First Sergeant, Elbert I. Buff, U.S. Army, Ret., of Ellenboro, passed away Friday, November 29, 2019 at Hospice of the Carolina Foothills.

Elbert was born July 9, 1928 in Rutherford County to the late Curtis Sanford Buff and Lottie Edna Stanley Buff. He served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and Vietnam War. He retired after twenty-one years of honorable service with the rank of First Sergeant. Upon his retirement from the military, he became the owner and operator of Elbert Buff Car Sales. Elbert was a longtime member of Hicks Grove Baptist Church. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and the outdoors. He also enjoyed building and remodeling houses and working on cars. Elbert was a compassionate person who loved his family and friends dearly. He was "Paw Paw" to many, and his outgoing personality endeared him to all who met him. Elbert truly made an unforgettable mark on everyone who knew him.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of sixty-one years, Mary Lucille Buff; two sons, Joe and Dale Buff; four brothers, Donald, Dewey, Kenneth and Billy Buff and a sister, Mary Buff.

Those left to cherish his memory include two daughters, Donna Waters of Ellenboro and Patti Bridges (David) of Bessemer City; son, Matt Buff of Mooresboro; three brothers, C.D. Buff (Ophelia) of Spartanburg, Frank Buff (Wanell) of Boiling Springs, NC and Jimmy Buff (Cindy) of Harris; four sisters, Virginia Scruggs of Spartanburg, Irene Scott of Gaffney, Johnnie Buff of Rutherfordton and Jackie Buff of Rutherfordton; special friends, Sammy and Wendy Hardin of Bostic and Irene Wyatt of Ellenboro. He is also survived by twelve grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

The funeral service will be conducted at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 3, 2019 at the Harrelson Funeral Chapel with Reverend Travis Laflin officiating. Military honors will be accorded by the Rutherford County Honor Guard. The family will receive friends one hour prior to service time at the funeral home.

Memorial donations are requested to Hospice of the Carolina Foothills, P.O. Box 336, Forest City, NC 28043.

Harrelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been entrusted with arrangements.

An online guest registry is available at www.harrelsonfuneralhome.com