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

DATE: SATURDAY, May 13, 1995                   TAG: 9510110015
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Long

OBIT

ANDERSON, William Arthur (``Andy""), 78, of Salem, died Friday, May 12, 1995, at his home. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church and also was a World War II Veteran and was also a member of the American Legion Post #19, and the American Federation of Musicians Local #165. Mr. Anderson retired from the Virginia Department of Transportation in 1980 after 41 years of service. Survivors include, his wife Madeline; and two daughters and son-in-law, Becky Sundance, Troutville, Charlotte and Pert Hartman, Boones Mill; four grandchildren, Eddie Hartman, Boones Mill, Joey Philpott, Richmond, Penny Greene, Ferrum and Jimmy Sundance, Troutville; three great-grandchildren, Megan, Katlyn, Tommy Greene, all of Ferrum; two sisters, Betty Anderson, Phoenix, Arizona, JoAnne VonCannon, Burlington, N.C.; two brothers, Robert Anderson, Grant, Tenn., Warren Anderson, Damascus. Funeral services will be held on Monday, May 15, 1995, at 2 p.m. in the John M. Oakey and Son Chapel, Salem with the Rev. John Collins officiating. Burial will follow at Sherwood Memorial Park. Friends may call at the funeral home on Saturday and Sunday from 7 to 9 p.m.

ARMBRISTER, Lucille Byrd, 94, of Marion, died Friday, May 12, 1995, in Smyth County Community Hospital. She was the widow of Dr. Victor S. Armbrister, Dean of Emory & Henry College, and she later served as housemother at the college for 25 years until illness in 1987 forced her retirement. In 1985, she was named Alumnus of the year and also received a Presidential Citation for her many years of contributions to college life. She is survived by one son, Dr. Douglas K. Armbrister, of Marion; four grandchildren, Valerie Evans, Victor Armbrister, Christopher Armbrister, and Karen Armbrister; four great-grandchildren, Rachel Lucille Evans, John Creed Evans, Charles Henry Evans and Lakyn Renee' Levitt. Funeral services will be held 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 14, at Emory United Methodist Church, Emory, Va. with Pastor Kathie R. Wilson-Parker and Chaplain David St. Clair officiating. Burial will follow at Holston Conference Cemetery, Emory, Va. The body will be taken to the church one hour before the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Armbrister Scholarship Fund, Emory & Henry College, Emory, Va. 24327. The family will receive friends Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m. at Seaver-Brown Chapel, Marion, Va.

BARR, Juanita Britts, 72, of Roanoke, departed this life on Thursday, May 11, 1995. She was retired from Friendship Manor and was a member of Cave Rock Baptist Church. She was the widow of Ervin M. Barr and is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law, Juan E. and Judy Barr, Roanoke, Donnie L. and Donna Barr, Salem, Dennis (Boot) Barr, Roanoke; three daughters and sons-in-law, Sherry B. and Ronnie Norville, Vinton, Kathy B. and Jack Edwards, King, N.C., Pam B. and Kenny Brown, Vinton; sisters and brothers-in-law, Doris B. and Ted Garrison, Roanoke, Hazel B. and Murrell Vaughn, Boones Mill; a brother, Roy Hampton Britts; ten grandchildren and spouses, Danny Barr, Roanoke, Becky and Rob Richards, Roanoke, Tim Barr, Salem, Tracy Barr, Salem, Mike and Kelly Norville, Vinton, Carrie Norville, Vinton, Sonja and Jamie Karnes, King, N.C., David (D.J.) Ferris, Roanoke, Kelly Ferris, Vinton, Desiree Barr, Salem; stepgrandchildren, Lori Schellings, Roanoke, Cheyenne Brown, Vinton; one stepgreat-grandchild. Samantha Schellings; also several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted from Oakey's North Chapel at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 13, 1995, with the Rev. Wayne McCauley officiating. Interment will be in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens. Friends may call at Oakey's North Chapel.

BRENT, Randolph Stith, II, 72, of Hampton and formerly of Bedford, died Friday, May 12, 1995. Graveside services 10 a.m. Monday, Greenwood Cemetery. Arrangements by Carder-Tharp Funeral Home, Bedford.

