ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, April 28, 1996 TAG: 9604290079
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
MEADOR, Russell Mitchell, Sr., of Vinton, died peacefully at his home on Friday, April 26, 1996. He was born in Vinton on September 19, 1914, the son of Mary Wright Meador and Letcher Mitchell Meador. He was President of the Class of 1932, the last graduating class of Vinton High School. He earned a BA from Bridgewater College in 1936. He was a World War II veteran, earning the rank of Major in the United States Army Reserve. He retired from the Veterans Administration Regional Office, and was a charter member of the Roanoke Cotillion Club. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Dorothy Greeley Meador; three children: son, Russell M. Meador, Jr. and wife, Mary Anne of Kill Devil Hills, N.C.; daughters, Karen M. Mabry and husband, Stephen of Vinton, Mary Pat Metz and husband, Gary of Moneta; five grandchildren, Russell M. Meador, III and wife, Sherry, Oriental, N. C., Randy Meador, Greensboro, N.C., Bryan Mabry and Shaun Mabry, Vinton, Erika Metz, Moneta; one great-grandson, Russell M. Meador, IV, Oriental, N.C.; a sister, Melville Marshall, Vinton; a brother, Eustace Meador, Vinton; a number of nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at Oakey's Vinton Chapel at 2:30 p.m. Monday, April 29, 1996, with the Rev. Kevin Meadows and the Rev. Randy Rule officiating. Interment with Military Honors will be in Mountain View Cemetery, Vinton. The family will receive friends from 1 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Oakey's Vinton Chapel. The family wishes to thank Dr. Jacob Neathawk and the staff of Good Samaritan Hospice for the special kindness. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to Good Samaritan Hospice, Roanoke Catholic School Building Fund or the Vinton Rescue Squad.
MIKELS, Elaine Ayers, 68, of Buena Vista, died Friday, April 26, 1996. Funeral 3 p.m. Sunday, Bolling, Grose & Lotts Funeral Chapel.
MORGAN, Sam Payne, 86, of 1101 College Ave., Bluefield, W.Va., died Friday, April 26, 1996. Graveside services 11 a.m. Monday, Monte Vista Park Cemetery. Arrangements by Mercer Funeral Home.
ROLLISON, James B., (``Slim""), 77, of Clifton Forge, died Saturday, April 27, 1996. Arrangements by Nicely Funeral Home Inc.
SHIFLETT, Blanche C., 71, of Christiansburg, died Thursday, April 25, 1996 at Montgomery Regional Hospital. A memorial service will be 10:30 a.m. Monday from the Richardson-Horne Chapel conducted by the Rev. Richard Horne. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the American Diabetes Association.
SLATE, Sanders Jackson, (``Sam""), 82, of Bassett, died Friday, April 26, 1996. Funeral 11 a.m. Monday, First Baptist Church, Bassett. Arrangements by Collins Funeral Service.
THOMAS, Beatrice Kern, 79, of Buchanan, died Friday, April 26, 1996, at Friendship Manor. She was born in Botetourt Co. on November 6, 1916, a daughter of the late Nicholas H. and Nannie Sink Kern. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Murphy Wilson Thomas, who died May 3, 1986. She was a member of the Springwood Baptist Church. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Barbara T. and Willis G. Ransone, Buchanan; two sons and daughters-in-law, Jack P. and Alexis Thomas, Calhoon, Fla. and Sidney A. and Kathy N. Thomas, Dumphries, Va.; two brothers, Aubrey and Jerry Kern both of Eagle Rock; two sisters, Nadine K. Bowers, Eagle Rock and Betty K. McCullough, Natural Bridge; six grandchildren, Rance Ransone, New York City, Cindy Thomas, Pequalia, Mo., Vickie Marshman, Portland, Oregon, Sherry Thomas, Calhoon, Fla., Michael P. Thomas, High Point, N.C., Kristy T. Miller, Las Vegas, Nev.; six great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Monday, April 29, 1996 at the Rader Buchanan Chapel, with the Rev. Harold E. Cook Jr. officiating. Interment will follow in Fairview Cemetery. The family will receive friends Sunday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Rader Buchanan Funeral Home.
UTT, Lannie Meredith, 78, of Fancy Gap, died Saturday, April 27, 1996. Funeral 11 a.m. Monday, Vaughan-Guynn-McGrady Chapel, Hillsville.
