Mrs. Verna Ruth Pierce Bata, age 79, of Pasadena, Maryland, formerly of Ashe County, passed away Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at Baltimore Washington Medical Center. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, November 22, 2011 at 2pm at Midway Baptist Church with Rev. Jack Miller and Rev. Steve LeaShomb officiating. Burial will follow at the Midway Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 12:00-2:00PM on Tuesday, two hours prior to the funeral service. Mrs. Bata was born in Ashe County on Sunday, June 26, 1932 to the late John Henry Pierce and Myrtle Clyde Miller Pierce. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Bohus (Bo) Thomas Bata. She is survived by six brothers, Judge Pierce of Reidsville, NC, Vel Pierce, of West Jefferson, NC, Archie Pierce of West Jefferson, NC, Howard Pierce of Fleetwood, NC, Zane Pierce, of Abingdon, VA and Larry Pierce, of Reidsville, NC; two sisters, Vada Locklear , of Bear, Delaware and Avis Graybeal, of Charlotte, NC; one brother-in-law, Eugene Crist of Fredericksburg, VA; one sister-in-law, Carolyn Pierce, of Reidsville, NC; several nieces and nephews also survive. Flowers accepted!