Jesse James Metcalf

JESSE JAMES METCALF CANDLER - Jesse James Metcalf, 94, of Reeves Cove Road, died Wednesday, December 3, 2014 at Memorial Mission Hospital. Jesse was born in Yancey County, NC on October 21, 1920. He was the son of the late Hobert Edgar Metcalf and Nancy Elizabeth Fox Metcalf and husband of the late Robbie Edith McIntosh Metcalf who died on November 24, 2014. He was also preceded in death by a great granddaughter Abigail Metcalf. He lived in Erwin, Tennessee in his early years. He was drafted into the U.S. Army on July 17, 1942 from Unicoi County, Tennessee. He did his basic training in Oglethrope, Georgia. He fought with Company A 159th Infantry in the Aleutian Islands on Attu. His comrades in arms called him "Tennessee" because he came from Tennessee where he hunted as a boy in the mountains of Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina. His hunting skills served him well in the Army. He was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one Bronze Star and the Good Conduct Medal. He was an expert with a Carbine Rifle and was promoted to Corporal and made a rifle instructor. He separated from the Army at the end of World War II on November 5, 1945. He married Robbie Edith McIntosh on July 26, 1950. Their marriage lasted 64 years until Robbie's death. He worked for the United States Post Offices in Erwin, TN, Newport News, VA and Asheville, NC before retiring from a rural route in Bakersville, in 1983. He was a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was truly part of the "Greatest Generation". He is survived by his daughters, Brenda Joann Metcalf and husband Wayne and Linda Marie Ledford and husband Eddie; grandchildren, David Metcalf and wife Heidi, Tara Metcalf Pressley and husband Tommy, Nathan Metcalf and wife Amy, Jacob Metcalf, Eddie Ledford II, Amanda Ledford; great-grandchildren, Jacob and Nick Pressley, Ethan and Gavin Major, Marah Metcalf; sisters, Bonnie Marie Shelton and Opal Joann Paramore. His family will cherish his memory along with his beloved wife, Robbie. They were always together in their life and died close together. We believe they are united again. His funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 10, 2014 in the Chapel of West Funeral Home, 17 Merrimon Ave., Weaverville. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Erwin, Tennessee. The family will receive friends 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday at the funeral home. Flowers are acceptable and appreciated. For those who desire, condolences may be offered to the family under Mr. Metcalf's obituary at www.WestFamilyFuneralServices.com. His funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 10, 2014 in the Chapel of West Funeral Home, 17 Merrimon Ave., Weaverville. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Erwin, Tennessee. The family will receive friends 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday at the funeral home. Flowers are acceptable and appreciated. For those who desire, condolences may be offered to the family under Mr. Metcalf’s obituary at www.WestFamilyFuneralServices.com.