Walter Eric Cone

     Walter Eric Cone, 72, of Asheville, passed away Saturday, June 27, 2026, at the Charles F. George VA Medical Center.

     Eric was born at Winston-Salem Baptist Hospital on February 8, 1954 to the late John P. Cone, Jr. of Hanover, NH and Maria Anne Pabst Cone of Bamberg, Germany. He graduated high school at Patrick Henry H.S. in Roanoke, Virginia before attending Drexel University to begin studying electronics. After his service in the U.S. Air Force, he focused his efforts in retirement on building custom electronic equipment and writing books on electronics and fictional short stories. In his last years at Bella Vista retirement community, Eric developed additional hobbies like gardening and bowling, as well as playing chess.

     Though confirmed in the Episcopal Church as a teenager, Eric spent his adult life separated from formal church membership. But God will always be faithful to answer Jesus’ prayers for a willing soul; Eric’s family and other’s got to hear his spontaneous Spirit led prayers asking Jesus to be his savior in the V.A. SICU – 23 days before he left this world. Hallelujah!

     He is survived by a brother, John Cone (Frances); a sister, Linda Brown (Michael); and two nephews, Russ Tyree (Brie) and Brian Cone.

     The family will receive friends at (and after) a graveside funeral service to be conducted at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, July 2, 2026, at the Chapel of Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Black Mountain, NC, with Pastor Josh Cooke of Black Mountain Baptist Church officiating.