Wytheville Enterprise Obituaries

Alene M. Atkins
Alene Morris Atkins, 89, of Wytheville died Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2008.
Funeral service will be held Saturday, Aug. 9, at 2 p.m. at the Barnett Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Ann Blair officiating. Interment will be in the West End Cemetery.
She was born Feb. 18, 1919, in Norton, daughter of the late Harris Ellis and Lena Cruise Morris. She was a member of West End United Methodist Church, a Wythe County Community Hospital Auxiliary Volunteer and coordinator of volunteers for the American Red Cross.
She was preceded in death by her husband, George Milton Atkins Sr.
Survivors include a daughter, Sue A. Varnadore of Bradenton, Fla.; a son, George M. Atkins of Coconut Creek, Fla.; three grandchildren, Scott Rudacille of Bradenton, Fla., Amy Hoffman of Winston-Salem, N.C., and Tom Atkins of Eugene, Ore.; and one great-grandchild.
The family will receive friends Saturday, Aug. 9, from 1 to 2 p.m. (service time) at the funeral home.
Flowers will be appreciated or memorial donations may be made to West End United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 867, Wytheville, VA 24382.
Barnett Funeral Home in Wytheville is in charge of the arrangements.

Estle G. Buchanan
Estle Gordon Buchanan, 93, of Rocky Gap died Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2008, at his residence.
A graveside service was held Friday, Aug. 8, at 11 a.m. at Ridgedale Cemetery in Smyth County with the Rev. Larry Sutphin officiating.
Memorial donations may be made to the Rocky Gap United Methodist Church Playground Fund, P.O. Box 68, Rocky Gap, VA 24366.
Highland Bland Funeral Chapel in Bland was in charge of the arrangements.

Rachel C. Davis
Lillian Rachel Collins Davis, 75, of Max Meadows, the Gunton Park community, died Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2008.
Funeral service will be held Sunday, Aug. 10, at 2 p.m. at the Gunton Park Church of God of Prophecy with the Rev. Garnett Byrd and the Rev. Cindy Privette officiating. Interment will be in the Jones Cemetery at Gunton Park.
She was born Feb. 28, 1933, in her family home in Wythe County, daughter of the late George Aker and Susie Florence Collins. She was a devoted member of the Poplar Camp Church of God of Prophecy where she served as treasurer and the Wytheville Christian Women’s Club.
She was a dedicated worker in health services, first as an aide and later as a nurse for more than 40 years, both in Michigan and Virginia. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Robert Glenn Davis; five brothers, Scott Collins, Walt Collins, Bill Collins, Brady Collins and Frank Collins; and a sister-in-law, Lorraine Collins.
Survivors include her children, Susan Amstutz, Robert “Robbie” Davis and Marcia Lambert, all of Max Meadows, Drema Marsh and husband Tommy of Newport News, George “Sherman” Davis and life partner Debi Davis of Carleton, Mich.; nine grandchildren, Michelle, Erik, Katie, Ame, Craig, Stevie, Anne, Mandy and Skyler; five great-grandchildren; two brothers, Sherman Collins and wife Dawn of Radford, David Collins and wife Doris of Max Meadows; and four sisters-in-law, Grace Collins of Norfolk, Edna Collins and June Collins, both of Radford, and Bobbie Collins of Jacksonville, Fla.
The family will receive friends Saturday, Aug. 9, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Barnett Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made to the Agape Food Pantry Inc., 405 W. Main St., Wytheville, VA 24382.
Barnett Funeral Home in Wytheville is in charge of the arrangements.

