John Stewart Wooten Jr

John Stewart Wooten, Jr. was born in La Grange, NC, to John Stewart Wooten, Sr. and Pearl Gray Mooring Wooten on October 30, 1937. He passed away in his home in Asheboro, NC on March 8, 2025 at the age of 87. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Marlene; three children: Dail W. (Bob) Hovey, John “Jay” Stewart Wooten, III (Kim Schweibinz), Bill (Beth) Wooten; eight grandchildren: Katie H. (Marcus) Rhoads, Mandie H. (Joe) McKenzie, Bobby (Lauren) Hovey, John “Stewart” (Cameron) Wooten, IV, Ashley W. (Zane) Bennett, Taylor W. (Dylan) Rhudy, Will Wooten (Marc Neith) and Leah Schweibinz; and twelve great-grandchildren: Owen McKenzie, Ella McKenzie, Amber Rhoads, Maggie Rhoads, Janie Rhoads, Will Rhoads, Abigail Hovey, Layla Hovey, Lawson Bennett, Tucker Bennett, Levi Rhudy, and Olivia Wooten.

The family extends great appreciation to special caregivers, Jackie Terry, Madison Smith, Amber Muck, and Sheila Guy.

He was raised in La Grange, NC, was a member of La Grange Christian Church, and graduated from La Grange High School in 1955. Stewart met Marlene Overman at a dance in Snow Hill in the summer of 1957. They married on July 26, 1959, and both graduated from East Carolina University (B.S. 1959, M.Ed. 1965). He was a teacher, coach, and principal in multiple North Carolina schools for thirty years.

Stewart and Marlene raised their children primarily in Scotland Neck, NC and Asheboro, NC. Throughout his life, he vacationed in Atlantic Beach, NC, and built a house there in 1975. He treasured his immediate and extended family. The Wooten family and friends enjoyed many family celebrations at the beach house over the years. Over his life he enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, boating, and followed Eastern Randolph High School football.

Stewart joined the North Carolina Lions Club and was a member for over fifty years. He served as Asheboro Lions Club President, a Vice-District 31-D Governor, a District 31-D Governor and later as NC Lions President from 2011-2012. He was a member of the NC Lions Foundation and was honored with recognition into the NC Lions Hall of Fame in 2019. Stewart enjoyed visiting and serving at Camp Dogwood and attending the International Lions Club Conventions in Hawaii and Thailand.

Stewart was a member of Central Church in Asheboro. A Celebration of Life will be held at Central Church, 300 S. Main Street, Asheboro, NC on Wednesday, March 19 at 2:00 pm followed by a reception in the Family Life Center. A service will also be held on March 20 at 2:00 pm at LaGrange Christian Church, 202 W. Washington Street, LaGrange, NC with interment at Fairview Cemetery, 107 N. Forbes Street immediately following.

Stewart requested that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to North Carolina Lions Foundation (Camp Dogwood, a camp serving the blind and visually impaired): PO Box 39, Sherrills Ford, NC 28673.