Bristol, Virginia, Obituaries: Bristol Herald Courier, April 8, 2004 Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Bristol Herald Courier http://www.bristolnews.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=TRI/Page/TRI_FrontPage ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities, when written permission is obtained from the contributor, so long as all notices and submitter information are included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bristol Herald Courier Thursday, April 8, 2004 Today's Deaths Maisie S. Cahill, 76, Saltville Pearl Juanita Crusenberry, 81, Bristol Virginia Thomas Peirce Gannaway, 90, Kingsport Margaret Ann Gardner, 63, Bristol Virginia Frank C. Gilliam, 58, Wise R.L. Porter, 75, Castlewood Malonda Bertha Potter, 83, Bristol Tennessee Vernon Reed Jr., 77, Cedar Bluff Joe C. Smith, 49, Norton Billy Gene Street, 49, Cedar Bluff Earnest Ray Thompson, 78, Abingdon Herman Lee Wheeler, 81, Bristol Virginia Ray Willis, 85, Bland, Va. James A. Broce Jr. The committal service and entombment for James Arthur "Jim" Broce Jr. will be held at 11 o’clock Thursday morning, April 8, 2004, at Glenwood Mausoleum. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. David Thompson, Dr. Jeffrey Levine, Dr. Fred Greear, Dr. Ben Sharfstein, Dr. Myron Wilson, Jim Harris, Harvey Rominger, Mirko Lucic, Bobby Bushong, Jack Gent, Floyd Gross and the men of Faith Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may send memorial contributions to Faith Lutheran Church, 2909 Weaver Pike, Bristol, TN 37620, or The Sjogren’s Syndrome Foundation, 8120 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda, MD 20814. Condolences and memories may be sent to the family by visiting www.oakley-cook.com. Mr. Broce Jr., 79, of V.I. Ranch Road, took his place with the Lord on Monday, April 5, 2004, at the Bristol Regional Medical Center, after a lengthy illness. Mr. Broce and his family are in the care of Oakley-Cook Funeral Home, 2223 Volunteer Parkway, Bristol Tennessee. Maisie S. Cahill SALTVILLE – Mrs. Maisie S. Cahill, age 76, passed away Wednesday, April 7, 2004, in Smyth County Community Hospital. Mrs. Cahill was the daughter of the late Robert Edwin and Elizabeth Booth Smith. She was preceded in death by her husband, Guy Cahill, and infant son and daughter. Survivors: three sons, Robert O. "Rocky" Cahill, Saltville, Stanley M. "Rusty" Cahill, Saltville, and Ron D. Cahill, Chilhowie; one daughter, Cecelia Lynn Cahill, Saltville; three brothers, Donald F. Smith, Columbia, S.C., Roger C. Smith, Saltville, and Wayne A. Smith, Saltville; one sister, Elizabeth Smith Brisco, Christianburg, Va., and several nieces and nephews. Graveside services for Mrs. Maisie S. Cahill will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 10, 2004, in the Elizabeth Cemetery, with the Rev. Bill Cahill officiating. The family will receive friends from 6 till 8 p.m. Friday evening at the D.R. Henderson Funeral Home and at the home of Ron Cahill, 1150 West Lee Hwy., Chilhowie. Pallbearers will be nephews and friends. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Saltville Rescue Squad. The D.R. Henderson Funeral Home is serving the family. Pearl J. Crusenberry BRISTOL, Va. – Pearl Juanita Crusenberry, age 81, passed away on March 14, 2004, at Massillon Community Hospital in Massillon, Ohio, following an extended illness. Born in Bristol Virginia on June 5, 1922, to the late Lewis and Hattie Crusenberry, she will be greatly missed by her family and friends. Pearl is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth Marietta Sanderson; a son, Fred Allen Leonard, and a brother, Emmitt Crusenberry. There are also seven grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, April 10, 2004, at 1 p.m. in Mountain View Cemetery in Bristol Virginia. Thomas Gannaway KINGSPORT – Thomas Peirce Gannaway, 90, of East Stone Dr., entered into eternal rest Wednesday, April 7, 2004, at Brookhaven Health Care. He was born May 8, 1913, in Washington County, Va., and had moved to Kingsport in 1927 