Walter Stine Isenhower

Stine was a man who loved the Lord and spent his life modeling Christ's love to everyone he met. He was devoted to his family and his community. He was often heard saying “a day out of Catawba County is a day lost.”

Stine was born in Conover, NC on April 10th, 1927 to the late John Abel and Susie (Jordan) Isenhower. He attended Newton-Conover High School and was a devoted Red Devils Fan. He was a graduate of Fishburne Military School and Lenoir-Rhyne College. After serving in the U.S. Army, he joined the Owen-United Insurance Agency in 1953. He served as president of the firm until it merged with Cline Southern Agency in 1985. Over the years, Stine served his community and his church in many ways. His involvement included the Conover Lions Club, Catawba County Chamber of Commerce, Conover Volunteer Fire Department, Catawba Science Center, Y.M.C.A. Board of Directors, American Red Cross local board, Catawba County Industrial Development Board, Western Piedmont Council of Government regional board, Old Stone Savings and Loan local board, First Citizens Bank local board, Economic Development Commission and a number of other boards.

As a member of Concordia Lutheran Church in Conover, he served at different times as Secretary of the Congregation, Board of Elders chairman, Stewardship Board member and as a member of the Lutheran Television Board and Board of the Lutheran Layman's League. He was a former chairman of the International Lutheran Hour Committee.

A staunch Republican, Stine was a former Chairman of the Catawba County Board of Commissioners and former member of the N.C. House of Representatives. He also served as a member of the N.C. Highway Commission and on the N.C. Insurance Advisory Board.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Carolyn Vaughn Isenhower; second wife Sarah Ann Bumgarner; brothers Horace, Sam, John, James and Joseph and sisters Celia I. Saunders, Susie I. Hambright and Annie Isenhower.

He is survived by son Randy Isenhower (Carmen); daughter Ann I. Rothschild (Randy); granddaughters Charlotte I. Maglinger (Keith), Whitney Isenhower and Hannah Rothschild; grandson Jordan Rothschild (Robert Middlekauff): great-granddaughter Alice Carolyn Maglinger. He is also survived by sister-in-law Juanita T. Isenhower and numerous nephews and nieces.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, January 6th, 2023 at 12 noon at Concordia Lutheran Church in Conover with the Rev. Michael Geml and the Rev. D. Paul Nelson officiating. The family will receive friends at the church prior to the service from 10:00 am until ll:45 am.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in his honor to Concordia Lutheran Church, 216 5th Avenue SE, Conover, NC 28613 or to Camp Linn Haven, P.O. Box 1096, Conover NC, 28613.