Dr. Ernest " Doc"  Yelton, age 102, of Rutherfordton, NC, died Thursday, August 31, 2023 at his home.  He was son of the late Charles and Nora Guffey Yelton and a native of Rutherford County.  Doc was a U S Navy veteran of World War II.  He was a graduate of UNC Chapel Hill and went to medical school there for two years and went to Duke University medical school for two years also.  He met "Midge"  while at Cornell University Hospital while he was completing his residency. They spent the early years of their relationship serving as military medical staff in the South Pacific and rebuilding Greece after WWII under the Marshall Plan. They married and settled in Doc's hometown of Rutherfordton in 1949.  He was preceded in death by his wife Marie "Midge" Willett  Yelton,  his daughter:  Patricia Yelton, his granddaughter Emily Yelton, his son-in-law John A. Bazemore III and his siblings; Betty, Leonard, Wayne and Frances.

Doc is survived by his daughter Kathleen Bazemore of Greenville SC, his son, Jeff E. Yelton and his wife Kim of Simpsonville, SC, three grandchildren, Kate Mayer, Julia Mayer Genoble (Blake), Meredith Yelton Mason (Bill), and one great-grandson, Grant Mason.

The memorial service for Doc Yelton will be at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, September 16, 2023 at First United Methodist Church of Rutherfordton with Reverend Dr. In-Yong Lee and Reverend Tonya Hill officiating. The visitation and reception will be held following the service in the Fellowship Hall. Interment of the ashes in the church Memorial Garden will be private.

In lieu of flowers please make memorials to Habitat For Humanity; PO Box 1534, Rutherfordton, NC 28139, or Hospice of Carolina Foothills; PO Box 336, Forest City, NC 28043, or First United Methodist Church; 264 North Main St., Rutherfordton NC 28139.  McMahan's Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of arrangements.