VINYARD, Sara Ernestine Myers, of Vinton, died Saturday, April 27, 1996. Born in Roanoke on December 28, 1910, she was the daughter of the late Ernest Teaford Myers and Roberta Bayrd Myers. She had been a lifetime resident of Roanoke City, Roanoke County and Vinton. She attended the local schools in Roanoke City and was graduated in 1928 from Jefferson High School, where she was very active in extracurricular activities. She attended Longwood College and was a 1931 graduate of that school. While at Longwood, she was a member of the Cotillion Club, and played tennis and field hockey. She attended Roanoke College and was graduated in 1933. She was a member of Chi Omega Sorority and was chosen the most popular coed while at Roanoke College. Upon graduation, she began teaching at Fincastle High School. She remained there for four years, and directed the Glee Club, was advisor to ``The Castle"" yearbook and was drama coach. She was a charter member and past president of Alpha Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi in Roanoke, a member of Business and Professional Women's Club, a past president of Vinton Garden Club, a member of the Board of Directors of the Vinton Dogwood Festival, served as an assistant director and director of the Thursday Morning Music Club, a member of the American Association of University Women, a member of the Roanoke Symphony Auxiliary and member of the Roanoke Valley Chapter of DAR. In 1937, she married William P. Vinyard Sr., and began teaching at William Byrd High School. She taught at William Byrd for 26 years and retired in 1974. In Roanoke County and at William Byrd, she took part in many school and community affairs. She was a member and secretar y of Delta Kappa Gamma (Honorary Teachers' Society), was secretary of Roanoke County Education Association, was past president of the English Division of District P, was awarded life membership in the PTA at William Byrd High School, named Mother of the Year in Education in the Vinton area, named as an Outstanding Secondary Educator of America in 1973 and was president of the Vinton-William Byrd Chapter of AFS (in charge of foreign exchange students). At William Byrd High School, Mrs. Vinyard sponsored Junior and Senior classes, served as a guidance counselor, was advisor to the ``Black Swan"" yearbook for 13 years and was Chairman of the English Department for 15 years. Upon her retirement, she established an annual scholarship for an outstanding English student who was interested in and contributed to journalism at the school. She served as a judge of yearbooks for Columbia University in the Southern Interscholastic Press Association for several years. During her retirement years, she was a volunteer at Community Hospital of Roanoke Valley, the Roanoke Valley Historical Society and Roanoke Valley Visitors Information Bureau. She was a lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church in Roanoke, where she was in the first Girl Scout troop in the Roanoke area and later served on the Girl Scout Council. She also was a member of the Sanctuary Choir for many years. Additionally, she was an associate member of Thrasher Memorial United Methodist Church in Vinton, where she started the first youth choir and was a member of the Golden Rule Sunday School Class. She is survived by her son, William Persinger Vinyard Jr. and his wife Virginia Trinkle Vinyard, and three granddaughters, Daryn Taylor Vinyard, Brandyn Teaford Vinyard and Tamaryn Tabler Vinyard. Funeral services will be held at Thrasher Memorial United Methodist Church in Vinton at 2 p.m. Tuesday. Officiating will be the Rev. W. Anthony Layman, Dr. George Wesley Jones, Dr. Robert Smith and Del. Richard Cranwell. Interment will follow in Evergreen Burial Park. The family will receive friends at Oakey's Vinton Chapel from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday, and 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday.
WALKER, Viola Harris, 90, of New River, died Thursday, April 25, 1996. Funeral 1 p.m. Tuesday, First Missionary Baptist Church, New River. Arrangements by Penn's Funeral Home.
WOOLWINE, Charles B., 93, of 102 Ralston Street, Bluefield, died Friday, April 26, 1996, in a Bluefield, W.Va., hospital. Born in Ingleside, W.Va., he was the son of the late Charles Thomas and Betty Woolwine. He was a former salesman for the Bluestone Bedding Company of Bluefield. He was a past president of the Bluefield Kiwanis Club, and was a member of First United Methodist Church of Bluefield for more than 40 years. He is survived in death by his loving wife of 46 years, Kathryn McCall Woolwine; daughters, Janet W. Watterson of Jensen Beach, Fla., and Jane W. Meyer of Charlotte, N.C.; a sister, Mayme Woolwine of the home; five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted at 11:30 a.m. Monday at First United Methodist Church of Bluefield, with the Rev. John Farmer officiating. Burial will follow in Maple Hill Cemetery in Bluefield. Close friends and family may call from 4 until 6 p.m. Sunday at the Woolwine residence. Serving as pallbearers will be Ervin Rich, Roscoe Matney, Jimmy Jones, Ted Yost, Bob Clendenen and Bill Miller. Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church or Bluefield (Va.) Rescue Squad. Rodriguez Funeral Home of Bluefield is in charge of arrangements.
WRIGHT, Horace Nash, 86, of Bassett, died Friday, April 26, 1996 at his home. He was born November 30, 1909 in the Sanville Community of Henry Co. to the late Peter Green Wright and Lillie Elizabeth Akers Wright. He was retired from Stanley Furniture Co. as Vice President with over 40 years of service. He was also President and later Chairman of the Board for Stanley Land and Lumber in Drakes Branch, Va. He was on the Board of Directors for Bassett Country Club and was also a member of the Masons and the Shriners. He was a member of Pocahontas Bassett Baptist Church where he served as deacon, treasurer and trustee. He was a graduate of Bassett High School and National Business College. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Catherine Wright Gadd. Surviving include his wife, Perna Weeks Wright of the home; two sisters, Helen Thompson and Lillian Wright of Roanoke; three grandchildren, Margaret Wright, John Anthony Gadd, Sondra Gadd Sondregger; one great-grandchild, Adam Lee Wright. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Monday at Pocahontas Bassett Baptist Church with the Rev. Dale F. Ashley officiating. Burial will follow in Roselawn Burial Park, Martinsville. The family will receive friends Sunday from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Collins Funeral Service, Bassett. Memorials may be made to the Pocahontas Bassett Baptist Church Endowment Fund. Arrangements by Collins Funeral Service, Bassett.
LENGTH: Long : 160 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Vinyardby CNB