Mr. W.F. "Phil" Altemueller, age 79, passed away October 25, 2010 at the Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice Home. Mr. Altemueller was born March 25, 1931 in Washington, MO to Henry William and Irene Averback Altemueller. After graduating from St. Francis Borgia High School, he enlisted in the Navy for 4 years and served through the end of the Korean War. After being discharged, Mr. Altemueller enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He graduated from the Business School in 1956 with Phi Beta Kappa and Beta Gamma Sigma honors. After graduation, Mr. Altemueller took a job with Chatham Manufacturing Company in 1956. There he served in a number of capacities including a five year tour of duty at Springfield Woolen Mills in Springfield, TN. where he met his wife Gayle. They were married in 1964 after returning to the Elkin plant. He continued service in Elkin until retirement in September of 1992 as Executive Vice President. In addition to his parents, Mr. Altemueller was preceded in death by two older brothers, Armin and Dennis Altemueller; and an infant daughter. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Gayle Jones Altemueller of the home; four children, Beth Altemueller and husband Newell Hauser of Elkin, John Altemueller and wife Cynthia of Roaring River, Lisa Altemueller of Denver, CO, and Mary Gayle Golden and husband Craig of Schertz, TX; five grandchildren, Will, Matthew, and Luke Altemueller of Roaring River, and Emma and Ava Golden of Schertz, TX; one younger brother, Leon Altemueller of Union, MO; two sisters-in-law, Jewell Altemueller of Chapel Hill and Laura Altemueller of San Jose, CA; and several nieces and nephews. A funeral mass will be conducted Thursday. October 28, 2010 at 11:00 am at St. Stephens Catholic Church with Father John Hanic officiating. The family will receive friends Wednesday evening from 6:00 to 8:30 pm at Elkin Funeral Service. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Feed the Elderly, PO Box 125, Elkin, NC 28621; Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice Home, 945 Zephyr Road, Dobson, NC 27017; or to The Family Life Center of St. Stephens Church, 101 Hawthorne Drive, Elkin, NC 28621. The family would like to express their thanks to Wake Forest Cancer Center and Dr. Bayard Powell and his staff, the nurses at the Wake Forest Comprehensive Center of Elkin, Dr. Stephen Walker and his staff, the staff at Mt. Valley Hospice and the Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice Home for all their care during Phil's illness. They would also like to thank the members of the Elkin and Jonesville communities for all the love, support, prayers, and cards during the three years of Phil's illness.
