Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, June 30, 1994                   TAG: 9503310041
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Long

OBIT

BLANCHER, Ruby Hartman, 81, of Roanoke County, died Tuesday, June 28, 1994. Funeral services 10 a.m. Friday, July 1, 1994, Lotz Roanoke Chapel.

CAMPBELL, Zack, 71, of Pulaski, died Tuesday, June 28, 1994. Arrangements by Penn's Funeral Home.

CARTER, Earl Murry, 85, of the Elks National Home, Bedford, died Wednesay, June 29, 1994. Funeral 10 a.m. Saturday, Lotz Roanoke Chapel.

COLE, Robert B., 55, of Martinsville, died Wednesday, June 29, 1994. Graveside services 2 p.m. Tuesday, Roselawn Burial Park. Arrangements by Stone Funeral Home.

DICKSON, J. Edgar, 85, of Lindside, W.Va., died Tuesday, June 28, 1994. Funeral 2 p.m. Friday, July, Lindside Methodist Church. Arrangements by Broyles Funeral Home, Peterstown, W.Va.

FITCH, Blanche Nelson, 87, of Jacksonville, N.C., died June 28, 1994, at Craven Regional Medical Center, New Bern, N.C. Services will be at noon, Tuesday, July 5, 1994, at Fort Hill Memorial Park Chapel, Lynchburg. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Harold Fitch, Sr. Survivors include two sons, James H. Fitch of Jacksonville, N.C., and William Nelson Fitch of Lakewood, Colo.; one sister, Reva Nelson Anderson of Las Cruses, N.Mex.; grandchildren Tovi Lynn Fitch of Charlotte, N.C. Tracy Shannon Fitch of Norfolk, Va. Julie Ann Fitch Hemmel of Boston, Mass., Janet Lynn Fitch of Lakewood, Colo. Mrs. Fitch was a member of Marsh Memorial Church, Leesville Road, Lynchburg, Va.

GILLISPIE, Margie Logan Spessard, 81, of Salem, died Tuesday, June 28, 1994. She retired as an office manager for C. V. Industries, Roanoke. She was preceded in death by her husband, Otha Carroll Gillispie. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Shirley and James Harlow, Salem; grandchildren and their spouses, James and Lori Harlow Jr., Annette and Oakley Covey; great-grandchildren, Joshua Steven Harlow, Oakley L. Covey III; Joseph Christopher Harlow; sister, Alice S. Goode, Virginia Beach. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Friday, July 1, 1994 at the John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home Chapel Salem with the Rev. Ken Nienke officiating. Interment will follow at Fair View Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the S.P.C.A., 1313 Eastern Avenue, N.E., Roanoke, VA 24012. The family will receive friends 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

HAYTON, David W., 36, of Crockett, died Monday, June 27, 1994. Funeral Friday 2 p.m. Gillman Funeral Chapel, Wytheville.

JOHNSON, Vinetta P., of Lexington, died Tuesday, June 28, 1994, in the local hospital. She was the daughter of the late Isaac and Catherine Thomas Piper. She was born in Jamaica, British West Indies. She was a member of the First Baptist Church where she served in the Senior Choir. Her other affiliations were poll worker and hospital auxiliary. She was a retired Clerk/Typist from the Navy Department of the federal government. Surviving are several sisters-in-law and cousins. Friends may call at the Johnson residence, 509 Taylor Street, anytime and at the First Baptist Church Saturday morning, July 2, 1994, from 11 a.m. until 12 noon. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, 12 noon at the Church with the Rev. James B. Harris, Pastor. Interment will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Murat, Va. J. B. Lewis Funeral Service is handling the arrangements.

MARTIN, Lamah Frank, 85, of the Kire Community near Gold Bond in Giles County, Va. died Wednesday morning at his home following a long illness. Born in Giles County he was a son of the late J ames Melvin and Lina Mae Lafon Martin. Lamah was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, New River Ward in Pembroke and a retired carpenter. He was the father of the late Raymond Martin, great-grandfather of the late Zachary Shelton, father-in-law of the late Currie Hester, grandfather-in-law of the late Johnny Akers and the Brian Ratcliffe and brother of the late Leonard, Hobart, Tom, Junior, Mae, Katherine and Orpha. Lamah is survived by his beloved wife of 64 years, Myrtle Raines Martin; a daughter, Dorothy and son-in-law, Billy Williams of Gold Bond; a daughter, Phyllis M. Hester of Bethesda, Md.; a daughter-in-law, Elsie Athey Martin of Pearisburg; six grandchildren, Denise Hagy, Pam Cady, Lisa Shelton, Sharon Ratcliffe, Dawn Lowe, and Timothy Williams; six great-grandchildren, Yvonne, Nicloe, Brittany, Corey, Daniel and Codey; a sister, Daisy M. Dowdy of Galax; a sister, Susie and brother-in-law, Paul Moats of Fall Church; sisters-in-law, Ruby and Bernadette Martin of Ripplemead and Dorothy Raines of Troutville. Funeral services will be conducted Friday at 2 p.m. in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, New River Ward in Pembroke, VA with Bishop Ted Johnson, Jr. Presiding. Entombment will follow in Birchlawn Abbey in Pearisburg. The family suggests in lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Giles County Lifesaving and Rescue Squad, the Pembroke Fire Dept. or the Pearisburg Fire Dept. The family will receive friends at the Kendall Funeral Home in Pembroke, VA Thursday evening from 6 to 9 p.m.

