Mr. Dean Eldreth, Sr., age 72, of Lansing passed away Saturday morning, March 3, 2018 at his home. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, March 11, 2018 at 3:30pm at Boone Family Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Owen Peeler officiating with military rites. Interment will follow in the Bethany United Methodist Church Columbarium. The family will receive friends from 1:30-3:30pm on Sunday, March 11, 2018; two hours prior to the memorial service. Mr. Eldreth was born in Ashe County on February 27, 1946 to the late Denver Coldiron and Nellie Medley. He served in the United States Army during the Vietnam Conflict. He worked at the United States Postal Service and retired from the Ashe County Sheriff's Department, after working 20 years. Dean was a member of Bethany United Methodist Church. Dean served two tours in Vietnam, one as Commanding Officer of a infantry company and one as a helicopter pilot flying secret missions into Laos. Dean's awards for his service include the Silver Star for gallantry in action, the Purple Heart for wounds received in combat, two Bronze Stars for valor, one Bronze Star for service, one Army Accommodation Medal for service, one Combat Infantryman Badge, one Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Military Aviator Wings. Dean's proud to represent the veterans of Ashe County in the North Carolina Veterans Park in Fayetteville, NC. He was also preceded in death by a sister, Sue Wiles; a stepfather, Woodrow Medley. Mr. Eldreth is survived by his wife, Eleanor Delphias Eldreth; a son, Dean Eldreth, Jr. of Jefferson; two daughters, Evalyn Ashley and husband, Lynn, of Fayetteville and Theresa Richardson, of Jefferson; two brothers, Dalas Medley and wife, Shelia, of Fleetwood and David Medley and wife, Kathy, of West Grove, PA; seven sisters, Nancy Kerley and husband, Don, of Wilkesboro, Nina Royal, of Jefferson, Carolyn Blevins, of Lansing, Sally Perry and husband, Billy Joe, of Lansing, Betty Lou Greer and husband, Jimmy Dean (Boomer), of Lansing, Lynn Greer and husband, Sam, of Lansing and Becky Porter and husband, Tim, of Grassy Creek; ten grandchildren, Ashely Lewis, Victoria Ashely and husband, Josh Feldman, Jake Eldreth, Patrick Ashley, Daniel Ashley and wife, Kelly, Christopher Richardson, Jr., Cora Richardson, Camille Richardson and Caleb Richardson; three great-grandchildren, Anna Stamm, Levi Hamby, and Chrislyn Ashley; several nieces and nephews also survive. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Sherry Dollar, Linda Blevins, Debbie Miller, Terry Blevins, Barbara Walton, and Rebecca Snyder. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to: F.O. P Lodge #54, PO Box 98, Jefferson, NC 28640 or Ashe Cancer Fund, PO Box 1554, West Jefferson, NC 28694.