Dr. Ernest Stines

Canton – Dr. Ernest Harrison Stines, 91, passed away to his heavenly home on Thursday, September 22, 2022 at his residence surrounded by his loving family.

Dr. Stines was born in Asheville and was the eldest son of the late Ernest and Doris Searcy Stines.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by the love of his life for 65 years, Libbie Allen Stines.

Dr. Stines graduated from Lee Edwards High School in Asheville in 1948.  He attended Mars Hill College and graduated from Wake Forest College in 1952.  Dr. Stines served in the Coast Guard from 1952 until 1954.  Dr. Stines went on to graduate from Bowman Gray School of Medicine in 1957.  After his residency at North Carolina Baptist Hospital in Winston Salem, he was co-founder of Midway Medical Center in Canton, where he began a family practice in 1959.  Dr. Stines was a charter member of the American Academy of Family Practice and among one of the first physicians to become board certified.

He was a member of Canton First Baptist Church where he served as a deacon, Sunday school teacher and many other committees.  Dr. Stines participated in multiple medical foreign mission projects with North Carolina Baptist Men and was selected layman of the year in 1994.  He was past president of the Canton Lions Club, served as trustee of Mars Hill College, the North Carolina Baptist Hospital, and was past president of the Association Surgeons of Norfolk & Southern Railway.  He also served on the Wake Forest University alumni council and as President of the Medical Alumni Council.  Locally, Dr. Stines served on the Haywood County School Board and was a past alderman for the town of Canton.  He was also team physician for Canton and Pisgah High Schools for 40 years.  Dr. Stines was an avid trout fisherman and cherished his time hunting with the Cruso Bear Hunting Club.  Golfing with his family was another one of his passions.

Dr. Stines is survived by two sons, Ernest C. “Chuck” Stines and his wife, Mona, of Fernandina Beach, Florida and William H. “Bill” Stines and his wife, Jill, of Linville, North Carolina; a daughter, Mary Lib Ladner and her husband, James, of Black Mountain, North Carolina; four grandchildren, Tanner Stines and his wife, Megan, of Athens, Georgia; Zachary Stines and his wife, Lindy, of Albany, New York; Will Stines and his wife, Marissa, of San Diego, California; and Nicole Stines of San Diego, California; sister-in-law, Joyce Stines of Blowing Rock, North Carolina; and several nieces and nephews.

The family would like to offer a special thanks to Care Angels of Haywood County for their special services.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 29, 2022 at Canton First Baptist Church with the Reverend Court Greene and Reverend Walter Draughon, III officiating.  Burial will follow at Crawford/Ray Memorial Gardens.  The family will receive friends from 9:30 until 10:45 a.m. prior to the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Canton First Baptist Church, 208 Academy Street, Canton, NC  28716.

The care of Dr. Stines has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Homes of Canton.