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

DATE: THURSDAY, September 28, 1995                   TAG: 9509280061
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Long

OBIT

BELCHER, Otis Cecil, 82, of Greenville, W.Va., died Wednesday, September 27, 1995. Funeral 11 a.m. Friday, Broyles-Shrewsbury Funeral Home Chapel, Peterstown, W.Va.

BETHEL, Ralph W., 74, of Millboro, died Wednesday, September 27, 1995. Arrangements by Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge.

BROOMHALL, Susan L. Reneker, 38, of 2809 Covington St., West Lafayette, Ind., died at her home at 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 26, 1995, after a four-year battle with cancer. She was born December 5, 1956, in Ames, Iowa. She grew up in Riverside, Calif., and earned a B.A. degree in psychology from the University of California-Riverside. Mrs. Broomhall was a special education teacher for four years in Giles County, Va., before moving to West Lafayette in 1993, and was a special education teacher at Klondike Elementary School since shortly after her arrival in West Lafayette. She previously was a bilingual teacher in southern California. Mrs. Broomhall was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church in Lafayette. She was a member of the altar guild, and had taught Sunday school for more than 15 years. Mrs. Broomhall was a girl scout leader in Lafayette and when she lived in Virginia, and was a member of the Lafayette chapter of the P.E.O. She married David Broomhall on July 15, 1978, and he survives. Also surviving are a daughter, Laura, and a son, Kevin; her parents, Don and Elizabeth Reneker, Banning Calif.; a sister, Karen Parker, Laguna Niguel, Calif.; a brother, Steve Reneker, Riverside, Calif., and her grandparents, Paul and Florence Reneker, Douds, Iowa. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, September 29, 1995, at St. John's Episcopal Church in Lafayette, Ind. Memorial contributions may be made to St. John's Building Fund. There will be no visitation. Soller-Baker Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.

DAVIDSON, Daniel L., 67, of Christiansburg, died Wednesday, September 27, 1995. Arrangements by Lomax Funeral Home, Buena Vista.

DAVIS, Charlita Alva, 43, of Roanoke, passed away Friday, September 22, 1995. Funeral Saturday 11 a.m., Pilgrim Baptist Church. Arrangements by Hamlar-Curtis Funeral Home.

DESHAZO, Richard T. Jr., 74, of 544 Westview Avenue, Bedford died Tuesday, September 26, 1995 in Roanoke Memorial Hospital from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. He was born in Roanoke, September 6, 1921, a son of the late Richard Tazewell DeShazo, Sr. and Claudia Pratt DeShazo. He attended Castle Heights Military Academy and Virginia Military Institute and was a graduate of Jefferson High School and Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He was a well known athlete, excelling in football, baseball and track and was a World War II Army Air Force veteran having served in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. He was a member of Bedford Presbyterian Church and was retired from R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. with 30 years of service. A lover of the outdoors, Dick was an avid fisherman and golfer. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Overstreet DeShazo; two daughters, Dianne D. Fain and her husband Guy of Harlan, KY, Deborah Marshall DeShazo of Lynchburg; a brother, A. Dumas DeShazo of Homestead. FL; a sister, Mrs. John G. (Patricia) Eggleston of Marion; two grandchildren, Israel Fain and Amanda Fain; two nieces, Suzanne D. Waggoner and Joan D. Harvey; a nephew, John G. Eggleston. Funeral Services will be conducted 11:00 a.m. Friday, September 29, 1995 at Carder-Tharp Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Joseph S. Gaston and the Rev. Francis B. Avery officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery. Friends may call anytime at the Carter-Tharp Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 4 to 5 pm Thursday and other times at their home. Memorials may be made to either the Bedford Presbyterian Church, 105 West main St, Bedford, VA 24523 or The Jefferson Foundation, P.O. Box 8657, Roanoke, VA 24014.

FROGG, Elsie Ethel, 76, of Roanoke, passed away Monday, September 25, 1995. Funeral 11 a.m. Saturday, Hamlar-Curtis Funeral Home.