DAVIS, James S., (``Pistol''), 67, of Bedford County, died Thursday, May 11, 1995, at his home. He was a Marine veteran of the Korean Conflict, a former Roanoke City Fireman, a member of the Masonic Lodge and a lover of horses. He is survived by his wife, Rachael R. Davis; three children, Sandra D. Wright, Roanoke County, James Sandy Davis Jr., Salem, Bonnie Ilima Robertson, Salem; five g randchildren, Tammy, Danny, Jason, Ariel and Trey. Funeral services will be held at Oakey's South Chapel at 11 a.m. Monday with the Rev. James Worline officiating. Interment will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Oakey's South Chapel

DILLON, Ellen Holland, 68, of Rocky Mount, died Thursday, May 11, 1995. Funeral 11 a.m. Saturday at Flora Funeral Chapel.

ELLISON, Mary Graham, 85, of Marion, died Thursday, May 11, 1995. Funeral 2 p.m. Saturday, Barnett's Funeral Chapel, Marion.

ERICKSON, Adele Morris, 69, of Sunnyside, died Thursday, May 11, 1995, at Radford Community Hospital. Mrs. Erickson was born in Montgomery County on October 20, 1925, to the late Robert Tillman and Flora French Fagg Morris. She was a member of Centennial Christians Church (Disciples of Christ) at McCoy. She graduated from Radford Community Hospital School of Nursing, as an RN, in 1946, and worked over twenty-five years at Saint Joseph Hospital and Health Center in Kokomo, Indiana. Adele has joined her beloved husband, Eric, and her mother and father through the gates of heaven, and is su rvived by one son and daughter-in-law, David C. and Susan M. Erickson; and two grandchildren, Andrew C. and Katherine E. Erickson all of Christiansburg; one daughter and son-in-law, Beverly E. and Robert L. Ryan, Kokomo, Indiana; one sister and brother-in-law, Drema M. and A.R. ``Mitch"" Mitchem, Winston-Salem, N.C.; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Carlos E. and Ida Mae Morris, Radford, and Glenn A. and Helen Morris, Spencer, Va. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, May 15, 1995, at Centennial Christian Church, McCoy, with the Rev. Gordon M. Lee officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends Sunday from 7 to 9 p.m. at McCoy Funeral Home, Blacksburg.

GRESHAM, Edgar Russell, 83, of Salem, passed away Thursday, May 11, 1995. Arrangements by Lotz Salem Chapel.

HILL, Letha Nichols, 96, of Salem, passed away, Friday, May 12, 1995. Arrangements by Lotz Salem Chapel.

JOHNSON, James T., 73, of Christiansburg, died Thursday, May 11, 1995. Arrangements by Claytor Dean Funeral Home, Radford.

KINCER, Grace Graybill, 88, of Roanoke, died Friday, May 12, 1995, in a Roanoke hospital. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest and a son, Dennis Kincer. She is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Dorothy and Robert Guthrie, Roanoke, Marguerite and Paul Roudabush, Stuart; a daughter-in-law, Faye W. Kincer, Roanoke; one brother, Emory B. Graybill Sr., Montvale; two sisters and brother-in-law, Edith Jones, Blue Ridge, Carrie and Howard Cox, Roanoke; two sisters-in-law, Gladys Graybill and Bernice Graybill; three grandsons and spouses, Pauly and Jo Roudabush, Perry and Susan Roudabush, Timothy and Kelly Guthrie; five great-grandchildren, J.P., Ben, Kaitlyn and Claire Roudabush and Set h Guthrie. Funeral services will be held noon Monday, May 15, 1995, at the Glade Creek Lutheran Church with the Rev. Robert J. Maier officiating. Interment will be in Glade Creek Cemetery. The family request that expressions of sympathy be sent to the Thanksgiving and Memorial Fund at Glade Creek Lutheran Church, Blue Ridge, Va. The room will be open at noon on Saturday with the family receiving friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday and after noon on Sunday at the Lotz Vinton Chapel.

LANIER, Clifford E., 72, of Smith Mountain Lake, died Friday, May 12, 1995. He was formerly of Welch, W.Va. Mr. Lanier was preceded in death by his wife, Alma L. Lanier. He was a veteran of World War II, former commander of the American Legion Post #3, and was a retired coal miner. Mr. Lanier is survived by a son, Jack Allen Lanier, Smith Mountain Lake; grandson, Jack Allen Lanier Jr., Montvale; brother, Billy Lanier and wife, Merl, Texas; sister, Pauline Younger, Sacramento, Calif.; foster sister, Ollie Wolfe, Hillsville; sisters-in-law, Mary Ruth Louthen, Coalwood, W.Va., Tootsie Wright, Jean Louthen, Jean Grubb, all of Roanoke. Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Monday, May 15, 1995, at Oakey's North Chapel with Steve Pasley and J. D. Hunt III officiating. Graveside services wi ll be held 2 p.m. Monday, May 15, 1995, at Woodlawn Memorial Park, Bluewell, W.Va. Friends may call at Oakey's North Chapel Sunday from 12 noon to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.

