Smyth County obituaries for April 12, 2008

Branson

Mary Louise (Patsy) Wyatt Branson, 63, of Branson Drive, Thomasville, died Monday, April 7, 2008 in Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center after an extended illness.
She was born Jan. 26, 1945 in Smyth County to Ira Bane Wyatt and Maude Evans Wyatt. She was a former manager of a convenience store. She was of the Baptist faith.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Survivors include her husband, Tommy Madison Branson of the home; one son, David Lee Branson and wife, Kimberly, of Lexington, N.C.; one daughter, Martha Branson Haynes and husband, Doug, of Thomasville, N.C; five grandchildren, Tiffany Michael, Joshua Curry, D.J. Haynes, all of Thomasville, N.C., and Alex Branson and Anna Branson, both of Lexington; two great-grandchildren, Madison Louise Bussard, Nathaniel Christon Blackburn, both of Thomasville, N.C.; six brothers, William Wyatt and wife, Mary, Joe Wyatt and wife, Martha, Jerry Wyatt and wife, Donna, Jim Wyatt and wife, Debbie, Richard Wyatt, Larry Wyatt and wife, Holly, all of Virginia; three sisters, Ann West and husband, Kenny, Susie Armstrong and husband, Gary, and Janie Gillispie, all of Virginia.
A funeral service was conducted at 2 p.m. Friday, April 11, at Davidson Funeral Home Chapel with preacher Clyde Akers officiating. Burial followed at Holly Hill Memorial Park.
The family received friends and family from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 10, at the funeral home and other times at the home, 270 Branson Dr., Thomasville.
Davidson Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Buchanan

Edward Farris “Eddie Buck” Buchanan, 56, died Saturday, April 5, 2008 at his home in Oakwood Village, Ohio. 
He was born Aug. 21, 1951 in Saltville to Hughes and Ruth Buchanan. He was preceded in death by his father, Hughes Buchanan.
Survivors include sons, Edward J. Buchanan and fiancée, Beth Sundquist, of Stow, Ohio, Robert (Bob) Buchanan and fiancée, Mindy Sloan, of Huntersville, N.C., and Daniel J. Buchanan of Twinsburg, Ohio; his mother, Ruth F. Buchanan, of Saltville; three sisters, Sheila Buchanan of Marion, Lynn Compton and husband, Kyle, of Pikeville, Ky., and Ruth Anne Thomas and husband, Doug, of Chilhowie.
Memorial services will be conducted at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 12, at the Madam Russell United Methodist Church with the Rev. Mary K. Briggs officiating. Burial will follow in the Elizabeth Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 1 until 3 p.m. at the church prior to the services.
Flowers will be appreciated or memorial contributions may be made to the Madam Russell U.M.C. Window Fund (P.O. Box JJ, Saltville, VA 24370) or the Saltville Rescue Squad (P.O. Box D, Saltville, VA 24370).
D.R. Henderson Funeral Home, Saltville is in charge of arrangements.

Combs

Murley Combs, 89, died Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at Manassas Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center in Manassas.
Survivors include his wife, Sarah Combs, of Manassas; several nieces and nephews; and a special great-nephew, Tony Musser, of Manassas.
Funeral services were conducted Friday, April 11, at 11 a.m. at Seaver-Brown Chapel with Pastor Robert Maier officiating. Burial will follow in Attoway Cemetery in Marion. 
The family received friends Thursday evening from 6 until 8 p.m. at Seaver-Brown Chapel. 
Expressions of sympathy may be made to the family at
http://www.seaverbrown.com.
Seaver-Brown Funeral Service and Crematory was in charge of arrangements.