with his father, Dr. William Gannaway. He attended Kingsport City Schools, King College, Bristol Tennessee, and graduated from William and Mary College, Williamsburg, Va. Mr. Gannaway was owner and operator of Concrete Products Company for over 42 years. Tom was a charter member of the Kingsport Archery Club, Outdoorsmen Inc., Watauga Audubon Society, Friends of Allandale, Kingsport Downtown Tomorrow Association, Survivors Club, Kingsport National Guard since 1938, and the Downtown Association. Mr. Gannaway was also a member of the first Kingsport Boy Scout Troop, having received his Eagle Scout Award in 1999, an instructor at the Kingsport Boys Club and a member of Bays Mountain Park Association for over 30 years, Kingsport Historical Zoning Commission, The Green Belt Advisory Committee and The Netherland Inn Association. Tom also served three terms on the State of Tennessee Conservation Commission. He also worked on replacing the Daniel Boone Trail Marker at Church Circle, campaigning for a walking trail for the vision impaired, and worked on a logo for historical Kingsport. Tom had been a member of First Broad Street United Methodist Church since 1937. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Jane Brooks Gannaway, his parents, Dr. William L. and Willie Belle Peirce Gannaway, and one sister, Mary Belle Dittmore. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Genevieve Dixon Stone Gannaway of the home; two daughters and sons-in-law, Mrs. Don (Suzane) Reed, of Ealey, S.C., and Mrs. Michael (Hester Jane) Little, Johnson City; two sons and daughters-in-law, Thomas P. Gannaway Jr. and wife Marilyn, Sacramento, Calif., and Edwin Jackson (Jack) Gannaway and wife Christie, Kingsport; grandchildren, Rachel Reed, Tom Gannaway III, Jonathan Gannaway and wife Charlotte, Brooke Gannaway, Mary Allison Little and Chesney Gannaway; great-grandson, Mac Gannaway; also several nieces and nephews. Calling hours are Saturday, April 10, 2004, from noon to 2 p.m. at First Broad Street United Methodist Church. Funeral services will be conducted at the church on Saturday, April 10, 2004, at 2 p.m., with Rev. Jack Edwards and Pastor Dan Clark officiating. Music will be provided by John Mullins. Military graveside services will be immediately following the funeral in Oak Hill Cemetery, with the American Legion Hammond Post 3 and Gate City Post 265 with Chaplin Joe W. Byrd. Pallbearers will be the Green Belt members and honorary pallbearers will be the Kingsport Historical Association members. Memorials may be made to First Broad Street United Methodist Church, Church Circle, Kingsport, TN 37660. Condolences may be sent to the Gannaway family via e-mail at cartertrentfh@earthlink.net. Carter-Trent Funeral Home, downtown Kingsport, is in charge of arrangements. Margaret A. Gardner BRISTOL, Va. – Margaret Ann Gardner, 63, died Tuesday, April 6, 2004, at Bristol Regional Medical Center. She was born in Big Stone Gap, a daughter of the late Jessie James and Evelyn Elizabeth Smith Thacker. She was a longtime resident of Sullivan County, Tenn., and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star Bell Walsh Chapter 65. She was a member of the Gardners Memorial Primitive Baptist Church. Survivors include two daughters, Penny and Diana; two brothers, Billy Thacker of Portage, Ind., and Roy Thacker of Travelers Rest, S.C.; her sister, Barbara Jean Hedrick of Gray, Tenn., and a very close friend, Hiram Gardner, of Bristol Virginia. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 o’clock Thursday evening, April 8, 2004, at Oakley-Cook Funeral Home. The funeral service will be conducted at 11 o’clock Friday morning, April 9, 2004, in the Paul Cook Memorial Chapel of Oakley-Cook Funeral Home, with Elder Wayne Morgan and Elder I.W. McNamara officiating. Burial will follow at Sullivan Gardens Cemetery in Kingsport. Pallbearers will be Charles Taylor, Dennis Franklin, Gary Baker, J.D. Baker and Jerry Blair. The family wishes to send a special thank you to Rachel Westfall. