ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, August 6, 1996 TAG: 9608060099
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-2 EDITION: METRO
BLESSING, Timmy Lee, 23, of Route 1, Wytheville, died Sunday, August 4, 1996, due to injuries received from a vehicle accident. He was a 1991 graduate of Rural Retreat High School, and was employed at Utility Trailers, Marion. He is survived by his parents, Lee and Frances Um berger Blessing of Wytheville; three brothers, his twin brother, Terry Blessing of Wytheville, Todd Blessing of Wytheville, and Chris Blessing of Dugspur; grandmothers, Helen U. Umberger, Ruth Blessing, both of Wytheville. Funeral services will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. in the chapel of the Grubb Funeral Home conducted by the Rev. Eddie Noe, with the interment in the Mt. Mitchell United Methodist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Grubb Funeral Home Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m., or at the residence at Route 1, Wytheville, at any time. The Grubb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements
BRITTON, Col. G. Ronald, 85, of Roanoke, passed away Monday, August 5, 1996 at his home. He was a member of Virginia Heights Baptist Church, a graduate of the University of Baltimore with a J.D. degree. Col. Britton was a veteran of World War II, and a Mobilization Designee in the Army Reserve, where he retired as a Colonel. He was a retired Adjudication Officer from the Veterans Administration Regional Office, a member of the Raleigh Court Lions Club, a member of T.R.O.A., and a member of the Virginia State Bar. Surviving are his wife, Sue Yeaman Britton; two daughters and sons-in-law, Susan and F. Lee Overstreet, Roanoke, Nancy and Robert Shelton, Farmville; four grandchildren, Elizabeth Sue Trumbull and husband, Scott, Tiffany Wooding Overstreet, Meredith Leigh Shelton, and Jessica Sue Shelton. Interment will be private. A memorial service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday, from Virginia Heights Baptist Church with Dr. Carl A. Collins, Jr. officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Sue Yeaman Britton Scholarship Fund (Longwood College, 201 High Street, Farmville, Va. 23909) or the Memorial Garden Fund at Virginia Heights Baptist Church (2014 Memorial Avenue, S.W., Roanoke, Va. 24015). Arrangements by Oakey's South Chapel.
BUCK, Cornelia Elizabeth Andis, (``Bess''), 100, of Somerset, Ky., and formerly of Rural Retreat, died Sunday, August 4, 1996. Funeral Wednesday, 11 a.m., Lindsey Funeral Home Chapel, Rural Retreat. Visitation Tuesday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
CALLOWAY, George W., 80, of Montvale, passed away Monday, August 5, 1996. Arrangements by Hamlar-Curtis Funeral Home.
CRAFT, Goldie Looney, 93, of Roanoke, formerly of New Castle, died Sunday, August 4, 1996, at a local convalescent center. She was the widow of Theodore R. (Ted) Craft and retired from New Castle Manufacturing C ompany. Mrs. Craft was a member of the New Castle Christian Church for some 55 years. Surviving are her daughter and son-in-law, Ocie C. and Elmer G. Jones, Roanoke; a granddaughter and husband, Carol and Sam Canode, Troutville; grandson and his wife, Jerry and Caroline Jones, Staunton; two great-granddaughters, Shannon Mowry and Ann Jones; two sisters, Murphy Looney, New Castle, Elba Leiby, Baltimore, Md.; several nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to either the New Castle Christian Church or the Craig County Rescue Squad. Graveside services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday from Huffman Memorial Park, New Castle. The Rev. Ernie Johnson will officiate. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Oakey's North Chapel.
CUNDIFF, Berkeley Bayne, Sr. 69, of Roanoke, died Sunday, August 4, 1996. He was preceded in death by a brother, Elton L. Cundiff and is survived by his son, Berkeley B. Cundiff Jr., Roanoke; his grandson, Derek B. Cundiff and his wife, Christy, Roanoke; two brothers, Winfred K. Cundiff, Freemont, Calif., William A. Cundiff Jr., Fredericksburg; three sisters, Virginia Kidd, Suffolk, Dorothy McCall, Front Royal, Jua nita Newton, Palo Alto, Calif. Graveside service will be held in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens Tuesday, August 6, at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Frank Feather officiating. Oakey's Roanoke Chapel is handling funeral arrangements
CUNDIFF, Harry Whitfield, 92, of Roanoke, died Saturday, August 3, 1996. Funeral 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oakey's North Chapel.
