Bobby Setzer

Bobby Neil Setzer, born on October 20, 1932 and passed away on January 23, 2019 peacefully at his home in Cullowhee, NC.

A native of Haywood County he was the son of the late Raymond Lee Setzer of Maggie Valley and Estelle Hyde Setzer Allison of Andrews.

Bobby was a 1951 graduate of Waynesville Township High School. He graduated from Western Carolina University and lettered four years, before graduating with his masters from George Peabody College for Teachers.  From 1953 – 1955 he served in the US Army as a member of the 11th Airborne Division.

He served as teacher, head football coach, assistant principal and athletics director at East Rutherford High School in Forest City, NC from 1963-66, and was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 2004.

Coach Setzer was a part of the WCU sports program for over 36 years, serving most of those years as defensive line coach under Dan Robinson and Bob Waters.  He served as head wrestling coach for six seasons and the men’s tennis coach for 2 seasons.  He retired as Athletic Director in 1992 and was inducted into the WCU Hall of Fame the same year.  As Associate Professor, he coordinated the Industrial Distribution Program in the School of Technology and Applied Sciences and was named Professor Emeritus in 1996.

He served on the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 9th district for 12 years, two of which were as Vice-chairman.  In 2005 the Bobby N. Setzer State Fish Hatchery was dedicated, located at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard, NC.  The same year, he was conferred membership into the State of North Carolina Order of the Long Leaf Pine.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Anne Bridges Setzer, of Ellenboro, NC, two older brothers (Leroy and Joel of Waynesville); twin sister, Betty Nell Ferguson of Dellwood.  He was preceded in death by his brother Edwin.  Also surviving are four children, Allen Neil (Tiffany) of Hayesville, Laura Lembeck of Cullowhee, Joel Bobby (Lesha) of Cullowhee and Steven Lee (Jennifer) of Easley, SC; ten grandchildren Jake, Lindsey, Leah, Alex, Natalie, Katie, Holly, John Lee, Kathryn and Morgan; six great-grandchildren; and his loving caregiver of three years, Michael Labena Faltamo of Ethiopia.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 26, 2019 at Cullowhee Baptist Church with Dr. Jeffrey Vickery and Reverend Tonya Vickery officiating.  Burial will follow in the church cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Friday at Wells Funeral Home in Waynesville.

The family would appreciate memorials be made to the WCU Foundation, (memo line) Setzer Scholarship Fund, Catamount Club, 92 Catamount Road, Cullowhee, NC 28723, 828-227-3047.

The care of Mr. Setzer has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Homes and an online memorial register is available at “Obituaries” at www.wellsfuneralhome.com