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family by visiting www.oakley- cook.com. Ms. Gardner and her family are in the care of Oakley-Cook Funeral Home, 2223 Volunteer Parkway, Bristol Tennessee. Frank C. Gilliam WISE – Frank C. Gilliam, 58, passed away Tuesday, April 6, 2004, at the James H. Quillen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, in Mountain Home, Tenn. He was born March 29, 1946, at Norton General Hospital, Norton. He was the second son of William Howard Gilliam Sr. and Sue Stewart Gilliam. Frank graduated from J.J. Kelly High School Class of 1964 and entered the U.S. Air Force in 1965, where he received formal training in electronic communications. He participated in the USS Pueblo Crisis, while stationed on the Korean DMZ in 1968. He worked at the Sandia Base Nuclear Weapons Design Laboratory in Albuquerque, N.M. Frank directly participated in the clearing of mines from the Suez Canal in Egypt in 1975. In 1984 and 1985, he worked in the B-1B bomber and B-2 Stealth bomber electronics security program. Frank retired as a master sergeant from the military in 1986, after serving as non-commissioned officer in charge of electronic security for the Strategic Air Command (SAC). He attended Metropolitan Community College in Omaha, Neb., and earned two degrees with honors. Frank was preceded in death by his wife, Janis Rae Wood Gilliam, and his father, William Howard Gilliam Sr. Surviving are his daughter, Sue Gilliam Lamb and husband Richard Lamb; his mother, Sue Stewart Gilliam of Wise; five brothers, William Howard Gilliam Jr. and wife Ruth Ely Gilliam of Dryden, Va., Robert Edward Gilliam Sr. and wife Elizabeth Carr Gilliam of Tampa, Fla., Thomas Gisard Gilliam and wife Jenny Baugh Gilliam of Wise, John Stewart Gilliam of Winchester, Va., and Joseph Michael Gilliam of Blountville; six nephews and one niece. Per his request, Mr. Gilliam will be cremated and a memorial service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 8, 2004, at the Sturgill Funeral Home Chapel in Wise, with Rev. Chris Stanfield officiating, and the Norton VFW Post 4301 conducting military rites. The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. Thursday till time of services at 7:30 p.m. at the Sturgill Funeral Home in Wise. Music will be provided by Jimmy and Ian Gilliam. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Norton VFW Post 4301, c/o Sam Lackey, 9 7th Street N.E. Norton, VA 24273, or to the church or charity of one’s choice. Sturgill Funeral Homes in Wise is in charge of arrangements. Daniel J. Griffith Aaron N. Griffith GLADE SPRING – A memorial service for Daniel James Griffith and Aaron Nelson Griffith will be conducted at 3 p.m. Friday in the Farris Funeral Chapel, with Rev. Johnny Dillard and Rev. Louis Smith officiating. The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until the time of the service on Friday. Those wishing to send memories or messages of sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com. Daniel James "D.J." Griffith, age 12, and Aaron Nelson "Peanut" Griffith, age 5, and their dog, Lucky, joined their grandparents in heaven Saturday, April 3, 2004, from injuries sustained in a house fire. Farris Funeral Service, 427 E. Main St., Abingdon, is serving the Griffith family. Mary C. Hatcher BLUFF CITY – Mary Collene Hatcher, 96, passed away Tuesday, April 6, 2004, at The Cambridge House. She was born Aug. 14, 1907, and was a lifelong resident of the Bristol area. She attended Milligan College and graduated from East Tennessee State University. She retired in 1973, after teaching 42 years in the Sullivan County School System. Miss Hatcher taught at Rader’s School and was principal at Mount Holston and High Point Elementary, before going to Bluff City Elementary School. She was a member of the Sullivan County Retired Teacher’s Association and a member of Rockhold United Methodist Church for 78 years. Miss Hatcher was a solid rock of determination and strength to all who knew her and a blessing to her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her