Rufus Eller

Rufus Jacob Eller, 88, passed away on Sunday, February 19, 2017 at Caldwell Hospice & Palliative Care in Hudson. He was born in Wilkes County on July 8, 1928 to the late Jake Eller and Rebecca Bowlin Eller. Mr. Eller retired from Lenoir Mirror Company after 46 years of service. He was an active member and deacon at Grandin Baptist Church. Mr. Eller was known as the “Banana Man” at Hospice. Each Saturday for 11 years he had delivered bananas, apples and candy to the staff and patients at the Lenoir and Hudson Hospice facilities, along with his cousin Ray Bowlin and dear friend, Wallace Walker. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife, Vera Lennis Eller and 15 brothers and sisters. Mr. Eller is survived by his children, Frances Pennell of Taylorsville; Cathy Minton and husband, Andy; Lisa Keller and husband, Jeff of Lenoir; sisters-in-law, Gail Eller of Salisbury and June Eller of Lenoir; brothers-in-law, Gene Fletcher of North Wilkesboro and Johnny Stirewalt of Kannapolis; grandchildren, Nathan Pennell and wife, Alexcia of San Antonio, TX; Adrienne Pennell and Ashley Pennell of Taylorsville; Joshua Barnette and wife, Samantha of Lenoir; great-grandchildren, Taylor, Carter and Camden of Texas; and numerous nieces and nephews. A celebration of Mr. Eller’s life will be held at Grandin Baptist Church on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 at 3:00 PM. Interment will be in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends in the Chapel of Evans Funeral Service on Tuesday, February 21, 2017 from 6:00 until 7:30. The family respectfully requests that memorials be sent to Caldwell Hospice, 902 Kirkwood Street, Lenoir, NC 28645, or Grandin Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 4310 Lovins Lane, Lenoir, NC 28645.