellowship, 140 Woods Lane, Banner Elk, NC 27604 or Boy Scout Troop 448, c/o Coburn United Methodist Church, 901 S. Church St., Salisbury, NC 28144

Mr. Stephen R Chandler

February 28, 1949 - March 4, 2014