father, John Hatcher, her mother, Maggie Hatcher Boy, a sister, Kate Hatcher, a brother, Sidney Hatcher, and stepbrothers, Ralph Boy, Ernest Boy and his wife Frances and Herbert Boy and his wife Willie Cecil. Survivors include her sisters, Sue Ollie Vance of Bluff City and Blanche Roberts and her husband Eddie of Apollo Beach, Fla.; several nieces and nephews; several great-nieces and great-nephews and several great-great-nieces and great-great- nephews. The funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, April 9, at the graveside in Weaver Cemetery, with Rev. Eugene Deaton officiating. Pallbearers will be Jason Cumbow, Justin Cumbow, Todd Cumbow, Gordie Peterson, Chris Peterson, David Peterson, Austin Peterson, Steve Vance and Mark Vance. The family will receive friends from 7 until 9 p.m. Thursday at Akard Funeral Home. E-mail condolences may be sent to the family at akardfh@peercom.net. Akard Funeral Home, 1912 West State St., Bristol, TN 37620, 423-989-4800, is serving the family of Miss Hatcher. Jessie F. Hilliard BLUFF CITY – Jessie Franklin Hilliard passed away, Tuesday, April 6, 2004, in the Wellmont Hospice House. He was a lifelong resident of the Bristol area, born Sept. 18, 1927, to the late David and Laura Newman Hilliard. He was a retired school bus driver, was of the Freewill Baptist faith and he was preceded in death by his wife, Nina Louise Keeling Hilliard. Survivors include two daughters, Vivian Sanders and husband Richard and Patty Vestal and husband Howard; three sons, David Hilliard and wife Connie, Bill Hilliard and wife Sharon and Jerry Hilliard and wife Rachel; eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday, April 9, 2004, in the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Richie Sanders, Rev. Joe Trent and Rev. James Salyers officiating. Burial will follow in the Rooty Branch Cemetery. Pallbearers will be grandsons and nephews. Online condolences may be registered at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Weaver Funeral Home. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. R.L. Porter CASTLEWOOD – R.L. "Bob" Porter, 75, passed away Wednesday, April 7, 2004, at his home. He was born in St. Paul, Va., son of the late C.D. "Bus" and Rowena Dye Porter. He was retired as vice president from Porter Auto Sales in St. Paul. He was of the Baptist faith. He retired from his farm. He was a 50-year member of St. Paul Masonic Lodge 343 A.F. & A.M. and a member of the Royal Arch Chapter 34 in Castlewood. He owned his own plane and loved flying it. He was preceded in death by one sister, June Porter Harrill. He is survived by his wife, Wilma Porter; one daughter, Bobbi Porter Marshall and husband Larry of Castlewood; one granddaughter, Jessica Leigh Marshall of Castlewood; one half sister, Jane Porter Hepp of Connecticut; three nieces and one nephew. Funeral services for R.L. "Bob" Porter will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 8, 2004, in Castlewood Funeral Home Chapel, Castlewood, with the Rev. Mike Moore and Rev. Lee Kidd officiating. Committal services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 9, 2004, in Temple Hill Memorial Park, Castlewood. The family will meet at the funeral home and go in procession to the cemetery at 10:30 a.m. Friday. Pallbearers will be Scott White, James White, Billy Hillman, Bob Burke, Steve Osborne and Richie Kiser. The Porter family will receive friends from 6 to 7:15 p.m. Thursday, April 8, 2004, in Castlewood Funeral Home, Castlewood. A Masonic service will be held at 7:15 p.m. Thursday in the Chapel by St. Paul Lodge 343 A.F. & A.M. Online condolences may be sent to the Porter family through our Web site at www.castlewoodfuneralhome.com. Castlewood Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Malonda B. Potter BRISTOL, Tenn. – Malonda Bertha Potter, age 83, of 2460 Denton Valley Road, went to be with the Lord on April 7, 2004, at Bristol Regional Medical Center. She was the daughter of the late Charlie and Inez Potter Hilliard and was a lifelong resident of the