FLUKE, Glenna Lawhorn, 87, of Vinton, died Saturday, August 3, 1996. Funeral 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oakey's Vinton Chapel.
GOODE, Amos Lawyer 81, of Catawba, died Saturday, August 3, 1996. Graveside services will be held 10 a.m. Tuesday, at the Cedarlawn Memorial Park. Arrangements by Lotz Salem Chapel.
GRAY, Lotus Helvey, 82, of Salem, died Monday, August 5, 1996. Arrangements by Lotz Salem Chapel.
GROSECLOSE, Helen Virginia Brewer, 74, of Chilhowie, died Monday, August 5, 1 996, in Holston Valley Hospital, Kingsport, Tenn. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold S. Groseclose; and her parents, James Ballard and Eva Maude Smallwood Brewer; and a brother, Edward F. Brewer. She retired in 1992 after 30 years service as a secretary at Emory & Henry College, Emory, and was a member of the Mountain View United Methodist Church. She is survived by two sons, James H. Groseclose and Donald K. Groseclose, both of Chilhowie; two sisters and a brother-in-law, Mildred B. Shuler and Evelyn and Eugene Groseclose, both of Chilhowie; one nephew; and three nieces. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Mountain View United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Jeff Callahan officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Flowers will be accepted or contributions may be made to the Mountain View United Methodist Church Memorial Fund. The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Williams Funeral Home. The body will be taken to the church one hour before services.
HARLESS, Haven B., 78, of Shawsville, passed away Monday, August 5, 1996. Arrangements by Oakey's Roanoke Chapel.
HUDSON, Archie Richard, 60, of Rocky Mount died Saturday, August 3, 1996 at his residence. Surviving are his wife, Myrtle Hudson; two step daughters, Darlene Hogan and Audrey Marie Stancil, both of Fort Brag, N.C.; step grandchildren, Crystal & Jodie Stancil, Robbie, Danny, and Jessica Hogan; four brothers, Allen, Larry, John and Herman Hudson, all of Rocky Mount; four sisters, Eleanor Harrison, Bassett, Faye Robertson, Martinsville, Judy Clark, Bassett, Zula Bradford, Catawba. Funeral service s will be conducted at the Graveside, Mountain View Memorial Park, 2 p.m. Tuesday with Mrs. Eva Leffue officiating. Arrangements by Flora Funeral Service, Rocky Mount
HUFFMAN, Helen M., 90, of Buena Vista, died Friday, August 2, 1996. Funeral 2 p.m. Tuesday, Lomax Funeral Home Chapel.
JEFFERIES, Charles R., 72, of Buena Vista, died Saturday, August 3, 1996. Graveside service 11 a.m. Tuesday, Green Hill Cemetery. Arrangements by Lomax Funeral Home.
JOURNELL, Margaret B., 65, of Christiansburg, died Monday, August 5, 1996, in Montgomery Regional Hospital. She is survived by five sons, Tim Langdon, Al Langdon, Danny Langdon, David Langdon, and Joey Langdon; two daughters and sons-in-law, Cathy Journell and James Lawson, Karen J. and Tony Willard; 18 grandchildren; special friends , Mike Hopcroft, Lisa and Ernie Hackney. Friends may call any time at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Karen J. and Tony Willard, 1156 High Top Road, Lot 167, (Oak Forest Trailer Park), Blacksburg, Va. 24060, where a memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, August 8, conducted by the Rev. Roger Henderson. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials be made to the Christiansburg Rescue Squad, Box 176, Christiansburg, Va. 24073. Arrangements are being handled by Richardson-Horne Funeral Home
KEATTS, Christine Anna Pannel, 67, of Roanoke, passed away Sunday, August 4, 1996. Arrangements by Serenity Funeral Home.
KING, Harold E., 80, of Boones Mill, went to be with the Lord, Sunday, August 4, 1996. He was a veteran of World War II and a life time member of Bethlehem Church of the Brethren and he was retired from Merita Bakery and Cooper Wood Products. He is survived by his wife of fifty-nine years, Ruby Leonard King, of Boones Mill; daughters and sons-in-law, Joyce and Carlton Hodges and Mary and Mike Hurt, both of Boones Mill; a son and daughter-law, Donnie and Carol King, of McKinney, Tx.; six grandchildren, Robert and Amy Hodges, Steve and Amanda Hurt, David and Ellen King, also surviving a sister and brother-in-law, Melva and Bobby Guthrie, of Boones Mill; a brother and sister-in-law, Charlie and Edna King, of Dayton, OH.; brother-in-law, Riley Guthrie, of Boones Mill; sisters-in-law, Lois and Josephine King, of Salem; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Wednesday August 7, 1996 at Bethlehem Church of the Brethren with the Rev. Keith Simmons and the Rev. J. Willard Bowman officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends at Oakey's South Chapel Tuesday evening from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bethlehem Church of the Brethren.