Coulthard

James Michael Coulthard, 46, died Wednesday, April 9, 2008.
He was born Jan. 12, 1962 in Bristol to Jim and Judy Samuels Coulthard.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Alvie and Anna Baisden Coulthard and Ransie and Dolly Blevins Samuels.
He was also predeceased by his aunt, Brenda Coulthard Hardy, and cousins, Janie Samuels McDonald and Chip Blevins.
Survivors include his loving wife, Sandy Coulthard; his parents, Jim and Judy Coulthard, of Saltville; two sisters, Cheryl C. Doane and husband, Jamie, of Saltville, Amy C. Somervell and husband, Jason, of Chesterfield; nieces, Ashley Somervell of Blacksburg, Kortney Doane of Saltville, Alex Gross, Kaitlyn Gross, Lendsey Gross; mother- and father-in-law, Paul and Barbara Gross, of Seven Mile Ford; brothers-in-law, James Gross of Chilhowie, Paul Gross Jr. and wife, Sylvia, of San Diego, Calif.; nephews, Eric Somervell and Eric Doane; aunts and uncles, Fletcher Hardy of Bluefield, W.Va, Larry and Linda Samuels of Loudon, Tenn., Tony and Lili Samuels of Glendale, Ariz., Ricky Samuels of Saltville, Jackie Samuels of Saltville, Joe and Charlotte Reed of Buckhannan, W.Va.; cousins, Scott Samuels, Kent Samuels, Jill Freeze, Chris Hardy, Jeff Hardy, Matthew Hardy, Lisa McFarland, Brian Samuels, Karen Hollowell, Betsy Noulett, Johnathan Reed, Toni Meeks, Dolly Garza, and Desiree Samuels; and a very special friend, Billy Carter.
He was a graduate of Rich Valley High School class of 1980. He served in the Marine Corp after high school and attended Wytheville Community College after his service. He worked many years in the machine shop of Bristol Compressors, Virginia House Furniture, Klockner Inc., and General Dynamics of Marion. He was of the Protestant faith and had attended the Freewill Baptist Church of Chatham Hill and Goodman’s Chapel United Methodist Church. He always had a smile for everyone and will be missed by all.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 12, in the Ridgedale United Methodist Church with the Pastor Will Shelton and the Rev. Ernest Yeatts officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends from noon until 2 p.m. at the church prior to the service. 
Memorial contributions may be made to Saltville Rescue Squad Inc. Drawer D Saltville, VA, Goodman’s Chapel UMC at 353 Old Wilderness Rd. Saltville, VA, or the charity of your choosing.
D.R. Henderson Funeral home is in charge of arrangements.

Griffitts

Fonnie Lee Griffitts, 73, died Wednesday, April 9, 2008 at Johnson City Medical Center.
She was a member of the First Church of God in Saltville, where she served as organist for several years. She was the daughter of the late Carl and Louise Surber.
Survivors include her husband of 54 years, Phil Griffitts; one daughter, Debbie Cook and husband, David, of Johnson City, Tenn.; one sister, Peggy Gillen and husband, Bob, of Saltville; two aunts, Zella Grant of Saltville and Margaret Roberts and husband, Roy, of Marion; one uncle, Bob Elmore and wife, Mildred, of Chilhowie; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services were conducted at 8 p.m. Friday, April 11, at Henderson Funeral Home with the Rev. Bill Konstantoplous officiating.
The family received friends from 6 until 8 p.m. Friday evening at the funeral home prior to the service.
Memorial donations may be made to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, 1232 22nd Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037-1292 or the First Church of God in Saltville.
D.R. Henderson Funeral Home, Saltville, was in charge of arrangements.

Kirby

John D. Kirby, 61, died Wednesday, April 9, 2008 at his home in Marion. 
He was a graduate of Marion Senior High School and Virginia Tech. He spent 23 years in the U.S. Army and retired as a major. Among many awards, he received the Legion of Merit and a National Service Defense Medal with a Bronze Star. He spent many years as a Boy Scout Leader for Troop 190 in Marion and loved working with all the young men. He loved his children, his family, his church, his country and Virginia Tech.
He is survived by his wife, Janet Kirby, of Marion; two daughters, Gwendolyn Ann Kirby and Emily Jane Kirby, both of Marion; one son, Richard Samuel Kirby, of Marion; one sister, Jane Willis, of Richlands; and his mother, Olive “Ike” Kirby, of Marion; and several nieces and nephews. 
Funeral services will be conducted Monday, April 14, at 10 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Marion with the Rev. Jeff Lambert officiating. 
The family will receive friends following the service at the church.
In lieu flowers, donations may be made to Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, Virginia Tech Foundation / VTCC Kirby ‘69, University Department (0336), Blacksburg, VA 24061, Attention: Gift Accounting, or First United Methodist Church, 115 South Church Street, Marion, VA 24354.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to the family at http://www.seaverbrown.com.
Seaver-Brown Funeral Service and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

