DATE: Tuesday, September 2, 1997            TAG: 9709020042

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B6   EDITION: FINAL 

DATELINE: SMITHFIELD                        LENGTH:   41 lines

CECIL W. GWALTNEY SR.

Cecil W. Gwaltney Sr., 86, of the 300 block of Grace St. died Sunday, Aug. 31, 1997. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank L. Gwaltney of Isle of Wight County.

A native of Isle of Wight County, he was the founder and CEO of Gwaltney Motor Co. Mr. Gwaltney was a member of the Ford Dealer Advertising Council and Virginia Ford Dealer Council. He was on the Board of Directors of Smithfield Foods since 1971, Historic St. Luke's Church, Virginia Small Business Administration and a member of Tidewater Virginia Development Corp. Mr. Gwaltney was president of Ivy Hill Cemetery and executive vice-president of Historic St. Luke's Church. He was a former member of the Smithfield Town Council, and founding member of the Smithfield Volunteer Fire Department.

He was a charter member of the Smithfield Chamber of Commerce, served on the Smithfield Library Board for 25 years, and had served on the committee for the Restoration of the Old Court House in Smithfield.

He had served as vice president of Merchants and Farmers Bank, Smithfield, and was a former board member of the Bank of Isle of Wight.

Mr. Gwaltney received the 1977 Ruritan Club Man of the Year from the Smithfield Rotary/Ruritan Club. In 1990, he received the Business of the Year Award from the Chamber of Commerce. In 1994, he received the Junior Achievement of Greater Hampton Roads, Hall of Fame for Business Leadership.

Mr. Gwaltney was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, the Men's Bible Class and had served on the Board of Trustees for over 60 years.

Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Lucille Maynard Gwaltney; two sons, Cecil W. Gwaltney Jr. and his wife, Linda, and F. Maynard Gwaltney, both of Smithfield; and four grandchildren, Cecil W. Gwaltney III, Jill W. Gwaltney, F. Maynard Gwaltney Jr. and Nicole Ray Gwaltney, all of Smithfield.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Trinity United Methodist Church, Smithfield. Burial will follow in Ivy Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the residence, 328 Grace St. Memorial contributions may be made to Ivy Hill Cemetery, c/o William C. Johnston, 7 Wenley Circle, Smithfield, Va. 23430.

Colonial Funeral Home, Smithfield, is handling arrangements. KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY

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