NEWMAN, Gladys Robbins, 88, of West Jefferson, N.C., formerly of Grassy Creek, N.C., passed away Thursday,May 11, 1995. Funeral 2 p.m. Sunday, Grassy Creek United Methodist Church. Arrangements by Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home, Independence, Va.

PRIMM, Nannie Tolbert, 88, of Austinville, passed away away Thursday, May 11, 1995. Funeral 2 p.m. Saturday, Round Knob Church of Christ. Arranagements by Vaughan-Guynn-McGrady Chapel, Hillsville.

RHEA, Barbara Carter, (``Bobbie""), 53, of Saltville, died Friday, May 12, 1995 at her home in Saltville, Va. Mrs. Rhea was a member of the Madam Russell United Methodist Church. She was a retired teacher of the Smyth County School System. She was a graduate of Concord College, as well as Va. Tech. Survivors include her husband, W. Max Rhea, Saltville; two sons, David Orman Rhea, Saltville, James Walter Rhea, Roanoke; one sister, Mrs. Nancy Counts, Damascus, Md.; one niece; and two nephews. Funeral services for Mrs. Barbara ``Bobbie"" Rhea will be conducted at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 14, 1995, at the Madam Russell United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Scott A. Robertson-Gouge and the Rev. Terry Goodman officiating. Burial will follow in the Lutheran Chapel Cemetery in Damascus, Va. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday evening at the D. R. Henderson Funeral Home in Saltville, Va.

SHORTT, Forest L., 95, of Floyd, died Thursday night, May 11, 1995 in the South Roanoke Nursing Home. He was born in Floyd County, October 17, 1899. He was a farmer all his life, and attended Countyline Primitive Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by a son, John Abe (J. A.) Shortt. Surviving is his wife, Lala Pendleton Shortt, Floyd; two sons, McCrey Shortt, Floyd, Marshall Shortt, Newport News; grandsons, Calvin Shortt, Timothy Shortt, Mark Shortt and Michael Shortt; granddaughters, Vera Thompson, Cathy Bratton and Vicky Wade; and 12 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Sunday at the Countyline Primitive Baptist Church, with Elder Noel Conner officiating. Interment in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Wood Funeral Home.

SMITH, Robert Francis Sr., 79, of Blacksburg, died Thursday, May 11, 1995, at his residence, the old Yellow Sulphur Springs Resort near here. He is survived by two sons, Robert F. Smith Jr. of Lakewood, Ohio, Gene X. Smith Centerville; one daughter, Mary Lou Smith Gordon of Bethesda, Md.; one grandson; a sister, Leonie Keegan of Florida. The funeral will be 11 a.m. Saturday from St. Mary's Catholic Church with burial in Westview Cemetery. Father Donald Lemay will officiate. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the V.A. Volunteer Services, c/o the Veterans Administration Medical Center, Salem, Va. There will be no visitation at the funeral home. Richardson-Horne in Christiansburg is handling the arrangements.

THROCKMARTIN, Dorothy Simmons, 82, of Roanoke, passed away Friday, May 12, 1995. Mrs. Throckmartin was preceded in death by a son, Edd Lynn Throckmartin and was the widow of Edd Throckmartin. Surviving are a son and daughter-in-law, Alton and Phyllis Throckmartin, Salem; a daughter and son-in-law, Brenda and Bob Conner, Roanoke; her grandchildren, Steven Throckmartin, Vinton, Vicki S. Black and her husband, Mark, Salem, Karan M. Richardson, Roanoke; a special great-grandson, Ryan Throckmartin; her brothers, Earl C. Simmons, Bobby L. Simmons, both of Roanoke, Milton W. Simmons, Salem; her sisters, Elsie S. Staples, Lorraine S. LaBrie, both of Roanoke. Funeral services will be held at Oakey's Roanoke Chapel Monday, May 15, 1995, at 10:30 a.m. with the Rev. Juan E. Barr officiating. Interment will be in Sherwood Memorial Park. The family will receive friends Saturday 7 to 9 and Sunday 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Oakey's Roanoke Chapel.

