Eric Wachsmuth

Eric Wachsmuth was a chemist employed by Borden Chemical Inc., in High Point, North Carolina.

He was a bird watching enthusiast and also enjoyed hunting and fresh and saltwater fishing.  He loved to travel.  He was a Civil War buff.  He was Republican and a member of the NRA.  He was an avid Penn State football fan.  He was a collector of guns and antique tools.  He liked to read books and watch shows about American history.

Every Christmas he could be found at his brother Albert’s and sister-in-law Kathleen’s home in Chester Springs, PA.  From there he would be at his best friend Terry Dayton’s home in Waynesburg, PA for New Year’s festivities and the winter bird count.

He was planning to retire to his property in Pine Bank, PA, where he was refurbishing an old log cabin with the help of his friends.

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Lawrence Waldow

When we think of Larry, we think fun and caring.  We remember bear hugs, his outrageous sense of humor, his rich baritone voice and his legacy of strength and character.  He could fix anything and loved to listen to Jimmy Buffett!

Originally from Wilkes-Barre, PA, he also lived in New York and Texas.

Larry and his wife, Jane, worked together as realtors.  As a quality engineer with IBM for 25 years, he especially enjoyed time spent in Hong Kong.  He also served in the U.S. Navy.

Larry and Jane began their marriage with a wedding at the Biltmore Estates.  They were best friends and reveled in each other’s company.

Larry passed on many of the activities that he enjoyed to his three children.  With Nick, he loved to hunt and go to Yankees games.  They spent many happy weekends working together to build a hunting lodge.  Jessica inherited his creative flair for cooking.  The spectacular vegetarian lasagna they created for a family reunion is still legendary.  After one taste of water skiing, Larry bought a boat within a week!  Then he and his youngest daughter, Victoria, spent many very happy weekends skiing and exploring local lakes.

Larry always tried to be a strong, encouraging, positive support for his children.  It was a very special joy to him when he saw his children completing the circle by being strong responsible parents and sharing his favorite activities with their children.  This photo shows Larry and one of this three grandsons, Lennon.

We celebrate Larry’s life and his gift of sight.  We hope that the recipient also received his ability to see life in his fun and caring way.

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Harold Waldrop

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William Lynn Wallace

He liked to watch TV - all sports, especially racing, all news channels and finance programs.  He liked working outside in the yard and garden, mowing, putting out fertilizer and lime, and planting flowers and trees.  He took great pride in his lawn and his yard was the talk of the neighborhood.  He liked all animals and birds, especially hummingbirds and butterflies.  He liked to laugh and make people laugh.  He loved to go to the ocean and play in the water and sit and watch the ocean.  He liked to fish, but did not like to eat them.  He would say they were nasty.  He didn’t like chicken or turkey either.  He liked steak and potatoes.  He loved to read – if you had a problem, he would read up on it to see if he could help you solve your problem.  He did not like cold weather and he didn’t like it when he couldn’t go outside.  He loved coffee with lots of cream and sweet tea; he wanted his tea glass kept full when he went out to eat.  He liked Brazil nuts, cashew news, and pistachio nuts.  He would get excited at Christmas when it was time to decorate.  He couldn’t wait to open presents and begged to open at least one present on Christmas Eve since it was our tradition to open them on Christmas morning.  He served in the Navy Reserve.  His favorite subject in school was History.  He loved to listen to Preacher John Hagee and learn more about Jesus.  He liked to go to church and help anyone he could by giving to, then through the church.  He did not want the thanks to come to him, but to the church.  He liked to read his Bible.  He believed and no one was going to change his mind.

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Albert Ray Ward

November 3, 1937 – November 5, 2005

“The Shortest Answer is Doing” was the motto under Albert Ray Ward’s high school graduation photo.  Throughout his entire life he lived this motto – “doing” for his family and community.  Albert loved his classmates and helped plan reunions every five years.  Albert loved football and was proud to have played for coach Bill Billings and the state champion Edenton Aces.  He was an active member in 4-H and Boy Scouts and active in the Edenton Jaycees as an adult.  He served youth as a Scout and 4-H leader.  Albert was a volunteer fireman for 21 years.  He proudly served for 12 years in the N.C. National Guard.  Albert was a wonderful mechanic and could fix anything from lawn mowers to 18 wheelers.  He rebuilt his first engine as a teen and worked for Barrow Bottling Plant, Ward’s Gulf Service, Chris Craft Boat Co., Northside Auto, the Town of Edenton and owned and operated Ward’s Garage.  After selling his business he retired for a few months and then took a part time job as a mechanic for Albemarle Plantation. 

