Tona Louise Lawter, 67, of Saluda, N.C. died on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015 at St. Luke’s Hospital in
Columbus, N.C.

Tona was preceded in death by her father, Boyd Harold Lawter who died in 1977 and her mother,
Ruth Pace Lawter who went to be with the Lord in November 2014. She lived with her mother
where she was her faithful caregiver until her mother’s passing.

Tona graduated from Saluda School in 1965. She attended two years of dental assistant
school in Atlanta. She began her 40-year dental career in Brevard, N.C. with Drs. Davis and
Massey in 1971. In 1973, she began dental assisting with Dr. Corbin O. Williams in
Hendersonville, N.C. and remained in that general dental practice until his retirement in 1998.
She then worked assisting in an endodontic practice for three and a half years before returning to
general dentistry. She began working in Fletcher, N.C. with Dr. Robert Avery until she retired in
2013. She volunteered at the Dental Free Clinics on Thursday nights for 11 years. Tona’s
kindheartedness and cheerful disposition touched everyone, patients and other volunteers at the
clinic.

She was a devoted member of Hendersonville First Baptist Church since June 1994 where she
was a faithful servant with the “kitchen crew” every Wednesday night and any time that she was
needed to help serve or even just clean up. She was also a beloved nursery sitter where she has
helped raise many, many children through her years of service with the Sunday school preschool.
Her love for children was endless.

Tona is survived by her sister, Elizabeth L. Justus and her husband Sonny of Saluda; her
nephews, Kenneth B. Justus and Jason T. Justus and wife, Melissa M. Justus of Saluda, and
Rodney M. Justus of Rutherfordton. Tona is also survived by her beloved twin great niece and
great nephew, Alyssa and Hunter Justus of Saluda, who were the “light of her life.” She is also
survived by many, many friends and everyone knew her as “Aunt Tona.”

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015 at Hendersonville First Baptist
Church. Rev. Steve Scoggins and Rev. Steve Gibbs will officiate. The family will receive friends
following the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Free Clinics of Hendersonville, 841 Case
Street, Hendersonville, N.C. 28792, or to Wee School of First Baptist Church, 312 5th Avenue
West, Hendersonville, N.C. 28739.

Shuler Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. To offer condolences online
please visit www.shulerfuneralhome.com.