Smyth County obituary notices for Sept. 15, 2007

Aistrop

Virginia Lucille (Granny) Aistrop, 85, died Monday, Sept. 10, 2007.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Fullen Aistrop; two daughters, Ruby Boardwine and Sue Johnson; and a son, Billy Aistrop. She attended the Deliverance Pentecostal Church of God.
Survivors include eight children, Buck and Sherry Aistrop of Chilhowie, John and Patsy Thomas of Widener’s Valley, Nancy Jean Thomas and Larry and Janie Moore, all of Saltville, Bobby and Brenda Aistrop of Meadowview, Carl and Linda Aistrop and Jeff and Carol Call, all of Saltville, and Gracie Aistrop and Charles of Marion; two step daughters, Gloria and Gary Necessary of Cleveland, Ohio and Claudia and John Kramer of Pennsylvania; 29 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were conducted Wednesday evening, Sept. 12, 2007, in the D.R. Henderson Funeral Home. The Revs. Mark Casey, Curtis Duff and Roger O’Quinn officiated the services. Graveside services were conducted Thursday morning, Sept. 13, 2007, in the Sulphur Spring Cemetery.
The family will receive Wednesday evening, Sept. 12, 2007, prior to the service.
D.R. Henderson Funeral Home in Saltville was in charge of arrangements.

Blevins

Harold L. Blevins, 60, of Bear, Del., and Windsbach, Germany, died Saturday, Sept. 8, 2007.
He grew up in Marion and attended Marion High School. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army having served in Vietnam and other places. He was a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign War. After serving in the Army he decided to live in Germany, where he met his wife Anita. They were married in 1977, their daughter was born in 1979 and their son Norman in 1981. He worked and lived with his family in the German town Windsbach until 2001. Working conditions made him return back to the United States. Daily phone calls and several visits throughout the years kept the family together till the Lord decided to take him home so suddenly.
Survivors include his wife, Anita Blevins of Windsbach, Germany; one daughter, Maja Blevins of Windsbach, Germany; one son, Norman Blevins of Windsbach, Germany; five siblings, Louise and Junior Woodie of Elkton, Md., Joann and Robert Johnson of Lansing, N.C., Janice Taylor of Elkton, Md., the Rev. Duane and Dawn Blevins of Danville, and Dean and Lucy Blevins of Kissimmee, Fla.; and many nieces and nephews, both here in the United States and Germany.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, 2007, at the Bradley’s Funeral Home Chapel in Marion. Interment will follow in the Byers Cemetery in Whitetop, with full military honors rendered by the Francis Marion V.F.W. Post #4667. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at http://www.bradleysfh.com.
The family received friends Friday evening, Sept. 14, 2007, at the funeral home.
Bradley’s Funeral Home in Marion is in charge of arrangements.

Blevins

Thomas Marvin Blevins, 81, of Swartz Creek, Mich., formerly of Konnarock, died Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2007, at Avalon Hospice, Flint, Mich.
He was preceded in death by his parents and eight brothers and sisters. 
He was born Jan. 12, 1926 in Konnarock, the son of the late William and Mollie (Poe) Blevins.  He married Mary Elizabeth Blevins Aug. 15, 1958 in Marion. He was a veteran of WWII serving in the U.S. Navy and had resided in Swartz Creek, Mich., for the past 55 years coming from Konnarock.  He retired in 1982 from GM Chevrolet Metal Fab after 30 years of service.  He was a member of U.A.W. Local 659 and was an avid hunter and fisherman. 
Survivors include his wife, Mary Elizabeth; son, Todd Blevins of Swartz Creek, Mich.; granddaughter, Lauren Blevins of Swartz Creek; sisters and a brother-in-law, Edith Bird and Gay and Thurman Spencer, all of Marion, and Lucille Taylor of Maryland.
Those desiring may make contributions to Avalon Hospice, 2360 Stone Bridge Dr., Flint, Mich. 48532. 
No services were held. 
Tributes may be posted on the obituaries page at http://www.sharpfuneralhomes.com

Conklin

Arden E. Conklin of Sugar Grove died Monday, Sept. 10, 2007, at his home. 
He was born on June 1, 1937 in Airmont, New York.
Survivors include his wife, Carol A. Conklin of Sugar Grove; their four children, April Mae and Kenneth Marshall, of New Zealand, Willard E. and June Conklin, and Adele Rose and B.J. Rohner,  all of New York and Kira Jo vonRonn of Pennsylvania; his mother, Elizabeth Conklin of Sugar Grove; three sisters and brothers-in-law, Naomi and Egbert Bonesteel of Troutdale, Judy and David Ballard of Titusville, Fla. and Lois and Bruno Antonucci of Warwick, N.Y.; three older children, Cheryl Carson, Heide Clayton and Berton Conklin, all of North Carolina; nine grandchildren and one on the way; one great-grandchild with another on the way.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to the family at http://www.seaverbrown.com.
It was his wish that there be no services. 
Seaver-Brown Funeral Service and Crematory in Marion was in charge of arrangements.