Anna Z. Head
Anna Zaborsky Head, 80, of Wytheville died Friday, Aug. 8, 2008.
A graveside service will be held Wednesday, Aug. 13, at 11 a.m. at the Maple Hill Cemetery in Bluefield with Father Charles Faul officiating. A Christian vigil service will be held Tuesday, Aug. 12, at 7:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and the Wythe County Community Hospital Auxiliary. She attended Pocahontas High School.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Stephen and Anna Gibel Zaborsky.
Survivors include her husband, Randall Head of Wytheville; daughter, Katherine Ann Gresham of Lincolnville, S.C.; nieces, nephews and their spouses, Jean and Dwight Hurley of Bramwell, W.Va., John Marunich and fiancée Lisa Bish of Fairmont, W.Va., Michael and Carol Marunich of Fairmont, W.Va., Matthew and Marlene Zaborsky of Rockville, Md., Mary Ann Simmons of Santa Maria, Calif., Mary Jane Berrios of Florida, Debbie Zaborsky of Florida, Stephen and Laura Zaborsky of Puerto Rico, Judith Brigg of Richmond; Mike and Ellen Zaborsky of Prince George, and Rick Zaborsky of New York; special great-nephew, Spencer Gillespie of Bluefield, W.Va.; and two sisters-in-law, Zola Zaborsky of Newbern and Ina Zaborsky of Norfolk.
The family will receive friends Tuesday, Aug. 12, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Wytheville.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Mary’s Catholic Church or St. Paul United Methodist Church.
Grubb Funeral Home in Wytheville is in charge of the arrangements.

Kirk D. Heldreth
Kirk Darce Heldreth, 45, of Rural Retreat died Monday evening, Aug. 4, 2008, at Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon.
A celebration of his life was held Thursday, Aug. 7, at 11 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church with Pastor Jonathan Hamman officiating. Interment was in the Mountain View Cemetery.
He was born Aug. 24, 1962, in Wythe County. He was a graduate of Rural Retreat High School Class of 1983 and Virginia Tech Class of 1985.
He was a prominent dairy farmer in the Rural Retreat community. He was a member of the Rural Retreat Youth League, president of the Rural Retreat Athletic Boosters and a member of the Wythe County School Board.
He taught agriculture at Rural Retreat High School for some time. He was active in Rural Retreat High School youth sports, was past president of the Wythe County Farm Bureau and had won the Southeastern Division Young Farmer Award.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Janet Luemma Lee Smith Heldreth.
Survivors include his wife, Laura E. Heldreth of the home; two sons, Matthew Kirk Heldreth and Chase Taylor Heldreth, both of the home; father and stepmother, Don M. and Nancy P. Heldreth of Rural Retreat; sister and brother-in-law, Jamie and David Earles of Rural Retreat; brother and sister-in-law, Eddie and Rita Heldreth of Marion; two stepbrothers and their wives, Curtis and Karen Porter of High Point, N.C., Chadwick and Julie Porter of Bland; mother-in-law, Shirley H. Eversole of Rural Retreat; brother-in-law, Jeffery Eversole of Rural Retreat; and several special nieces, nephews, a great-niece, a great-nephew, aunts, uncles, cousins and other relatives.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Rural Retreat Youth League, P.O. Box 1087, Rural Retreat, VA 24368; or the Cancer Outreach Foundation, 206 Abingdon Place, Abingdon, VA 24211.
Lindsey Funeral Home in Rural Retreat was in charge of the arrangements.

Frances D. Jordan
Frances Dunford Jordan, 74, of Corydon, Ind., died Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008, at Clark Memorial Hospital in Jeffersonville, Ind.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, Aug. 9, at 5 p.m. at Beanblossom-Cesar Funeral Home in Corydon, Ind., with Pastor Tony Alstott officiating.
She was born Dec. 11, 1933, in the Piney community of Wythe County, daughter of the late Curtis and Thelma Allison Dunford. She was a retired registered nurse and was a member of the Corydon Presbyterian Church and Tri-Kappa.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Richard A. Jordan; and a daughter, Allison Jordan.
Survivors include three sons and daughters-in-law, Dr. Curtis and Eve Ann Jordan of New Albany, Ind., Greg Jordan of Lanesville, Ind., and Jay and Beth Jordan of Bardstown, Ky.; a brother, Clarence Dunford of Kingsport, Tenn.; and five grandchildren, Jeannie Millis, Susie Pardieu, Katy Jordan, Miles Ford and Landon Ford.
The family will receive friends after 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, at the funeral home.
The family suggests memorial donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital or Kosair Children’s Hospital.
Beanblossom-Cesar Funeral Home in Corydon, Ind., is in charge of the arrangements.