KESSLER, Clarence Lee, (``Red""), 88, of Radford, passed away Tuesday, September 26, 1995. He was a member of the Radford Church of Christ. He was a retired crane operator for Lynchburg Foundry. Survivors include two sisters, Mrs. Kathleen Leighton and Mrs. Edna Myers of Hopewell, and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, Sepember, 29, 1995, at the Radford Church of Christ, with C. E. Manning officiating. Interment will follow in West View Cemetery in Radford. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Seaver-Sanders and Mullins Funeral Home in Radford.

LOMANS, Mary Alice Plummer, 87, of Chilhowie, died Tuesday, September 26, 1995. Arrangements by Williams Funeral Home.

LUCAS, James Manuel, of Roanoke, died Wednesday, September 27, 1995. Arrangements by Oakey's North Chapel.

McNUTT, Beulah U., 91, of Roanoke, passed away Monday, September 25, 1995. Funeral 10 a.m. Thursday, Lotz Salem Chapel

PILCHER, Robert M., of Roanoke, died Wednesday, September 27, 1995. He was born in Petersburg on April 12, 1903, moving to Roanoke when he was nine years old. He attended Roanoke City Public Schools, graduating from Roanoke High School. He attended the University of Richmond for one year, where he met his wife to be, Mary Branch Woodward, and transferred to Virginia Tech, where he graduated with honors as a Mechanical Engineer. He worked for a short time with Westinghouse Electric Company in Pittsburg, Pa., and then returned to Roanoke to marry and begin his career with the N&W Railway. Mr. Pilcher worked in the Test Department of the N&W Railway, where he was one of the leaders in the development of steam locomotives. He coordinated the design and development of ``Jawn Henry"", the N&W's coal-fired steam turbined/electric locomotive and was at the throttle the first time it moved under its own power. He was Superintendent of the Test Department for several years before his retirement in 1968. Mr. Pilcher served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during World War II and was a Lt. Colonel at the time of his discharge. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church all of his adult life, where he devoted a considerable amount of his energies. For many y ears, Mr. Pilcher taught an adult Sunday School class, was a member of the Fellowship of Deacons, serving as Chairman at one time, was on the Property Committee, was on the Visitation Committee, and was a Trustee of the church. Two things stand out in his church life: the many hours, day and night, spent personally repairing and maintaining church facilities, and the many years of visiting the shut-ins with his wife, Mary, virtually every Sunday afternoon. The church recognized his contributions by electing him Deacon Emeritus. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Southwest Virginia Savings Bank, serving as Chairman for a number of years. He was preceded in death by his wife, who died October 1, 1992; by his son, Dr. Robert Mason Pilcher Jr., who died January 21, 1995; his brother, Dr. John A. Pilcher III, who died in 1939. Surviving are his brother, William S. Pilcher, Wilmington, Del.; his daughter, Rebecca P. Wellford and his son-in-law, Ernest P. Wellford; his daughter-in-law, Bryant Pope Pilcher, all of Richmond; his daughter, Nancy P. Hagan and son-in-law, William C. Hagan; his son, John A. Pilcher and daughter-in-law, Rebecca V. Pilcher, all of Roanoke; 13 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren. The casket will be open and the family will receive friends at the home of Nancy P. Hagan from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, September 28. A memorial service will be held at Calvary Baptist Church in Roanoke, 10 a.m., Friday, September 29, with the Rev. M. Dennis Herman officiating. Graveside services will be conducted at the Judkins Family Plot in Blandford Cemetery, Petersburg, at 2:30 p.m. Friday. The family requests memorial gifts be made to Calvary Baptist Church in lieu of flowers. Arrangements by Oakey's Roanoke Chapel.

SMITH, Catherine, 46, of Roanoke, passed away Tuesday, September 26, 1995. Survivors include one son, William Williams, New Jersey; three sisters, Lillie Belle (Willie) Arline, Atlantic City, N.J., Peggy Ann Brown and Susie Virginia (Clarence Eugene) Gravely, Roanoke; a devoted friend, Eleanore Patterson, Roanoke; grandmother, Sarah Terry, Roanoke, and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Arrangements by Hamlar-Curtis Funeral Home.