Albert loved his family.  Only five when his father died in an industrial accident, Albert delivered papers, raised chickens for sale, and worked hard to help his mother, grandparents, two sisters and brother.  He was an excellent student and was offered an appointment to West Point through the National Guard.  He turned this down to stay home and help his paraplegic mother and aging grandparents.  Albert was a loving husband to his wife Fran and celebrated 40 years of marriage in September of 2005.  He was the proud father of two sons and six grandchildren. 

Albert was an outdoorsman and loved to hunt and fish.  He loved his church and was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church, serving as deacon, elder and church treasurer. 

Albert believed in organ donation.  He experienced kidney failure and was on the transplant waiting list for a kidney donation.  At the time of his death, illness prevented donation of other organs, but he would have been happy to know that the N.C. Eye Bank was able to use his eyes to help someone receive the gift of sight.

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Glenn Warren

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Patricia Louise Warren

Patricia, or Patty, as she was known by everyone, was her daddy’s best buddy from the time she could walk.  She loved fishing, playing ball, and Tar Heels basketball.  She loved going to auctions and flea markets.

Patty worked at McDonalds after high school.  She loved to travel and loved everyone.

She will be missed by her family and friends.

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Becky Watson

What I miss most about Becky, my wife of 35 years, and there are so many things to choose from, is the sense of awe that I always felt when she walked into the room.  I loved staring at her even after so many years together.  I never could figure out what I had done to deserve her as my partner.  I miss her so.

Larry Watson

When I was young, I loved to play outdoor games with other kids in my neighborhood.   Hide and Seek, Capture the Flag, anything that would give us a reason to roam and run around our block.  These games allowed us in our minds to transform individual houses and yards into a single, unified playing field within which there were no boundaries or places we could not go.  In these games, your ability to carefully observe this terrain was a key factor in your success.  If you could spot someone behind a tree several houses down the street then you were at a real advantage.  Likewise, not being aware of when others could see you was often a sure way to be bested by a more stealthy competitor.

One day after school as I was preparing for the daily game, I asked my mother several questions about various spots in the neighborhood and whether or not they offered a good hiding place.  We were in the kitchen where I barraged her with questions, questions that she clearly had no idea how to answer.  The questions hung in the air for a few seconds before she turned around to face me and said plainly, “If you can see them, they can see you”.

I have never forgotten that simple moment.  When assessing your position remember that the Other is as well.  When considering your next move remember that the Other is also capable of movement.  When explaining the righteousness of your conviction remember that the Other is also capable of explanation and that they are as convinced by their explanation as you are of yours.  Think of what the world looks like to the Other.

My mother taught me how to see through other people’s eyes.  She would have wanted someone to see through hers.

McClain Watson - son

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Anita Whitcraft

Anita
was a rose from her mother’s garden transformed into an angel in heaven’s portal.  Her life was a trophy that will always be treasured in our lives.

Anita
was a strong, smart, and intelligent young woman, who embraced life.  Every friend she made, she left her touch, her soft smile and big brown eyes, that always had a kind word to follow.  She was a hard worker in any task given.

Anita
was so curious to learn in life.  She wanted to succeed and she did.  She was focused and determined.  She loved the color pink, she loved butterflies and loved to laugh.  When her life ended, she had made such an impact on the people she loved they, too, wanted all of these things.  They wanted to change their lives for the better.  If you never had the opportunity to have met Anita Lynne Whitcraft, you sure missed a blessing.  She bloomed on this earth for almost 20 years and she was picked from the garden and placed in our hearts forever.

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Vickie Wilkinson

Vickie enjoyed life to the fullest!  She was very outgoing and enjoyed water sports, dancing, fishing, and travel; especially casinos with slot machines.  She and her mother (Betty Harris) had a craft business called The Anchor Lady.  They both had a great time going to different craft shows around North and South Carolina and Virginia. 

Vickie had an unusual laugh and a loud voice.  Everybody loved being around her, because she was so energetic and fun to be with. 

Vickie also had a small cleaning business; each summer she went to Holden Beach to clean houses.  The management always called to make sure she came back each year.  They really loved the way she took special interest in doing all her rental houses.  Even though Vickie had open heart surgery in October of 2004 and cancer in November 2005, she was always positive about life.

