by Archana Subramaniam by CNB
Roanoke Times Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc. DATE: SUNDAY, March 7, 1993 TAG: 9303080539 SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: D-2 EDITION: METRO SOURCE: DATELINE: PEARISBURG LENGTH: Medium
OBIT WHITESEL, ROBERT L.
WHITESEL, Robert L., 97, of Pearisburg, died Friday evening, March 5, 1993 at Giles Memorial Hospital. Mr. Whitesel was born on March 21, 1895 in Rockbridge County, Va., and was a son of the late William Otterbine and Willie Conner Whitesel and was also preceded in death by his wife, Pearl Egolf Whitesel, formerly of Buena Vista; and one brother, Gloss Otterbine Whitesel. Mr. Whitesel attended schools in Rockbridge County and Buena Vista, Va. and started to work for Peoples Bank of Buena Vista, October 1916 as a bookkeeper. He was a World War I Army veteran and then reemployed by Peoples Bank as a cashier. Mr. Whitesel was a charter member and post commander of Floyd-Davidson VFW Post 126 of Buena Vista, member of city council of Buena Vista for 12 years, serving as president for 8 years, and was a charter and second president of the Buena Vista Lions Club. He came to Pearisburg, Va., as cashier of the Bank of Giles County in June 1941. He was elected as a director in August 1949 and promoted to vice president and cashier, January 21, 1960. He was a member of Pearisburg Town Council for four years, member of Kiwanis of Pearisburg since 1955, and served as its president in 1959. He was an active member of Buena Vista Baptist Church and served as treasurer of Sunday school and member of the Deacon Board. He had been treasurer of the Pearisburg Baptist Church for 28 years as well as a member of the Deacon Board for 20 years, and served as superintendent of its Sunday school. Mr. Whitesel was also past president of the Giles County AARP, and past treasurer of Giles County United Fund. He is survived by his daughter, Romalda W. Going of Pearisburg; three brothers, Russell A. Whitesel of Richmond, Firth A. Whitesel of Buena Vista, and Jackson D. Whitesel of Rocky Mount; one sister, Elizabeth Whitesel of Buena Vista; one granddaughter, Deborah Ann Going Hankins of Victoria, Va. Funeral services will be conducted Monday, March 8, 1993 at 10 a.m. at Pearisburg Baptist Church with Dr. L. Milton Hankins and Rev. Wilson Conwell officiating. Interment will follow in the Greenhill Cemetery, Buena Vista, at 1:30 p.m. The family will receive friends at the Givens Funeral Home in Pearisburg, from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday and other times at 1002 Mt. Lake Ave., Pearisburg. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Pearisburg Baptist Church.