Carl L. Torrence died at his home in Hartwell on October 13th, three days after his 83rd birthday celebration.
Mr. Torrence was born in Cherokee County, NC to O.L. and Florence Bell Torrence, the youngest of eight children.He married Evelyn Ledford of Ducktown TN in 1942 and they celebrated 58 years of marriage before her death in 2000.He served in World War II with the U.S. Army infantry and fought in the European theatre where he, eventually, organized and managed two of our German prisoner of war camps in Belgium to the end of the war.He continued in management in his postwar career when he and Mrs. Torrence came to Hartwell in 1949 to take charge of the new Funkhouser mica mining operation.As plant manager, he saw that successful plant through 5 ownership changes and 45 years, retiring in 1994.The Torrance's were members of First Baptist in Hartwell.They shared a passion for antiques which led to a thriving business and the initial restoration of the historic Jones house on Athens Street, completed in 1966. The couple traveled the country in search of special pieces and although Mr. Torrence kept a residence in Hartwell for nearly 50 years, he continued his exploration of the United States in his motor home throughout his retirement.
He is survived by his son, Larry and daughter-in-law Gretchen Schmid Torrence, Hartwell; grandchildren, C. Bradley Torrence, Asheville, NC; Katherine Torrence, Juneau, AK and Gretchen's daughter Daphne L. Ogle, Berkley, CA.Surviving siblings are brother: Edgar Torrence and wife Mary Deming Torrence, Black Mountain, NC; sister Opal Torrence Jones of Farner NC.Preceding him in death were siblings: Nona Torrence Ledford, Noralee Torrence Bigham, Carrie Torrence Verner, Emory Torrence andLucille Torrence Pack.
A memorial service for his family and friends will be scheduled in the coming weeks, the date to be announced in this paper.He will be interred in his family's plot at Nancy Hart Memorial Park during a private service.The family wishes that memorial donations be made to the Sustaining Campaign of the Bell Family YMCA, PO Box 1357, Hartwell GA30643 as contributions to its scholarship fund for the underprivileged.