SMITH, Joe Bennett Sr., 86, of Roanoke, died Tuesday, September 26, 1995, in a local hospital. He was a native of Anson County, N.C., moving to Roanoke in 1929. Mr. Smith was owner and operator of Atlantic Service Station on Salem Avenue and 2nd Street for over 40 years, where he served several generations of families at his service station. Mr. Smith was one of the pioneers in parking lots in Roanoke and for many years he was owner and operator of J. and S. Parking Company. In 1968 he sold to Allright Parking Company. From then until retirement he was with the S.F.W. Corp. Mr. Smith served his country in the Navy during World War II. He helped organize and was a Past President and lifetime member of the Virginia Gasoline Retailers Association. He was Past President of the Exchange Club and the Men's Garden Club. He helped with the roses at the Men's Garden Club. He was a member of the Virginia Heights Masonic Lodge #324 A.F. & A.M., the Scottish Rite and Shrine. He was also a member of the American Legion. Mr. Smith was a charter member of Covenant Presbyterian Church. His main hobby has always been his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was affectionately called ``Goggy"" by them and his friends. Surviving are his wife of 65 years, Mrs. Louise H. Smith; son and daughter-in-law, Joe B. Jr. and Melva Smith of Port Orange, Fla.; grandchildren, Carol and Donald Donovan of Roanoke, Joe B. III and Diana Smith of Roanoke, Michelle and John Barlow of Winston-Salem, N.C., Jennifer and Jeffrey Walsh of Canton, Ohio, Amy and Herman McCall of Brevard, N.C., Janice and William Causey of High Point, N.C.; great-grandchildren, Hunter Donovan, Phoenix and Xeno Smith, Jeremy, Kevin, Brian and Jeffrey Walsh, Meghan, Jo and Kelsey McCall, Madeline and Katelyn Causey; sisters, Mrs. Mollie Beroth of Winston-Salem, N.C., and Mrs. Caroline Johnson of Rockingham, N.C.; brothers, R. G. Smith of Laurinburg, N. C., Charles E. Smith of Rockingham, N.C., and Horace Smith of Rockingham, N.C. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Oakey's South Chapel conducted by Dr. A. Taylor Todd. Entombment will follow in Sherwood Chapel Garden Mausoleum with Masonic Rites by the Virginia Heights Lodge #324 A.F. & A.M. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Oakey's South Chapel.

STURDIVANT, Katherine Lane, 63, of Christiansburg, passed away Tuesday, September 26, 1995. She was a member of Edgemont Christian Church and an LPN at Heritage Hall Nursing Home. Survivors include her husband, Dudley L. Sturdivant of Christiansburg; a daughter, Miss Mary Marie Sturdivant of Christiansburg; three sisters, Mrs. Marie Kitts of Christiansburg, Mrs. Helen East of Dublin and Mrs. Peggy Taylor of Texas; two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, September 29, 1995, at the Seaver-Saunders and Mullins Funeral Home in Radford, with the Rev. Eddie Kendall officiating. Interment will follow in the Old Dublin Cemetery in Dublin. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Seaver-Sanders and Mullins Funeral Home in Radford.

WALLER, Geraldine Scott, 71, of Ivanhoe, died Tuesday, September 26, 1995. Funeral 2 p.m. Friday, Fairview United Methodist Church. Arrangements by Reese Funeral Home, Austinville.

WALTON, Tommie N., 85 of Roanoke, passed away Wednesday, September 17, 1995. Arrangements by Hamlar-Curtis Funeral Home.

WHITE, Newton Whitman (""Jack""), 79, of Pulaski, died Tuesday, September 26, 1995. Funeral 2 pm Friday, Thornspring United Methodist Church. Arrangements by Stevens Funeral Home.

WILSON, Robert H., 89, of Toledo, Ohio, died Wednesday, September 27, 1995. Arrangements by Seaver, Sanders and Mullin Funeral Home, Radford.