Benjamin F. Shearwood
Benjamin Franklin “B.F.” Shearwood, 86, of Wytheville died Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2008.
A memorial service was held Friday, Aug. 8, at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Rusty Mullins officiating.
He was born April 12, 1922, in Tappahannock, son of the late Walton and Annette Duke Shearwood. He attended high school in Tappahannock and college in Memphis, Tenn.
He was a World War II veteran and a member of the Wytheville Baptist Church where he was Sunday school superintendent for several years and treasurer of his Sunday school class.
He was a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the 40 & B. His many Masonic affiliations included the Wytheville Fraternal Masonic Lodge 82, AF & AM; member and past High Priest of Wytheville Royal Arch Chapter; Past Commander of Lynn Commandry 9, Knights Templar, Marion; and in 1988 was elevated to the position of Grand Commander of the Grand Commandry Knights Templar of Virginia. He was a member of several Appendant York Rite Masonic bodies and presided over many of them.
He worked for L.A. Clark and Sons Inc. and Bareford Bros. Lumber Co., both located in Tappahannock. He worked for the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation for 31 years before his retirement.
He was preceded in death by five sisters and one brother.
Survivors include his wife, whom he married in 1959, Beatrice Shearwood of Wytheville; two sisters, Annette Badger and Ellen Puckett, both of Richmond; and several special nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to the Wytheville Baptist Church.
Grubb Funeral Home in Wytheville was in charge of the arrangements.

Phillip C. Sheffey
Phillip Charles Sheffey, 18, of Rural Retreat died Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008.
Arrangements are pending at Grubb Funeral Home in Wytheville.

Frances Sult
Frances Sult, 58, of New Freedom, Pa., died Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2008, at York Hospital in York, Pa.
Funeral service will be held Monday, Aug. 11, at 10 a.m. at the Barnett Funeral Chapel with Pastor Mike Hall officiating. Interment will be in West End Cemetery.
She was born July 7, 1950, in Wytheville. She was preceded in death by her father, William J. Tadlock II; a brother, William J. Tadlock III; and a sister, Allene Tadlock.
Survivors include her husband, Donald F. Sult of the home; two daughters, Mary Oles of Red Lion, Pa., Kimberly Borsack of East Hampton, N.Y.; a granddaughter, Avery M. Oles; her mother, Katherine Mae Coley Tadlock of Sandford, Fla.; and two brothers, Allan R. Tadlock of Wytheville and Frank M. Tadlock of Sanford, Fla.
The family will receive friends Sunday, Aug. 10, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Barnett Funeral Home in Wytheville is in charge of the arrangements.

Vernal A. Vaughan Sr.
Vernal Albert Vaughan Sr., 85, of Wytheville died Sunday, Aug. 5, 2008, at his residence.
A memorial service will be held Monday, Aug. 11, at 7 p.m. at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 250 Grayson Road, Wytheville, with Elder Lou Venegas officiating.
He was born July 30, 1923, in Trenton, N.J., son of the late Albert and Ora Higgenbotham Vaughan. He was an elder in the Wytheville congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
He was preceded in death by a son, Bruce Vaughan.
Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Beulah Vaughan of the home; two sons, Craig Vaughan of Radford, N.J., Vernal Albert Vaughan Jr. of Trenton, N.J.; eight grandchildren and their spouses, Bruce Vaughan Jr., Craig Vaughan Jr., Ingrid Vaughan, Keith Vaughan, John and Bernadette Vaughan, Keisha and Lewis Glasper, Denise Vaughan, Michelle and Michael Scott; 16 great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.
Barnett Funeral Home in Wytheville is in charge of the arrangements.