MARTIN, Sterlin Silas, 93, of Willis, passed away Sunday, August 4, 1996. Graveside service 3 p.m. Tuesday, Captain George Quesenberry Cemetery, Indian Valley. Arrangements by Maberry Funeral Home, Floyd.
MERCHANT, Joseph M. Jr., (``Bunny''), 78, of Lexington, died Thursday, August 1, 1996. Funeral 11 a.m. Wednesday, Lomax Funeral Home Chapel, Buena Vista.
NEAL, Muriel V., (``Granny''), 72, of Vinton, died Monday, August 5, 1996, in a Roanoke hospital. Surviving are two daughters, Cecelia Martin and Mira Robertson, Roanoke; son and daughter-in-law, Gary L. and Peggy Q. Hartman, Gautier, Miss.; special son-in-law, Roosevelt M. Robertson, Vinton; seven grandchildren, Kenny R. Martin Jr., Gary Scott Martin, Roanoke, Dawn E. Hartman, Mobile, Ala., Keith Robertson, Marlene E. Lloyd, Kevin Robertson, and Gary T. Lloyd, Roanoke; five great-grandchildren, Ashley Danielle Martin, Brandi and Zackery Robertson, Dillon Robertson, and Ashlee Rennea Riggs; sister, Myrtle Bryant, Houston, Texas; brother, Thomas Ray Vaughan, Vinton. Funeral services will be at the graveside, Fairview Cemetery, 1 p.m. Wednesday, with Rev. Gary Kingery officiating. Friends may call at Oakey's Roanoke Chapel after 11 a.m. Tuesday
O'NEAL, Laborn Howard, 88, of Salem, passed away Saturday, August 3, 1996. He was born in Penhook to the late Alex and Eliza O'Neal. Mr. O'Neal retired from the V.A. Medical Center in Salem. He was preceded in death by his wife, Glenna F. O'Neal. Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, Labern and Barbara O'Neal, Crown Point, Ind.; four grandchildren, Terrence, Cassandra, Stephanie and Brian; two sisters-in-law, Edith Miller and Ethel Freeman, both of Salem; a great-niece who was his caretaker, Dorothy O'Neal, Salem; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be Thursday, 2 p.m., at the Shiloh Baptist Church, Salem. Dr. E. H. Glaspie will officiate with the interment in Williams Memorial Park. The family will receive friends Wednesday from 7 to 8 p.m. at the church. Arrangements by Hamlar-Curtis Funeral Home
PARKS, Jean Alouise, 65, of Rural Retreat (The Cedar Springs Community), died Sunday August 4, 1996 in the Clinch Valley Medical Center in Richlands. She was born in Grayson County, the daughter of the late James Garland and Mary Jane Patton Hurt. Jean was a member of the Sharon Baptist Church in Rural Retreat and is survived by two sisters and brother-in-law, Evelyn and Grant Ring, Jr., of Rural Retreat, Emma Horne, of Richlands; one brother, James W. (Buddy) Hurt, Rural Retreat; several nieces; nephews; great-nieces and nephews also survive. Funeral services will be held 3 p.m. Tuesday, August 6, 1996 at the Sharon Baptist Church with the Rev. Michael Hoyle, the Rev. Ralph Horton, and the Rev, Bob Osborne officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The body will be taken to the church one hour before service time. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday evening at the Lindsey Funeral Home or at the residence of her sister Evelyn Ring at any time. Lindsey Funeral Home, Rural Retreat is handling the arrangements.
POSTON, Ethel Blizzard, 86, of Marion, sister of James Stoots, Roanoke, died Sunday, August 4, 1996. Funeral 2 p.m., Tuesday, Barnett's Funeral Chapel, Marion.