Bristol area. Ms. Potter was a housewife and a member of South Chapel Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Cleveland Potter, and a daughter, Frances Harr. Survivors include daughters, Vina Harr and husband Frank and Ilene Graybeal and husband James, all of Bristol Tennessee; sons, Ernest Potter and wife Brenda, Eugene Potter and C.L. Potter and wife Sue, all of Bristol Tennessee, and James Potter of Abingdon; sisters, Mary Berry of Bristol Tennessee and Morella Cross of Bristol Tennessee; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 9, 2004, at South Chapel Baptist Church at 11 a.m., with Rev. Mark Baumgardner and Rev. Benny Bowman officiating. Interment will follow at Cox Cemetery. Pallbearers will be family and friends. The family will receive friends on Thursday from 6-8 p.m. at Weaver Funeral Home and other times at 251 Sinking Springs Road, Bristol Tennessee. Online condolences may be registered at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Troy H. Pounders Sr. ABINGDON – A service for Mr. Troy Hester Pounders Sr. will be Friday, April 9, 2004, at 9 a.m. in Troy. Interment will follow in White Chapel Cemetery in Troy. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to High Point Baptist Church, 18255 Limestone Dr., Meadowview, VA 24361. Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com. Mr. Pounders Sr., age 77, died Monday, April 5, 2004, in Grace Healthcare of Abingdon. Farris Funeral Service, 427 East Main St., Abingdon, is serving the Pounders family. Vernon Reed Jr. CEDAR BLUFF – Mr. Vernon Reed Jr., age 77, passed away Monday, April 5, 2004, following a lengthy illness. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Singleton Funeral Service. Margaret O. Shaffer The committal for Margaret Osborne Shaffer will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Mountain View Cemetery. Pallbearers will be grandsons, Sammy Shaffer, Gary Shaffer, Jimmy Shaffer, Steve Blankenbeckler, Kevin Blankenbeckler and Robert Gilmer. Online condolences may be registered at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Three Springs Baptist Church Building Fund in memory of Margaret. Mrs. Shaffer, age 95, went to be with the Lord, Sunday, April 4, 2004, at the Wellmont Bristol Regional Medical Center. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Joe C. Smith NORTON – Joe C. Smith, 49, passed away Tuesday, April 6, 2004, at the Wellmont Lonesome Pine Hospital in Big Stone Gap. He was a former employee of Humphrey’s Enterprises, a 1972 graduate of John I. Burton, he played on the 1972 State Championship Football Team and was of the Pentecostal faith. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lev Smith Sr. and Eula Stanley Smith, son, Anthony Joseph Smith, brother, Bobby Smith, sister, Gail Smith, and nephew, Lev Smith III. Surviving are five brothers, Kenneth Wayne Smith, Albert Smith, Frank Lee Smith and Lev M. Smith Jr., all of Norton, and James S. Smith of Raleigh, N.C., and two sisters, Linda Sue Bloomer and Norma Jean Armstead, both of Norton. Funeral services for Joe C. Smith will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday, April 9, 2004, at the Sturgill Funeral Home Chapel in Wise, with Pastor Steve Powers and Doug Humphreys officiating. Burial will follow in the Powell Valley Memorial Gardens in Big Stone Gap. The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, April 8, 2004, at the Sturgill Funeral Home in Wise. Sturgill Funeral Homes in Wise is in charge of arrangements. Billy Gene Street CEDAR BLUFF – Mr. Billy Gene Street, age 49, passed away Wednesday, April 7, 2004, at his home following a lengthy illness. