Celebration of Life held inside home of Telford couple who died in Helene
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TELFORD, Tenn. (WJHL) — On Wednesday, News Channel 11 met with a woman whose mother and stepfather died in Hurricane Helene. Her stepfather’s body was located in North Carolina on Friday, over six months after the floods.

Russell and Charlene Wilbur went missing from Buck Hill Campground in Avery County during Hurricane Helene. Russell’s body was discovered on Friday along the North Toe River. Charlene’s body was found in the Ingalls community in October. The pair’s dog, Maggie, was also lost in the floods.

News Channel 11 met with Amy Crosswhite, the couple’s daughter, on Wednesday to discuss what knowing the official fate of her stepfather and mother means to her.

“There’s obviously kind of a surreal feeling,” she said. “I think with [Russell], maybe because we had already kind of gone through it with [Charlene], and it had been so long. We knew [Russell] was gone. And I think finding out [Russell] being found was more of a piece and some closure.”

Crosswhite said that her mother and stepfather spent 25 years together and built a life side-by-side. They not only managed a business together but also shared friendships and created a family. Their years were filled with shared experiences and connections that shaped their lives.

“They were the type people, everybody loved them,” she said. “They liked to entertain. They were very generous and helpful with people. If somebody needed help, they would do what they could to help them.”

A Celebration of Life for Russell and Charlene Wilbur was held on Saturday at their home. The gathering showcased 25 years’ worth of photos, some of which are below. A copy of their shared obituary is included.

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