Garrett

Mary F. Garrett, 94, of Damascus, died Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2007, at Wellmont Hospice House in Bristol, Tenn.
She was a life long resident of Washington County and daughter of the late Tarn and Mayme Rosenbaum. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her husband, James W. Garrett and a son, Ralph L. Garrett.
She was a member of the Laurel Community Church and the Damascus Senior Citizens.
Survivors include three daughters and sons-in-law, Carolyn and Ernest Grubb of Bristol, Tenn., Shirley and Jack Taylor of Abingdon and Barbara and Don DeBusk of Bluff City, Tenn.; a daughter-in-law, Mona Garrett of Damascus; two brothers, J.T. Rosenbaum of Knoxville, Tenn., and Elmer Rosenbaum of Abingdon; 14 grandchildren, 34 great grandchildren and nine great-great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral services were conducted Thursday evening, Sept. 13, 2007, in the Garrett Funeral Home Chapel. Pastor Fred Minnick, Pastor Paul Bufford and Mr. Bob Robinson officiated the services. The committal service and interment was held Friday morning, Sept. 14, 2007, at Zion Cemetery in Damascus.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be sent to the Wellmont Hospice House, 280 Steele’s Rd., Bristol, Tenn. 37620. Condolences may be sent to the family and a video memorial tribute may be viewed by visiting http://www.garrettfuneralhome.com.
The family received friends Thursday evening, Sept. 13, 2007, immediately following the funeral service at the funeral home.
Garrett Funeral Home in Damascus was in charge of arrangements.

Hardin

John Wesley Hardin, 46, of Saltville, died Monday, Sept. 10, 2007, at his residence.
He was born Nov. 14, 1960, in Spartanburg, S.C., son of the late Lester C. and Annie Ruth Dillow Hardin.
He was preceded in death by an infant sister, Susan Leslie Hardin.
Survivors include two sisters, Nancy E. Hardin of Bastian and Janet M. Hardin Bowles of Lexington; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Richard L. and Charlene Hardin of Meadowview, Ronald Lee Hardin of Marion, Raymond G. and Vicki Hardin of Rural Retreat; and two aunts, Louise C. Hall and Mary Ella Wilson.
A graveside service was held Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 12, 2007, in the Brown Family Cemetery. Pastor Bobby Lorton officiated the services.
Highland Bland Funeral Chapel in Bland was in charge of arrangements.

Hunt

James Garfield Hunt, 84, died Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2007.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Eleanor Hunt and son, Harry Hunt.
He was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII and a member of the Marion V.F.W. Post #4667.
Survivors include two daughters and sons-in-law, Misty and Sam Phipps and Brenda and Freddie Sanchez, all of Chilhowie; two sons and a daughter-in-law, James E. Hunt of Chilhowie and Fred and Jan Hunt of Wytheville; five grandchildren, Kim White and Jay of Nashville, Tenn., Sheree Bowman, Alisha Gilbert, and Hunter and Jake Phipps, all of Chilhowie; great grandchildren, Kealee and Kaleb Bowman and Taylor and Tyler Gilbert, all of Chilhowie; one brother, William Henry Hunt of Chilhowie; and two sisters, Bertha Mae Burgess of Louisiana and Marilyn Snider of Pennsylvania.
Funeral services were conducted Thursday evening, Sept. 13, 2007, in the D.R. Henderson Funeral Chapel with Dr. Darlene Litton officiating. Graveside services were conducted Friday morning, Sept. 14, 2007, in the Mount Rose cemetery with the Marion V.F.W. conducting military rites.
The family received friends Thursday evening, Sept. 13, 2007, at the funeral home prior to the services. 
D.R. Henderson Funeral Home in Saltville was in charge of arrangements.

Huntley

Robert Alexander Huntley, 53, beloved son of Dorothy E. and the late Rev. James B. Huntley of Marion, died Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2007, in Minneapolis, Minn.
He was a graduate of Marion Senior High School and a 1976 graduate of Roanoke College. He worked in photography in Roanoke and Atlanta. He studied advanced piano composition at the Atlanta Art Institute. While living in Atlanta, he served as church pianist and performed at social functions. He was invited to be a member of Eckankar and conducted seminars for them. When Eckankar moved to Minneapolis, he moved with them.  He was employed with them as a counselor in spiritual services and traveled extensively across the United Sates in that capacity. He edited two songbooks, composed music, and performed numerous times at the University of Minnesota. 
In addition to his mother, survivors include one sister, Anne Huntley Speare of Altoona, Pa.; and a niece, Johana “Pokie” Speare of South Bend, Ind.; relatives in Staunton and Columbia, S.C., and friends in the Minneapolis area. 
A memorial service is planned Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2007 at 2 p.m. at the Ebenezer Lutheran Church conducted by Pastor Hammen.  Interment will follow in Rose Lawn Cemetery. 
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of ones choice. 
A memorial service will also be held Saturday, Sept. 29, 2007, in Minneapolis, Minn. 
This is a courtesy announcement by Seaver-Brown Funeral Service and Crematory.