PRIMM, Thomas Earl, 46, of 106 Graves Drive, Forest, and formerly of Wytheville, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, August 4, 1996, while at Virginia Baptist Hospital, Lynchburg. He was born in Gary, W.Va. on September 25, 1949, and was the son of the late Coralie Hamilton Primm, Wytheville. He owned and operated Craftech Co., Inc. Machine Shop in Lynchburg for the past five years. Surviving are his wife, Cynthia Davis Primm, Forest; father, Charlie T. Primm, Wytheville; two brothers, Robert Primm, Christopher Primm, both of Wytheville; four sisters, Wanda Fasano, Mary Ann Walters, Linda Turley, Sally Hedge, all of Wytheville; a number of nieces and nephews; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Buford F. Davis, Pulaski; brother-in-law, Allen Davis, Pulaski; sister-in-law, Anita Davis Fizer, Christiansburg; two very special friends, Gary and Karen Shelton, Wythe County. Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. from the Stevens Funeral Home, Pulaski, with the Rev. Clayton Sweet officiating. Burial will follow in the Highland Memory Gardens, Dublin. Visiting will be Tuesday evening at Stevens Funeral Home, where the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. The family will be meeting at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Buford F. Davis, Route 1, Box 102 (Alum Spring Road), Pulaski. Arrangements by Stevens Funeral Home, Inc., Pulaski.
ROBERTS, Rev. David Gene, 49, of Maryville, Tenn., died Monday, August 5, 1996 in the Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center in Knoxville, TN. Rev. Roberts pastored churches in the Tennessee Conference of the United Methodist Church and also pastored in the East Tennessee and South Carolina Districts of the Church of the Nazarene. Survivors include his wife, Gail Thompson Roberts, Maryville, Tn. ; one son, Jonathan David Roberts, Maryville, Tn.; one daughter, Christi LeeRae Roberts, Maryville, Tn.; his parents, Eugene ``Beanie"" and Dixie B. Roberts, Saltville, Va.; one sister, Sandra Wright, Bean-Station, Tn.; two brothers, Jerry L. Roberts, Marion, Rev. Jeff L. Roberts, Hurdle Mills, N.C.; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services for Rev. David Gene Roberts will be conducted 11 a.m. Wednesday, August 7, 1996, at the Plasterco United Methodist Church in Saltville, Va. and at 8 p.m. Wednesday evening at the Maryville First Church of the Nazarene, Maryville, Ten, with the Rev. Jeff Roberts and the Rev. Jeff Wright officiating both services. Graveside services will be conducted 10 a.m. Thursday, August 8, 1996, in Grandview Cemetery in Maryville, Tn. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday evening at D. R. Henderson Funeral Home in Saltville, Va. and from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the First Church of the Nazarene in Maryville, Tn. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Plasterco United Methodist Church in Saltville, Va. of the Maryville First Church of the Nazarene.
SCHMITZ, Rudolph Louis, 82, of Wirtz, died Saturday, August 3, 1996. Graveside service 11 a.m. Wednesday, Fort Lincoln Cemetery, Bladensburg, Md. Arrangements by Lotz Vinton Chapel.
TODE, Gertrude S., 74, of Roanoke, passed away Monday, August 5, 1996. She was a member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Roanoke. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Barbara T. and William M. George of Union Hall; grandsons, William George Jr. of Lumberton, N.C., Michael George of Greenville, N.C., Kurt George of Edenton, N.C.; sisters, Irma Gorsch of Dusseldorf, Germany, Gerda Hormann of Hamburg, Germany; six nieces and nephews. Memorial services will be conducted 2 p.m. Wednesday, August 7, 1996 at Lotz Roanoke Chapel with Pastor John Hann officiating. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Roanoke Memorial Hospice. Arrangements by Lotz Roanoke Chapel
WOOLWINE, Dorothy Lee, 70, of Salem, died Sunday, August 4, 1996. Graveside services 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sherwood Memorial Park. Arrangements by Oakey's North Chapel.
