U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Buchanan
Mary Helen Buchanan, 73, of Saltville, died Monday, Aug. 11, 1997 in Valley Health Care Center, Chilhowie.
Survivors include her husband, McKinley Buchanan, Saltville; one foster son, Mark Sweat, Saltville; three brothers, David Eastridge of Saltville, William P. "Billy" Eastridge, Whitney, Texas, and Ralph Eastridge, West Moreland, N.Y.; two sisters, Mrs. L.W. (Evelyn) Frye and Mrs. Bill (Dorothy) Gallahar, both of Saltville; and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside services were conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 14, in Mount Rose Cemetery, Glade Spring, with the Rev. Shirley
Carter officiating. Donations may be made to the Saltville Rescue Squad.
D.R. Henderson Funeral Home in Saltville was in charge of arrangements.
Delp
Glenda E. Delp, 50, of Marion, died Monday, Aug. 11, 1997 in the Bristol Regional Medical Center.
She is survived by her husband, Donald R. Delp of Marion; three sisters, Jean Weathers and Nancy Mane, both of Fredericksburg, Ruth Gibson of North Carolina; one brother, Otis Edmonds of Vinton.
Graveside services were held Wednesday, Aug. 13, at 2 p.m. at the Round Hill Cemetery with Rev. Herman Cress officiating.
Seaver-
Brown Funeral Service was in charge of arrangements.
Fisher
Minnie Fowler Fisher, 91, died Tuesday, Aug. 12, 1997 in the Smyth County Community Hospital.
Mrs. Fisher was a native of Smyth County and was a member of the Grace United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, George Fisher.
Survivors include: five daughters: Della Schmidt, Warmister, Penn., Lucille Wampler, Bristol, Shirley Anderson, Atkins, Minnie Ward, Marion and Betty Weaver of Salem; three sons: George E. Fisher, Marion, Donald Fisher, Marion and Walter Fisher of Atkins; 19 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 15, in Barnett's Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. George Mowery officiating. Interment followed in the Greenwood Cemetery.
Barnett's Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Greear
Donna Parsons Greear, 85, formerly of Troutdale, and a resident of Valley Health Care Center, Chilhowie, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 12, 1997 at the Smyth County Community Hospital. Mrs. Greear was born Oct. 4, 1911 at Troutdale to Joe Thomas and Deamie Halsey Parsons.
Mrs. Greear is survived by three daughters and sons-in-law: Doris Ann and Raymond Ragan, Lithia, Fla., Sandra K. and Rex Brooks, Sugar Grove, and Marcia and Clifford Stamper, Marion; one son, Joseph Calvin Greear, Troutdale; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were conducted Friday, Aug. 15, at 2 p.m. in the Summitt Baptist Church in Sugar Grove with the Rev. Guy Testerman and Rev. Donald Tate officiating. Interment was in the Fairwood Cemetery in Troutdale.
Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home of Independence was in charge of arrangements.
Sheffey
Patsy King Sheffey, 51, died Tuesday, Aug. 12, 1997 at her home in Rural Retreat.
She was born in Wythe County, the daughter of the late Wiley H. Jr. and Pearl Catherine Cox King.
Surviving are her husband, Dan M. Sheffey of the home; one son, Danny Sheffey Jr., Tazewell; one grandson, Chad Sheffey, Tazewell; three sisters and brothers-in-law, Betty and Elmo Grubb, Wytheville, Shirley and Walter Winebarger, Mechanicsville, Edna and Richard Fowler, Marion; one brother and two sisters-in-law, Ralph and Judy King, and Pat King, all of Rural Retreat; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15, at the New Bethel United Methodist Church with the Rev. Mike Sage and the Rev. Robert Layell officiating. Interment followed in the church cemetery. The family requests that those who prefer may make memorials to the Rural Retreat Emergency Services.
Lindsey Funeral Home in Rural Retreat was in charge of arrangements.
Viers
Bill Albert Viers, 79, of Bristol Nursing Home, died Thursday, Aug. 14, 1997.
He was an Army veteran.
Survivors include three sisters, Thelma Taladay, Glade Spring, Pauline Henderson and Edith Adams, both of Saltville; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. today, Aug. 16, in D.R. Henderson Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. E.G. Little officiating. Burial will be in Mount Rose Cemetery with military graveside rites conducted by Saltville VFW Post 7328 and Marion VFW Post 4667.