McGrady

Eva Mae McGrady, 58, died Monday, April 7, 2008 at Smyth County Community Hospital in Marion.
She was born in Chilhowie to the late Dewey Ray Mason and Margaret Leona Hamm.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Roy Hamm and Clyde Mae Handy.
Survivors include her husband, Steve McGrady; one son, Michael McGrady, of Bristol; one sister, Grace Wheeler and husband, Kyle Jr., of Marion; one half brother, Clifford Ray “Bill” Mason and wife, Susan, of Chilhowie; two half sisters, Pat Mason, of Chilhowie, and Rhonda Sheets, of Chilhowie; aunts, Katherine Addington, Shirley Hess, Nancy Cregger and Betty Stanley; one uncle, David C. Hamm; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday, April 10, at Bradley’s Funeral Home Chapel in Marion with Pastor Don Mutter officiating. Internment will follow in Roselawn Cemetery.
The family received friends Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Expressions of sympathy may be forwarded to the family at
http://www.bradleysfh.com.
Bradley’s Funeral Home, Marion, was in charge of arrangements.

Snider

Peggy J. Snider, 70, formally of Marion, died Wednesday, April 2, 2008 at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Peggy Sue and Norman Anderson of Flatridge.
She was born April 26, 1937 in Marion.
Survivors include her two daughters and son-in-law, Peggy Sue and Norman Anderson of Flatridge and Jeanne Bowman of Marion; one son and daughter-in-law, Randy Craig and Wendy Snider, of Marion; three half-sisters, Barbara Testerman, Pasty Walters and Audrey Hearell; two half-brothers, Denny Dunford and Frank Dunford; eight grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, April 5, at 2:30 p.m. in Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home Chapel in Independence. Interment will follow in Pine Branch Cemetery, Mouth of Wilson, with the Rev. Ralph Surber officiating.
The family received friends at the funeral home Friday night from 6 until 8 p.m.
Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home, Independence was in charge of arrangements.

Sult

Alberta Horne Sult, 90, of Rural Retreat, died early Monday, April 7, 2008 in Carrington Place at Wytheville.
She was born in Wythe County on Jan. 5, 1918, the daughter of the late Early Jackson Horne and Berta Phillippi Horne. She was a member of the Asbury United Methodist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, French F. Sult; a daughter, Janet S. Heldreth; two sons, Randall F. Sult and Frank W. Sult; one sister and two brothers.
Survivors include one daughter and son-in-law, Frances S. and Bruce Fielder, of Rural Retreat; eight grandchildren and spouses, Jamie and David Earles, Dennis and Katrina Fielder, Kirk and Laura Heldreth, Tony Sult, Sabrina and Steve King, all of Rural Retreat, Eddie and Rita Heldreth, of Marion, Bruce and Linda Sult, of Allen, Texas, and Tami and Ted Rykovich of Aurora, Colo.; 16 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and other family and friends.
Funeral services were conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 10, at Lindsey Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Ginny Tompkins and the Rev. Bill Perkins officiating.
Entombment followed in the Rosewood Memorial Gardens Mausoleum.
The family received friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday evening at the Lindsey Funeral Home or at the home of Frances Fielder or Jamie Earles at any time.
The family requests that those who prefer may make memorials to the Hospice of Southwest Virginia, the Rural Retreat Volunteer Fire Department, or the Rural Retreat Volunteer Emergency Service.
Lindsey Funeral Home, Rural Retreat was in charge of arrangements.