WHEELER, Raymond Rudolph Sr., (``Rudy'') 74, of Buena Vista, died Wednesday, May 10, 1995, at Shenandoah Valley Health Care Center. Born in Amherst County on July 14, 1920, he was the son of the late William and Ethel Henson Wheeler. He served in the U.S. Air Corp during WWII, was a member of Plumbers & Steam Fitters Union Local 10 and a member of Buena Vista Pentecostal Holiness Church. Survivors include his wife, Mary Ann Jones Wheeler, Buena Vista; a daughter, Alanda Ann Whitten, Buena Vista; five sons, Raymond R. Wheeler Jr., Alpharetta, Ga., Michael Steven Wheeler, Richmond, Robert William Wheeler and Ralph Wade Wheeler, both of Buena Vista and David Lee Wheeler, Lexington; five sisters, Rachel Flint, Ruth Floyd and Jean Holt, all of Buena Vista, Freda Austin, Richmond and Mat ha Thompson, Rutherfordton, N.C.; two brothers, Eldridge Wheeler and Lewis Wheeler, both of Buena Vista; and four grandchildren. Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M. Saturday, May 13, 1995 at the Lomax Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. David Bain officiating. Interment will follow in Rockbridge Memorial Gardens. Arrangements by Lomax Funeral Home.

WIGINGTON, Parker J. Sr., 85, of Rocky Mount, formerly of Roanoke, died Thursday, May 11, 1995 in the local hospital. He was preceded in death by his wives, Bessie Prillaman Wigington and Helen McGhee Wigington and a son, Harry G. Wigington. Surviving are his son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Parker J. Jr. and Carol Wigington, Corvallis, Ore,; one daughter-in-law, Martha Wigington, Erie, Pa.; four grandchildren; two sisters, Winifred Wigington, Virginia Wigington, both of Rocky Mount. Graveside services will be conducted at Mountain View Memorial Park, 3 p.m. Sunday with the Rev. William K. Dawson officiating. Friends may call after 2 p.m. Saturday with family receiving friends from 5 to 7 p.m. at Flora Funeral Service, 342 S. Main St., Rocky Mount.

WILLIAMS, Hazel H., 91, of Abingdon, died Thursday, May 11, 1995, in the Cedar Lawn Convalescent Home. She was a graduate of Martha Washington College and was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Pulaski. She was the widow of Kenneth L. Williams. Survivors include one sister, Mrs. Kuhn (Ruth) Barnett, Richmond; one nephew, Dr. William E. Cline, Abingdon; and several great-nieces and nephews. Graveside services for Hazel H. Williams will be conducted at 4 p.m. Saturday in Birchlawn Burial Park, Pearisburg. There will not be any visitation at the funeral Home. Campbell Funeral Home of Abingdon is in charge of arrangements.

WRIGHT, Frank Edwin, 84, of Catawba, died Friday, may 12, 1995. Arrangments by McCoy Funeral Home, Blacksburg.

WRIGHT, Mary Kathryn, 60, of 5570 Pinebrook Lane, Winston-Salem, N.C., died at her home Friday morning, May 12, 1995, following a lengthy illness. She was born in Roanoke, Va. on July 17, 1934 to Roy C. and Mary Frances Caldwell Argenbright. She had lived in Roanoke and Winston-Salem most of her life. For four years, she made her home in Southampt on, Bermuda. Mrs. Wright was an avid golfer. She was a member of Rural Hall Baptist Church. She had been manager of the Catalog and Credit Departments for J. C. Penney Co. at their Hanes Mall Store. She was preceded in death by a son, Gary L. Wright, in 1974 and by her husband, Marvin L. Wright, in 1986. She is survived by one daughter, Holly R. Wright, Winston-Salem, N.C.; one son, Michael A. Wright and his wife, Kim, Winston-Salem, N.C.; one grandson, Daniel J. Merritt; and one sister, Mrs. Peggy A. Peltier, Roanoke; and by her fiance, John H. Russell, Winston-Salem, N.C. A memorial service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Vogler & Sons, Reynolda Rd. Chapel. The Rev. Cindy Williams will conduct the service. The family will receive friends following the service. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens in Roanoke. Oakey's North Chapel is handling the Roanoke arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1900 S. Hawthorne Rd., Suite 622, Winston-Salem, N.C. 27103.