Donald Alan Stewart

Donald Alan Stewart was born in Washington, IN on April 26, 1936 to the late Henry Reuben and Elizabeth Billings Stewart.  He passed away on November 5, 2020 in Mount Airy, NC where he had been living for the past four years.  The family moved around some in his earlier years, but settled in Asheville in the late 1940’s.  He graduated from Lee Edwards High School in Asheville, NC and then attended UNC-Chapel Hill where he graduated with a BS in Business Administration in 1958.  He then enlisted in the US Army and served two years, most of that time in Alaska.  After leaving the Army he took a job with Ernst & Ernst Accounting firm. Upon leaving there he went to work as the Controller for Parkdale, Inc. and moved to Gastonia.  He later moved to downtown Charlotte into The Poplar where he made some good friends and enjoyed the many benefits of living in a growing city with wonderful restaurants (he never cooked).  He enjoyed the opera and attending concerts.  He had a playful and sophisticated sense of humor and loved giving strange gifts to family & friends. Don had a talent for design and a love for decorating.  He seldom visited without moving or rearranging furniture and other items.  He woke his sister Joan up one morning at 3:00 am so she could go downstairs to see what he had done.  That was Don.  He had a love for travel, stateside and internationally.  He took numerous trips and treated his nephews and sisters & friends with trips to the beach, hiking, whitewater rafting, trekking through Germany and a weeklong bicycle trip in Sweden, plus trips to India and Turkey, etc.  He was dearly loved by his family for his kindness of spirit and his generosity. We all benefited from the lessons he taught us and will sorely miss his unique take on life.  He was a gentle loving soul.

Surviving are his two sisters, Helen Hendon of Mount Airy, NC and Joan and Bill Inman of Mount Airy, NC; four nephews, Bill Hendon of Denver, CO; Richard and GiGi Hendon of Raleigh, NC; Michael Hendon of Greenville, SC and Matthew and Dena Hendon of Greer, SC; two grand-nieces Mary Hendon and wife Klarisa Zaffark and Hanna Hendon of Greenville, SC and two grand-nephews Steven Hendon (Marie) of Covington, KY; Michael Hendon of Raleigh, NC plus several Great, Great nieces and nephews.  Also, a special friend, Sus Stirling, Charlotte, NC; Pam Denning, Durham, NC; and several cousins.  In addition to his parents, Don was preceded in death by his brother David Stewart and wife Beth Stewart.

The family will hold a private memorial in the Spring in Asheville. Don will be laid to rest with other family members.  Online condolences may be made at www.moodyfuneralservices.com.