WRIGHT, James Goodrich, 81, of Salem, died Monday, August 5, 1996 at home following a valiant battle with A.L.S. (Lou Gehrig's Disease). His body may have failed but his spirit and sense of humor remained until the end. He never gave up. He was the youngest son of the late Oscar Herbert Wright and Linnie Emily Alderman Wright of Atlanta, Ga. His parents were both natives of Wilmington, N.C. Goodrich was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Julia Lane Clark Wright in June of 1995; his brothers, O. H. Wright Jr. and Judge E. A. Wright of Atlanta, Ga.; as well as his niece, Virginia Wright Hume of Clearwater, Fla. He is survived by his daughters and sons-in-law, Lane W. and James A. Cochrane of San Jose, Calif. and Emily W. and Brooke B. Mallory of Roanoke; son and daughter-in-law, James G. Wright Jr. and Nell Solms Wright of La Jolla, Calif. He was the very special ``Papa"" to his grandchildren, James Montague Cochrane and wife, Caroline H. Cochrane of Richmond, Julia Carter Mallory of Chapel Hill, N.C., Julia Lane Cochrane of Palo Alto, Calif., Brooke Baylor Mallory III and James Goodrich Wright III of La Jolla, Calif. He is also survived by his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Dr. M. Graham Clark of Pt. Lookout, Mo., John T. and Frances Clark of Macon, Ga., and Eva C. and F. Lamar Fleming of Macon, Ga.; great-nieces, Virginia H. Uden, Nashville, Tenn. and Carolyn H. Vorse, Palm Harb or, Fla.; great-nephew, Hampton Hume, Atlanta, Ga. Goodrich was born in Jacksonville, Fla. and moved to Atlanta, Ga. with his family at the age of 3. He was a graduate of Boys' High School and continued his education by attending evening classes at the Atlanta Division of U. of Ga. and Georgia Tech. During this time, he began working for Swift and Company embarking on a career in the meat packing industry which spanned more than 50 years. He left White Provision, a subsidiary of Swift and Company in 1954 to join Valleydale Packers Inc. in Salem. He served Valleydale in various managerial positions in Salem, Va., Miami, Fla., Kinston, N.C., Bristol, Tenn., and Union City, Tenn. Goodrich retired from Valleydale as Vice President of Operations for the Corporation in 1986. He ran his own consulting business until illness forced him to retire in 1995. A long time member of Salem Presbyterian Church, he served as an elder and Sunday School teacher. Goodrich also served as an elder in Granada Presbyterian Church in Coral Gables, Fla. and as deacon in First Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, Ga. He was a member and past president of the Salem Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow. In 1964, the Salem Jaycees named him ``Outstanding Boss."" Goodrich has served as Director of the Virginia Meat Packers Association, Salem Chamber of Commerce, and United Fund of Salem. An avid history buff, he was a member of the Salem Historical Society. He gave book reviews and lectures on Civil War History to various area organizations. Goodrich was able to stay at home through the loving care of his family, friends, his hospice nurse, Caroline Scarborough, hospice caregivers, Rena, Nicole, and Mary, and especially his nurses, Cindy, Shannon, Rachel, Jeanette, Brenda, Melissa, and Anne. Funeral services will be held at Salem Presbyterian Church, 10 a.m. Thursday, August 8, 1996. Interment will follow at East Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Salem Presbyterian Church, PO Box 536, Salem, Va. 24153, Housecall Hospice, 2167 Apperson Dr., Salem, Va. 24153, Salem Rescue Squad, 201 S. Broad St., Salem, Va. 24153, or MDA/ALS, 4502 Starkey Rd., S.W., Suite 206, Roanoke, Va. 24014. Friends may call at John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home, Salem on Wednesday, August 7 from 7 to 9 p.m.
YOUNG, Carl Ambler Sr., 74, of Fincastle, died Saturday, August 3, 1996. He is survived by his wife, Donna R. Young, Roanoke; his children of previous marriages, Pamela Y. and husband , Charles T. Petty, Richmond, Patricia Y. and husband, Cary W. Obenshain, Fincastle, David A. and wife, Sandie L. Young, Fincastle, Carl A. Jr. and wife, Allyson B. Young, Fredericksburg, Candace Y. and husband, Kelly G. Gladden, Salem; two sisters, Dorothy Neighbors, Chula Vista, Calif., Martha Ann Belcher, Lynchburg; eight grandchildren, Lori Rhoads, Todd Petty, Christopher Obenshain, Kimberly Obenshain, Derek Obenshain, David Young, Adam Young, Tyler Gladden; three great-grandchildren, Benjamin, Tyler, and Philip Rhoads. A memorial service will be held Wednesday, August 7, 1996, 11 a.m. at the Daleville Church of the Brethren with the Rev. J. Richard Gottshall officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association. Arrangements by Rader Funeral Home, Daleville.
LENGTH: Long : 307 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Wrightby CNB