Dr. Jonathan Vernon Hoyle, Jr.

Dr. Jonathan Vernon Hoyle, Jr. Born of Veora Carlton Hoyle and Jonathan Vernon Hoyle, Sr. in Durham, NC on December 17, 1938, Jonathan Vernon Hoyle, Jr. passed away peacefully on March 2, 2018.

Vernon was educated at Durham High School where he played basketball and football, achieving membership on the North Carolina Shrine Bowl team. He was named to the Associated Press All-State and All East teams, along with other honors, including a full football scholarship to the University of Tennessee, where he started at Center all four years.

After graduating with his Bachelor of Science, he entered Officer Candidate School with the US Navy. He served as a commissioned officer and piloted helicopters during the Vietnam Conflict.

Upon completing active naval service as a 1st Lieutenant, he enrolled in the graduate program at the University of NC at Chapel Hill, where he received his Master of Arts in Teaching and a Doctorate in Education.

He worked for New Hanover County Schools for a number of years, as a teacher, counselor and an administrator. He later became an Associate Professor of Education at the University of NC at Charlotte and also served as a consultant for the NC Department of Public Instruction.

In 1997, Vernon became Executive Director of the Robert and Janice McNair Foundation in Forest City, and served in that capacity until his retirement in 2009. Among his accomplishments, he expanded the McNair mentoring program to include grades 9-12, established mentor retreats, expanded the Jump Start program, launched the GEAR UP program to assist middle school students, and created a silent auction to benefit the Mary O. Hamrick Fund, which supports students at East Rutherford High School. He developed a collaborative relationship between the McNair Foundation and Gardner-Webb University, and implemented a program with winners of the Reaching One's Potential for Excellence (ROPE) Award to offer special thanks to their parents.

During his retirement, Vernon was able to travel nationally and internationally, as well as complete and publish a novel, "Out of the Blue."

Vernon is survived by his wife of 31 years, Christine, brother William S. Hoyle (Linda), and daughters Robin King, Heather Pendergast-Baker (Doug), and Julianna Martinez; stepdaughters Cindy Fuller (Chris) and Kim Dreibholz (Peter); nine grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and a number of nieces and nephews.

The funeral service was held in the St. Francis Episcopal Church of Rutherfordton. Rev Chris Bebe officiated. Interment followed in the Rutherfordton City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Francis Episcopal Church, 395 N. Main Street, Rutherfordton, NC 28139, or Hospice of the Carolina Foothills, PO Box 336, Forest City, NC 28043 or the Mary O. Hamrick Fund at East Rutherford High School, 331 East High Road, Bostic, NC 28018

The Padgett & King Mortuary is serving the family.