Lexington Herald-Leader (KY) - August 6, 2002

Deceased Name: EDWIN E. YELTON, LONGTIME GROCER

Edwin Ellis Yelton, who served the people of the Fairlane area of Campbell County for 33 years at his grocery-service station, died of heart failure yesterday at River Valley Nursing Home in Butler. He was 83.

Mr. Yelton, who retired in 1980, kept Yelton's Friendly Service, just south of Grants Lick, open seven days a week, 14 hours a day for about 25 of the years that he ran it. The store, badly needed in the area when it first opened, was frequented primarily by "country" people, said Mr. Yelton's wife, Willavene S. Yelton.

Mr. Yelton was born and grew up on a Pendleton County farm. He went to college for about a year in Northern Kentucky. A member of the Army's 285th Engineering Division during World War II, he was in the Battle of the Bulge.

A faithful member of Mount Moriah Christian Church between Butler and Falmouth Mr. Yelton was an elder emeritus in the church.

He was "always humorous, always had a lovely smile, a twinkle in his eye, that type. He was a great bass addition to the church choir," said Jane Bentle of Falmouth, a member of Mount Moriah.

In later years, Mr. Yelton helped start and was the first president of the Happy 100 Senior Citizens, which met at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post in Alexandria. Mr. Yelton also was active in the Pendleton County Senior Citizens and was a Mason.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Yelton is survived by a son, Mark Aaron Yelton of Newport; a daughter, Cheryl Sue Biddle of Alexandria; a sister; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Peoples Funeral Home in Grants Lick. Visitation will be after 4 p.m. Wednesday. Contributions are suggested to Mount Morian Christian Church.

Edition: Final
Page: B4
Copyright (c) 2002 Lexington Herald-Leader

Contributed By: Deborah Puschkar

The Kentucky Post, August 6, 2002

Edwin Yelton, store owner in Fairlane. Is it only coincidence that a tiny town along U.S. 27 a bit south of Grants Lick is known as Fairlane and Edwin Ellis Yelton, the owner of Yelton's Friendly Service, drove a light blue 1961 Ford Fairlane? It was no coincidence, said Mr. Yelton's son, Mark Yelton of Newport. After all, Edwin Yelton was known for his sense of humor. Mr. Yelton, of Grants Lick, died Monday at River Valley Nursing Home in Butler. He was 83. Edwin Yelton, who operated the grocery store and gas station from the late 1940s until 1980 in the unincorporated place now known as Fairlane, will be remembered by many, friends and family say. ''Dad was outgoing. Very personable, great sense of humor, witty, "said Mark Yelton". The name of his store reflected the pride his father placed in service back when US 27 was the equivalent of I-71/I-75 today, Mark Yelton said. ''Customer service was ground into my sister and me,'' he said. ''It was
 - trust me - not just a capitalistic enterprise. That store was kind of a community hub, so to speak.'' Although the store was open 13 hours a day every day of the year except Christmas and half a day Thanksgiving, Mr. Yelton always found time to attend Mt. Moriah Christian Church with his family, and served as an elder there. ''We had 22 years of retirement, which is quite a bit,'' said his wife, Willavene Yelton. Mr. Yelton used that time to help other retirees, starting the Happy 100 senior citizens travel group and serving as its first president. He was also a member of Pendleton Co., Senior Citizens. An Army veteran of World War II, he was also a member of Masonic Aspen Grove Lodge 397. Also surviving is a daughter, Cheryl Sue Biddle of Alexandria; a sister, Nancy Fardo of California; five grandchildren and three great- grandchildren.

Services will be at 7 p.m. Wed. at Peoples Funeral Home, Grants Lick, with burial in Butler Cem.

 Visitation will be from 4 p.m. until time of services Wed.