P.S., I miss her dearly.

Harry Wilkinson

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Billie Williams

I was so thrilled when the North Carolina Eye Bank wrote me and let me know they were able to use Mom’s corneas.  I am still very emotional over this but I am receiving such joy right now just by writing this.

I want to tell you about my mother.  She was born, raised and lived in Ramseur, NC.  She was the oldest of 3 children.  She had 2 younger brothers.  Mom was the last living member of her immediate family.  She married my dad in 1966, but the marriage only lasted about 2 years.  My father is also deceased.  She had one child, me, and I am now 38 years old.

Mom worked most of her life in the textile mills in this area.  However, in 1988, she had to have heart surgery and after that was only able to work part time jobs.  She worked then at Biscuitville and McDonalds until she finally retired.

My mom and I have lived together my entire life.  She lived with me and my husband and her 2 grandchildren, one granddaughter 17 years old, and one grandson who is 2 years old.  She loved us all and was so proud of the grandkids!  The only thing she disliked was my cat!  She couldn’t stand having an animal in the house.  She said my cat wasn’t good for anything except eating and sleeping.

Mom was very active in our church and loved going to every service she could.  She sang in the choir also.  She also loved playing BINGO.  She didn’t like shopping or being out on the town at all.  She didn’t have any hobbies really except she collected lighthouses and hummingbirds.  We took her to the NC Outer Banks on vacation one year and drove up and down the coast to see all the lighthouses.  She really enjoyed that.

Mom passed away on January 5, 2005 and we laid her to rest on her birthday, January 8th.  She used to laugh because she was born on Elvis Presley’s birthday and she said that they talked about him all day and never mentioned her!

She was a huge Carolina Tarheels basketball fan and a Washington Redskins football fan.

I don’t know what else to say other than the fact that I am thankful for the North Carolina Eye Bank being able to help me cope with losing my mother by giving me the news of the successful transplants.  Just knowing that she has helped someone regain their sight is so precious a gift to me.

It’s ironic in a way because my mom always complained about her glasses and how she couldn’t see good at all.  I know in my heart though that she is overjoyed at being able to help another person with their sight.

Sincerely,
Kim

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Elizabeth Williams

Beth was such a compassionate person who really touched a lot of lives.  She just had a way of making those around her stronger.  She was so artistic and creative, but always modest about her skills.  Beth loved all animals and had a spirit that endeared her to children and the elderly.  She suffered a heart attack at age 34.  Although her life on this earth was short, her impact on many lives will always last.

Beth would have wanted someone to benefit from her organs after she died.  Sadly, following her coma, her organs were all severely damaged and could not be used.  However, the North Carolina Eye Bank was able to use her corneas.  Beth suffered from poor eyesight during her life, but she would be so proud that her “bad eyes” could help someone receive sight.  I know I am proud of her.  I love you, Beth.

Russ Williams

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MacKenzie and Matthew Williams

Our pregnancy began like it does for most first time parents.  We were so excited to see two lines on the home pregnancy test instead of the one line we had seen many times before.  We did not tell anyone until we had gone to the doctor to confirm what we already knew to be true.  This all took place at the beginning of December and, of course, we waited until Christmas to tell our families and New Year’s to tell our friends.  In January, we were given another surprise when we learned that we were having multiples.  How exciting!  Our friends and families again were very supportive and elated at the news.

The next few weeks were filled with shopping and painting and planning for the arrival of our twins.  We decided not to find out what we were having, so greens, yellows, and whites were the colors of choice.  Another big decision that lay ahead was to pick out our babies’ names.  This would be a decision that was not actually made until they were born.

In early March we went for what we thought would be a routine checkup.  We were shocked to learn that we would not be going home but straight to the hospital.  We had begun to dilate because of an incompetent cervix.  Our first response – what is that and how do we fix it?  Over the next four weeks we would learn what it was, how to fix it the next time we get pregnant, and what bed rest was all about.

The doctors could do nothing to correct this issue except put me to bed with my feet above my head.  We did not know how long we would be in the hospital or on bed rest, but with the support of our friends and family we were in it for the long haul.

