Rachel Teague Punch

Rachel Teague Punch, age 98, of Burnsville, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, January 5, 2019 at Smoky Ridge Health and Rehabilitation after a brief illness.

A native of Alexander County, she was the daughter of the late Wiley Alexander Teague and Ellen Moretz Teague.  She was also preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Ralph Emory Punch; brothers: Gaither, Alex, Wade, and Brady Teague; and sisters: Dorothy Teague, Desi Lanier (Osco), Nell Keller (Howard), Ruth Stafford (Buss) and Katie Crafton (Boyd).

Rachel was the oldest member of Shoal Creek Baptist Church.  She was a retired furniture seamstress, having retired from Rhoney Furniture Company in Hickory.  Rachel loved to cook, and was well-known for her orange slice cookies, of which hundreds were given to visitors at Shoal Creek Baptist Church as welcoming gifts.  Rachel had never met a stranger, made sure everyone had plenty to eat, and loved always with her whole being.  She will be greatly missed.

Surviving are her son, Emory Punch and wife, Linda Hughes Punch; granddaughters: Keli Miller and husband, Joey, and Kasi Westbrook and husband, Jeff; great-granddaughters, Anna and Madalyn Westbrook, Emery Miller, and Leia Webb; and her beloved cat, Tang, all of Burnsville.

Funeral services will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, January 8, 2019 at Shoal Creek Baptist Church. Rev. Dick Westbrook and Rev. Merritt Taylor will officiate.  The family will receive friends for one hour, from 5 p.m. until 6 p.m., prior to the service at the church.  Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, January 10, 2019 at Catawba Memorial Park in Hickory.

To send an online condolence please visit: www.yanceyfuneralservice.com