Arthur & Kate Eller

Year Inducted: 2026

Arthur Ward Eller married Kate Foster on October 3rd 1953. They had 2 children, Douglas Ward and Karen Worley, three grandchildren, Kendall Steelman, Brittany Bryson, and TJ Worley, and three great-grandchildren, Harper Steelman, Rip Steelman, and Boone Bryson. Both received a bachelor’s degree from Appalachian Teachers College; Ward went on to earn a master’s degree from East Tennessee State University in 1963.

Ward served in the U.S. Army in Korea and Japan, 1951-53, with sixteen months spent overseas. He received the Korea Service Medal with 1 Bronze Star, the United Nations Service Medal, and the Combat Infantry Badge with one Overseas/Service Bar. Ward carried this pride with a lifelong passion for the local VFW Post 1142. He served the VFW, holding many leadership positions, including Post and District Commander and Quarter Master. In 1997, he was instrumental in organizing the Honor Guard, honoring over 1,500 veterans at funeral services. Ward had a passion for the veteran community; he worked tirelessly, giving back to it in countless ways.

In 1957, Ward began his teaching career at Millers Creek High School, teaching 8th grade, and in 1958 at Mount Pleasant School. He was instrumental in initiating and serving as principal in two new schools, Ronda Clingman Elementary and Millers Creek Intermediate. Ward established the first middle school program at Millers Creek that evolved into the model for Wilkes County Schools. He received the Wachovia Principal of the Year award for excellence and outstanding leadership in administration in 1989. After retirement, true to form, he stayed involved by joining the NCAE.

Kate was personally asked to begin her teaching career at Mount Pleasant. She remained teaching there throughout her career, teaching English and Social Studies. She was known to be a tough but well-respected educator, lovingly referred to as Killer Kate by her students. Kate retired in 1990. After retirement, she served as district and local president of the North Carolina Retired School Personnel, served on three state committees, and organized and chaired the Awards and Grant Committee.

One of Kate’s proudest accomplishments was cleaning up a medical waste dump site in Purlear. The Watts Retreat Farm was a dump site for medical radioactive waste. Kate took it upon herself to form a committee to clean up the site. She collected data, including medical records, to prove the site was responsible for a cancer outbreak in the area. She was successful at lobbying the North Carolina General Assembly to receive a $125,000 grant to clean up the site, potentially saving countless lives.

As a couple, they always maintained a community-first attitude. Ward helped establish the Rural West Wilkes Health Center, bringing health care to western Wilkes County. He worked with the Champion Telephone exchange, bringing the first telephone system to the western part of the county as well. In 1965, he was a key organizer of the Mount Pleasant Ruritan Club, whose mission is to serve the local community. Kate was a West Wilkes Medical Center Board member from 1990 to 1993 and ran the West Wilkes fitness center for many years, making exercise accessible to her community. Kate is currently the longest active member of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church. She served as church clerk for over 30 years, meticulously keeping the church’s records. She is still an active Sunday School teacher and has been for over 50 years.

No strangers to fun, Ward and Kate maintain active social lives. Ward held a deep passion for music. He performed at the VFW every Saturday night for over 60 years. He was a recording artist and a member of the International Bluegrass Hall of Fame. They were also competitive square dancers and founding members of the Tory Oak Twirlers in Wilkes County, where they danced weekly and competed across the country.

The Ellers made for the most dynamic duo of their community. Ward's quiet leadership, matched with Kate’s active personality, solidified their impact on everything they came in contact with. Whether they were working on VFW tasks, school administration, square dancing, or just around town, they earned reverence by all who met them. They had many hobbies and had a lot of fun experiences along the way, but their activities are always rooted in a service for others, positively impacting Wilkes County.