On Thursday, February 16, 2012 at the age of 71, Donald Lee Caldwell Jr., loving husband of Zane Caldwell, loving father of Alice and Joe Elkins, loving grandfather of grand dog Case XX, loving brother of Nancy and Pete Yates and Lorraine Norment and loving relative of all the Fullbrights, very quietly and suddenly slipped away for a joyous reunion with his beloved family and friends in heaven. They took him by the hand and said "you're home with Jesus now, where there's no pain and you can finally rest." Don attended Western Carolina University where he received a bachelor's degree in Business Administration. Even though he was offered jobs in other parts of the United States, he followed his heart and because of his love for Western North Carolina and his loved ones, he chose to spend his career as the Director of Purchasing and Manager of the Bookstore and Wren College Union at Mars Hill College. He loved to run track and play basketball, tennis, racket ball, ping-pong, fossball and pinball with his daughter, Alice, and all his friends for as long as his health permitted. He was always helping others and this had a very strong influence on his daughter, Alice, who chose a career in Social Work. He tirelessly supported his wife, Zane, while she coached sports, ran concession stands, coached cheerleaders and directed plays during her teaching career in the Buncombe County School System. He was a member of a gospel quartet for many years and enjoyed being active with church for as long as his health permitted. He once participated in a weekend family mentor program for prison inmates and anonymously sponsored grammar school and college students. He supported his cousin's missionary work in Zambia. His heart was made of gold and it was limitless. He never knew a stranger and he was the king of gab. He was a very talented piano and guitar player, as well as gospel and country music singer. He once wrote a song titled "Gentle Road". The main verse was, "Gentle, Oh Gentle! Oh Road to Me Be Gentle! I've Traveled So Long, That My Aches Are Sentimental!" This verse expresses a desire that everyone shares. While life's road becomes very difficult at times, it is the power of Jesus, love, family and friends that makes it more gentle and always makes it sentimental. Don definitely paved his road with Jesus, love, family and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents Donald Lee Caldwell Sr. and Luda Ann Caldwell, parents Bartley T. White and Johnnie Alice White, infant brother, sister Betty Lou White, aunt Hauda Brady, nephew Joe Eller, special family members Austin and Irene Yates and very special friends Kathleen and JD Wallin and Noah Watson. The family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to all his special friends (Ann, Howard, Harold, John, Juanita, Ernest, both Bills, Vernon, Pam and Emily) that kept in touch or visited him. The phone calls, cards, pictures, music, massages and visits meant so much to him and he greatly enjoyed them. The family also extends their deepest gratitude to Dr. Jones and the staff of Mars Hill Medical Center for the wonderful care he received which allowed him to remain at home during his declining health. Blue Ridge Funeral Home of Mars Hill is providing funeral services. Visitation will start at 1:30 pm on Sunday, February 19th with funeral services following at 2:30. Don's cousin, Rev. Ellis Fullbright will be presiding. The immediate family will be holding a private graveside service the following day. Acts: Chapter 20; Verse 35 - I have showed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.