Obituary of Francis B. Dedmond

Dr. Francis Berneil Dedmond, age 89, of Howard Street, Boone, died Saturday afternoon, May 17, 2008 at Watauga Medical Center. He was born August 19, 1918 in Salisbury to Henry Baxter Dedmond, Sr. and Mae Fogelman Dedmond. Dr. Dedmond graduated from Catawba College then went on to complete graduate studies at Duke University and Florida State University where he earned his PhD in American Literature. He was Chairman of the English Department at Gardner Webb College and later Chairman of the English Department at Catawba College until his retirement. A distinguished scholar in his field, Dr. Dedmond published extensively in literary journals with an emphasis on American Renaissance. He authored several books, most notably, Lengthened Shadows, a History of Gardner Webb College (to honor the college's sixtieth anniversary), Catawba, The Story of a College, and Sylvester Judd. While continuing to publish well into his later years, Dr. Dedmond was a frequent contributor to many distinguished scholarly journals. Among them: Studies in the American Renaissance, The Thomas Wolfe Review, American Transcendental Quarterly, Modern Language Quarterly, New England Quarterly, Concord Saunterer, and Thoreau Society Bulletin. Dr. Dedmond was a member of the Thoreau Society. He is survived by; his wife, Eris Arrowood Dedmond; one step-son, Alan Thomas Wilson and wife Rebecca Spencer Wilson of Monroe; one sister, Doris Dedmond Latham of Fayetteville; three nieces, Linda Bridges of Lawrenceville, GA, Patricia Foster of Fayetteville and Joanne Herrmann of Raleigh; two step grandsons, Brian Wilson of Monroe and Jonathan Wilson of Los Angeles, CA; and two step great-grandsons, Alex and Aaron Wilson, both of Monroe. He was preceded in death by a brother Henry Baxter Dedmond, Jr.. Memorial services will be conducted Saturday afternoon, May 24th at 1 PM at the Rowan Memorial Park Chapel in Salisbury, officiated by Rev. Richard Spencer. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to a charity of the donor's choice. Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Dedmond family.