Robert Gladden

Mr. Robert E. Lee Gladden, 85, of Statesville, passed away Wednesday, February 4, 2015, at Iredell Memorial Hospital. Mr. Gladden was born in Kannapolis, NC on November 9, 1929, and was the son of the late Robert Emmet Gladden and Myrtle Allman Gladden. He was a graduate of Winecoff High School in Concord, NC and the American College of Underwriters in PA as a certified licensed underwriter (CLU). Mr. Gladden worked with Liberty Life Ins. Co for 22 years and retired as district manager and he also served in the U.S. Army and in the North Carolina National Guard and retired with 28 years of service and was a former member of the American Legion. He was first married to Noley Porter Gladden, and on May 10, 1986, he married Linda Stevenson Stewart Gladden, who survives. He was a member of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church. He was also a member of the Gastonia and Concord Lions Club, and served as President for two years for the Harrisburg Lions Club. Along with his parents, Mr. Gladden was preceded in death by one sister, Louise Craig and one brother, Excelle Gladden along with his mother-in-law, Jean Jackson and a step-son, Robert Stewart. In addition to his wife, Mr. Gladden is survived by one daughter, Diane Gladden Barrus and husband Jim of Waxhaw; one son, Terry Lee Gladden and wife Debbie of Gastonia and one step-daughter, Karen D. Skeens of Salem, SC along with three grandchildren, Amy M. Barrus LoParo (Devon) of Atlanta, Ga, and Jennifer G. Sigle (Kyle) and Matthew L. Gladden (Amber), both of Fort Mill, SC. He is also survived by two step-granddaughters, Christina D. Skeens Dillard of Central, SC, and Jennifer Anne Stewart of Stanley, NC. He is further survived by two great-grandchildren, Lilly Kate Gladden and Charley Mae Sigle, along with a sister, Pauline G. Tucker of Mt. Pleasant, NC and a number of nieces and nephews. Two brothers-in-law, Mark Stevenson and wife Ena and Gregg Stevenson and wife Jean, all of Statesville. Funeral services for Mr. Gladden will be conducted at 12:00 PM Saturday, February 7, 2015, at Wesley Memorial UMC with Rev. Danny Leonard and Rev. Gervis Hitch officiating. The family will visit with friends Saturday from 11:00 until 12:00 PM at the church. Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery with military honors provided by the Iredell County Veterans Burial Detail. Active pallbearers will be Jim Murdock, Steve Gladden, Devon LoParo, Matthew Gladden, Rick Furr and Kyle Sigle with Robert Tucker serving as an honorary pallbearer. Memorials may be made to the Adult Fellowship Group at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, 825 Wesley Drive, Statesville, NC 28677. Online condolences can be made to the family at nicholsonfunerals.com and Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the family of Mr. Gladden.