John Bascombe Battle, 103, of 16 Shackleford Drive, Asheville, formerly of Jackson County, died Saturday, June 24. Funeral services were held 11 a.m. Monday, June 26, in the Patton Avenue Chapel of Groce Funeral Home. The Rev. Dr. James H. Johnson officiated. Masonic graveside services were conducted by the Dillsboro Lodge at 1 p.m. at Swain Memorial Park. Pallbearers were grandsons Michael Fisher, Philip Fisher, John Isaac Battle, Brian C. Battle, Jeffrey D. Battle and Gregory Nichols. A native of Jackson County, he was a son of the late William and Lou Zena Hughes Battle. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II where he served in the infantry in France. He was a graduate of Western Carolina University and was a merchant in Whittier for many years. He was a member of West Asheville Baptist Church, a Shriner and a 75-year member of the Dillsboro Lodge 459 AF and AM.