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Singleton Funeral Service in Cedar Bluff. Earnest R. Thompson ABINGDON – Mr. Earnest Ray Thompson, 78, died Wednesday, April 7, 2004, at his home. Mr. Thompson was born March 17, 1925, in Smyth County to the late Staley Dayton and Viola Hutton Thompson. He attended First Church of God in Abingdon and was retired from the Virginia State Police after 39 years. He was a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of World War II, where he was the recipient of the Good Conduct Medal. He was preceded in death by a son, Jeffrey Lee Thompson. Survivors include his wife, Hope Rotenberry Thompson; three sons, Gerald Ray Thompson of Abingdon, Michael Wayne Thompson of Damascus and David Allen Thompson of Abingdon; two daughters, Pamela Kay Thompson and Karen Sue Thompson, both of Abingdon; one sister, Viola Maxine McKinney of Marion; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends Thursday April 8, 2004, from 6-8 p.m. followed by a service at 8 p.m. at Farris Funeral Chapel. Reverend Bob Neace will officiate. An 11 a.m. committal service will be held on Friday, April 9, 2004, at West Cemetery in Marion. Military rites will be given by the Highlands Honor Color Guard. Family and friends are asked to assemble at the funeral home at 9:30 a.m. Friday for the procession to the cemetery. Pallbearers will be Jamie Thompson, Chad Thompson, Chris Manuel, Kyle Easterling, Jimmy Clark and R.L. Young. Those wishing to express their condolences online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com. Farris Funeral Service, 427 East Main St., Abingdon, is serving the Thompson family. Herman Lee Wheeler BRISTOL, Va. – Herman Lee Wheeler, 81, died Wednesday, April 7, 2004, at his residence. He was born April 7, 1923, in Bristol Virginia, the son of the late J.R. and Lillian Lawson Wheeler. He was a lifelong resident of Bristol. He was a veteran of the Army Air Corps, serving in the Pacific Theater in World War II. Herman was a 50-year member of Masonic King Lodge 461 and a Shriner. He was a member of Reynolds Memorial United Methodist Church. Herman was preceded in death by a special cousin, Capt. Phyllis Warren. He is survived by his loving wife, Betty Sink Wheeler; two daughters, Toni Ward and her husband Lonnie of Bristol Tennessee and Vickie Warden and her husband John of Bristol Virginia; two sons, Kevin Wheeler and his wife Diane of Bristol Virginia and Jan Wheeler and his wife Lisa of Chattanooga: his sister, Eunice M. Wheeler of Bristol Virginia, 11 grandchildren, Melanie, Josh, Jason, Angela, Marcie, Micki, Steve, Mathew, Jason R., Trevor and Todd, and eight great- grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Shriner’s Hospital- Greenville, 950 W. Faris Rd., Greenville, SC 29605-4277. A memorial service will be announced at a later date. E-mail condolences may be sent to the family at akardfh@peercom.net. Akard Funeral Home, 1912 W. State St., Bristol, TN 37620, (423)989-4800, is serving the family of Mr. Wheeler. Ray Willis BLAND, Va. – Ray Willis, age 85, passed away Tuesday, April 6, 2004, at this home. He was the son of the late Curtis and Didema O’Quinn Willis of Dickenson County. He was a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Bland Masonic Lodge 206 and the Bland VFW Post. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. He is survived by his wife, Thelma Singleton Willis of Bland; daughter, Jane Sparrow of Wytheville; sons and daughters-in-law, Joe and Mari Willis of Darlington, S.C., John and Jane Willis of Richlands and Jerry and Judy Willis of Wytheville; other family member, Warrant Officer Harlan G. Sparrow III, serving in Iraq; grandchildren, Mark Willis, Scott Willis, Craig Willis, Lee Willis, Jane Curtis Warner, Aaron Willis, Jenifer Marks, Virginia Warner, Sarah Martin, Jane-Erie Sparrow, Harlan Sparrow IV and Hillary Sparrow, and 19 great- grandchildren. Funeral service will be Friday, 11 a.m., in the Grubb Funeral Home Chapel, conducted by Rev. John Henry Conley and Rev. Norman Wilhoit, with the interment in the West End Cemetery. The American Legion Post 9 will conduct military graveside rites. Family will receive friends at the Grubb Funeral Home Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ray and Thelma Willis Scholarship Fund, c/o Virginia Chiropractor Student Assistance Fund, P.O. Box 1045, Richlands, VA 24641. Grubb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.