Thomas

James Donald “Don” Thomas, 63, of Wedowee, Alab., died Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at his home after a long battle with ALS.
He was born Oct. 19, 1944, the son of James E. and Catherine Hamm Thomas. He was a member and deacon of the First Baptist Church in Wedowee, Ala. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, was manager of the fuel service department for Delta Airlines for 34 years, and was a member of the A&M Fire Department and the Delta Epsilon club.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara Adams Thomas, of Wedowee, Ala.; one daughter, Donna and Robby Phillips, of Wedowee, Ala.; one son, David M. Thomas, of Atlanta, Ga.; honorary son, Thomas J. Adams, of Dayton Beach, Fla.; two grandchildren, Spenser Kathryn and Sutton Thomas Phillips; stepmother, Blanche Taylor Thomas, of Chilhowie; two sisters, Linda Thomas Currin of Sugar Grove and Joanee Thomas of Moneta; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were conducted Thursday, April 10, at 2 p.m. at the Corinth Baptist Church in Fayetteville, Ga., with the Rev. R.L. Stephens and the Rev. Don Paris officiating. Burial followed in the adjoining church cemetery.
The family received friends on Wednesday, April 9, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Flowers were accepted or donations may be made to the Wedowee Hospice.
Benefield Funeral Home in Wedowee, Ala., was in charge of arrangements.

Waddell

Annie “Granny” Holmes Anderson Waddell, 93, of the Rich Valley, Chatham Hill, Ridgedale and Spratts Creek communities died Monday, April 7, 2008 at the home of her daughter’s family in Marion.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Holmes Waddell Sr.; one son, Edgar S. Waddell; two grandsons, Gary Waddell and Gary Campbell; one granddaughter, Jessalyn Edwards; one daughter-in-law, Ella Gray Waddell; son-in-law, Paul W. Lamie; and one grandson-in-law, Jimmy Davis.
Survivors include four children, Thomas Waddell, Harold W. Waddell and wife, Sylvia Waddle, Rita Repass and husband, Kenneth Bruce Repass, and Phyllis G. Lamie; daughter-in-law, Shirley H. Waddell; 12 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren; wonderful family, neighbors and friends.
Funeral services were conducted at 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 9, 2008 at Bradley’s Funeral Home in Marion with the Rev. Will Shelton, the Rev. Larry Patton and the Rev. Mike Sage officiating. Graveside services were conducted at 3 p.m. Thursday at Ridgedale Cemetery.
The family received friends on Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the Goodman’s Chapel, c/o Judy Coulthard, 353 Old Wilderness Rd., Saltville, VA 24370.
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at
http://www.bradleysfh.com.
Bradley’s Funeral Home in Marion was in charge of arrangements.

Widener

Charles E. Widener, 78, died Thursday, April 10, 2008 at his home in Marion.
He was born Dec. 12, 1929 in Washington County to the late Lacy and Fronnie Warden Widener. 
He was a lifelong Smyth County farmer. He loved bluegrass music and baseball, and helped start the Marion Mets. 
He is preceded in death by his loving wife, Evelyn Widener. 
He is survived by one daughter, Nancy “Nan” Plummer and husband, Joe, of Marion; one sister, Alberta “Gert” Widener, of Marion; one brother, Gordon Widener, of Marion; two step-grandchildren, Joey and Scott Plummer; and three step-great-grandchildren, David, Toni and Mara Plummer. 
Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, April 12, at 8 p.m. at Seaver-Brown Chapel with the Rev. Neville Mozingo officiating. A graveside service will be conducted Sunday at 2 p.m. at Rose Lawn Cemetery, Marion. 
The family will receive friends Saturday evening from 6 p.m. until time of service at Seaver-Brown Chapel. 
Expressions of sympathy may be made to the family at http://www.seaverbrown.com. 
Seaver-Brown Funeral Service and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.