MORRIS, Betty Jean Price, of Roanoke, died Wednesday, June 29, 1994, after being in a coma for four weeks of a heart condition and a car wreck. She was Secretary-Treasurer of Don J. Morris & Company, Inc. for 25 years. She was president and held various offices of the Sweet Adelines Chapter of Roanoke and was a charter member of the Sweet Adelines in Clarksburg, West Virginia. She attended Regional, National and International Conferences for many years. She was past president and secretary for bowling leagues at Viking Lanes. Betty is survived by Don J. Morris, her husband of 41 years and is the mother of Michael of Roanoke and daughter, Valerie Garst of Salem, Virginia. She leaves five grandchildren, Jason, Ryan, Elizabeth, Matthew and Jennifer; daughter-in-law, Kathy Morris and son-in-law, Alan Garst; three sisters, Hallie Cary, Anna Mary Price, and Janet Quick from Fairlea and Lewisburg, West Virginia; six brothers and sisters preceded her in death, Murl, Carl, Hazel, Paul, Bob and Edith. Also surviving are two sisters-in-law, Mildred Williams of Glen Burnie, Md., and Dorothy Byars of Alexandria, Virginia and her great-aunt, Ethel Livesay of White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. She was born in Fairlea, West Virginia on August 29, 1933 to William Perry and Ada Grace Price. After leaving Fairlea, in 1957, she resided in Clarksburg, West Virginia eight years when Don was employed by the Internal Revenue Service. She has lived in Roanoke since 1965. The funeral will be held at the Cave Spring United Methodist Church at 10 a.m., located at 4305 Hazel Drive, S.W., on Saturday, July 2, 1994. After the funeral in Roanoke, she will be buried in the Lewisburg, West Virginia Cemetery with graveside service at 2 p.m. Services will be conducted by the Reverend William Logan. Her unselfishness and her readiness in helping others were known throughout the Roanoke Valley. She was a strong believer in the Christian Faith and will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved her. Don has lost his traveling companion as they have traveled all over the World the last 13 years and had plans for a great many more trips. Friends may call at Oakey's South Chapel after 6 p.m. Thursday, where the family will receive visitors on Friday, July 1, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m

PARKS, Arthur Phillip, 42, of Rural Retreat, passed away Wednesday, June 29, 1994. Graveside services 2 p.m. Saturday, Parks Family Cemetery, Flatridge,Va. Arrangements by Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home, Independence.

PINKARD, Charles William, 73, of Martinsville, died Wednesday, June 29, 1994. Arrangements by McKee Funeral Services.

REESE, Goldie S., of Salem, passed away Wednesday, June 29, 1994. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harrison H. Reese. She is survived by daughters and sons-in-law, Alene R. and Dennis Richardson, Iris R. and Mark Hunt; grandson and spouse, Brenton M. and Karon Hunt; sister, Violet S. Taylor. Funeral services will be conducted at noon Friday, July 1, 1994, at Lotz Salem Chapel with the Rev. Robert Sadler officiating. Interment will be in Sherwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be after noon Thursday. Arrangements are being handled by Lotz Funeral Home, Salem.

SAYERS, Mitchell Boyd, 65, of Ivanhoe, died Tuesday, June 28, 1994. Funeral Friday, 2 p.m., Ivanhoe Pentecostal Holiness Church. Arrangements by Reese Funeral Home in Austinville.

SMITH, Rose DeWitt, 78, of Reidsville, N.C. died Tuesday, June 20, 1994. Funeral service 2 p.m. Friday, Tomlinson Funeral Home Chapel, Ridgeway.

SMYTH, Grace Allan, 87, of Salem, died Sunday, June 26, 1994. She was the daughter of Ellison A. Smyth Jr., and Grace Catherine Allan Smyth. Born June 18, 1907, in Blacksburg, Va., she is survived by a brother, Ellison A. Smyth IV, of Blacksburg; and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, at the Salem Presbyterian Church, conducted by the Rev. J. Kerfott Boyd. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Blue Ridge Mountains Council, Boy Scouts of America, the Salem Presbyterian Church or the Science Museum of Western Virginia. The family will receive friends at the church following the service.

WEDDLE, Garland Lee, ""Tom"", 63, of Roanoke, died Tuesday, June 14, 1994. He is survived by his mother, Betty J. Weddle; six sisters, Mary Finch, Betty Cook, Louise Reed, Barbara Whorley, Julia Helton, Nancy Kerns; one brother, Joe Weddle. Graveside memorial will be Friday, July 1, 1994, 3 p.m. at Coyner Spring Cemetery.

WHITLOW, Geneva W., of Roanoke passed away Wednesday, June 29, 1994. Arrangements by Hamlar-Curtis Funeral Home.

WILKINSON, Mary Elizabeth, 81, of Wytheville, died Tuesday, June 28, 1994. Funeral Friday, July 1, 1994, St. John's Episcopal Church 11 a.m. Arrangements by Barnett Funeral Home, Wyth

WOOD, Frank Anderson, 81, of Troutville, died Wednesday, June 29, 1994. He is survived by two sons and one daughter-in-law, Bobby L. and Charlene Wood, Modesto, Calif., Ray A. Wood, Statesville, N.C.; three daughters and one son-in-law, Opal V. Wood, Troutville, Jane E. Wood, Mary and Claude Crowe, all of Salem; two brothers, Newton Wood, Roanoke, Nathan Wood, Fincastle; five sisters, Lucy Greenway, Cloverdale, Beulah Greenway, Bertha Huffman, both of Troutville, Retta Hambrick, Roanoke, Lucinda Hall, Cloverdale; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Friday, July 1, 1994, 11 a.m. at the Rader Troutville Chapel with the Rev. James Morgan officiating. Interment will follow in the Daleville Cemetery. The family will receive friends Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Troutville or Fincastle Rescue Squads.