Our wait was not as long as we hoped.  At 22 weeks our babies had stayed in my belly as long as they could.  With an infection starting to form, my body began to fight back.  On Good Friday we gave birth to Matthew Payton Williams.  He was our little soldier!  We truly felt that he had come early so that his twin could continue to grow and get stronger.  Now we know that their bond, the bond of twins, is greater than any other.  Three days later, Easter Monday, we gave birth to MacKenzie Ann Williams.  She was our first little girl in this family full of grandsons and nephews.

When we received the call about donating MacKenzie’s eyes to the NC Eye Bank, it did not take us long to agree.  We hope that her beautiful eyes will brighten another child’s world.  We know that she does not need them in Heaven!

No pain is greater than the loss of a loved one, and if you love someone you cannot lose them and not feel pain – no matter how much time you had with them.  Matthew and MacKenzie were only with us in this life for a short time, but they will live on in our hearts until the day we get to spend the rest of our lives with them.

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Jonathon Wilson

Jon was born on May 17, 1979.  He could not gain weight and was soon diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.  The prognosis was not good, but Jon began to thrive with medication.  He did very well until he was fifteen and began to have frequent pulmonary problems which meant more hospitalizations.  At age twenty-three it became necessary for him to receive a lung transplant.  He was very determined to continue with the plans he had made for his future.  He proposed to his girlfriend last December and found a house to buy for their home together.  He was hospitalized December 15 and passed away on January 5, 2005 from transplant rejection.

Jon loved his family and friends, loved to make them laugh and have a good time.  He rarely complained.  A lot of the people who met him never knew he had cystic fibrosis or even a lung transplant.  Some of his favorite times were spent at his grandparents pond fishing or just floating on a raft in the pond.  He always took the time to check on his friends, help someone find a job or just spend time visiting.  He was very loving and caring.

I always collected Precious Memories figurines because the little boy looked like Jon when he was small.  One year for Christmas instead of buying one figurine he bought the whole circus collection.  Jon was always doing things for others.  He also had a great compassion for animals – he loved his West Highland Terrier, Taz, and his iguana.

Jon is in our thoughts every day.  We miss him very much and look forward to being with him again in Heaven.

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Teresa Worsley

December 21, 1966 – February 13, 2005

“Queen La T”

My name is Ashley Worsley, and my mother was the most special person in my life.  She was like my best friend because I could talk to her about anything.  No matter how hard the questions I asked her, she would give me an honest answer.  She was a nice person who liked helping people who didn’t have anything.  She would always help out family and friends who needed it if she could.  She was a single parent with two kids, and it was very hard for her to support us.  I remember she worked hard her entire life to put food on the table and make sure we had shelter.  Mom died when I was 16, and my older sister Sophia was 19.  We were on our own, but mom taught us how to be strong and deal with challenges in life.  I really miss mom around the holidays.  She always made these days special.  At Christmas I tried not to ask for much because I knew we didn’t have a lot of money.  I don’t know how she did it each year, but Christmas was great.  We got cool stuff, and we made lots of great memories.  My education was important to my mother.  That is why I have not dropped out of  school even though I am on my own now.  I will keep going until I have my diploma because I know that is what my mom would have wanted.  Teresa Worsley was a wonderful mother and person.  I know she is in a better place now, and she will always be in my heart.

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Carolyn Wynn

The luckiest people in the world are rarely the richest, the most beautiful, or even the highest achieved.  However, my sister, Carolyn, had a special effect on all those whose lives she touched.  She helped us all find comfort in who we are.  She showed us how not to depend on excitement or pleasure supplied by externals.  Yearning for yesterday or tomorrow was a loss of today.  She would take hold of the moment and truly be glad to be alive.  Carolyn’s commitment for a job well done spoke loudly in her day to day life.  She was career oriented, retiring from Sprint after 35 years.  Carolyn was never blessed with children, but I was fortunate to have her daily influence in the lives of my son and daughter.  She adopted all animals and their lives were instantly changed from rags to riches.  She was happiest when we were all together at the seashore during those endless summers with the children and festivities surrounding the birth of our Savior.

All who knew her and her capacity to love are the luckiest people in the world.

She is only gone from our sight, not our hearts or thoughts.

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The North Carolina Eye Bank takes great pride in our ability to share the gift of sight with thousands of people every year through corneal transplant, research and education. This gift does not come without a price. We must remember that for each grateful recipient of a transplanted cornea or medical breakthrough achieved, there is a family who is struggling with the loss of a loved one. These are the stories and remembrances of their family members — the faces of donation.

The 2005 Faces of Donation

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