D.R. Henderson Funeral Home in Saltville is in charge of arrangements.
Walker
James Sanders (J.S.) Walker, 80, of Chilhowie, died Wednesday, Aug. 13, 1997 in Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon.
Mr. Walker was a prominent Smyth County farmer; active member of the Chilhowie United Methodist Church where he served as usher for many years; honorary member of the Saltville/Rich Valley Lions Club; instrumental organizer and charter member of the Chilhowie Jaycees; member of the Rich Valley Fair Association; retired employee of the Olin Corporation of Saltville, Virginia Extension Service and was farm manager of W&L Construction Company.
Mr. Walker was preceded in death by his parents, Daniel R. and Rufus White Walker; a twin brother, U.S. Walker; two brothers, Lucius (R.L.) Walker and William Walker.
Survivors include his wife; Kathleen Crutchfield Walker; one daughter and son-in-law, Bobbie Walker Snodgrass and Sidney C. Snodgrass, Chilhowie; one brother, Lindsey Scott (Happy) Walker, Kodak, Tenn.; one sister, Mary Walker Allen, Seven Mile Ford; one grandson and wife, Jay B. and Lisa D. Keen; two great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews and a special family friend, Dennis Snow.
Funeral services were conducted at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15, in Chilhowie United Methodist Church with the Rev. Mark McFadden, the Rev. Charles E. Blevins and the Rev. Chuck Herrell officiating. Burial followed in the Westwood Cemetery.
Williams Funeral Home of Chilhowie was in charge of arrangements.
George Washington "Punch" Greer III
George Washington "Punch" Greer III, of Marion, died on Monday, Aug. 18, 1997, at his home. He was 57.
Greer was well-known throughout Smyth County. Dr. John Fenyk and his wife said they knew Greer from the time he was a child. "He was like a son to us," Mrs. Fenyk said.
Dr. Fenyk knows the source of Greer's nickname. "His sister's name is Judy," he said. "It's from 'Punch and Judy.'"
Early risers who drive through Marion each morning have seen Punch Greer enjoying his daily run for years. According to Dr. James Gates, Greer was an avid runner who "never missed a day in 10 years - and maybe 12."
Sam Burkett, vice mayor of Marion, said Greer ran every morning, "five miles a day. It didn't matter if it was Sunday, Christmas Day, any day. He ran every morning."
Greer was an active, highly educated man who served his country, worked in the family business for more than 20 years, and was a dedicated member of his community. He graduated from the Naval Academy and served five years in the U.S. Navy, then returned to Marion to help his father at Virginia House Furniture Corporation. Greer's father and other local businessmen established the company in the 1950s and Virginia House continues to be one of the county's major employers.
Before he took the reins as president of Virginia House Furniture, Greer earned two graduate degrees. He received a master's degree in oceanography from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science at the College of William & Mary, then went to Harvard Business School where he earned a master's of business administration.
Greer's interest in marine life led him to spend many hours in and on the water. Fenyk said Greer enjoyed sailing, crabbing, and scalloping, but Punch had little enthusiasm for "pole fishing."
"We got to know each other better after he came on with Virginia House," Fenyk said. "There was a 20-year or so difference in our ages, but we got to know each other fairly well."
So did members of the congregation at Ebenezer Lutheran Church, where Greer served on the church council. For many years, Greer also served as a member of the Bank of Marion's board of directors. Danny Counts, of City Drug Store in Marion, is chairman of the Bank of Marion's board of directors.
"I've known Punch for several years," Counts said. "On the board, he was the type of individual who could make decisions that got to the heart of the matter. His decisions were well-respected and usually accepted. ... [Through Virginia House Furniture] he provided jobs for people for several years. He was very knowledgable about the manufacturing industry, especially as it related to wood products. I think he was the type of individual who did lots of moving and shaking behind the scenes, with no wish for recognition or glory."
"Our community has lost a fine man who was well-liked," said Marion Mayor Marshall Guy. "He'll be missed." The mayor cited Greer's numerous contributions, including service to his country in Vietnam.
"He was the type of man who, when you needed him, he was always there," Counts said.
On Monday, news of Greer's death spread quickly by word of mouth. People throughout Marion shared the message in voices stunned with disbelief. Though the medical examiner hasn't filed a report yet, apparently Greer died from a gunshot wound.
"It was tragic," Fenyk said.
The family will receive friends tonight from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Ebenezer Lutheran Church. The funeral service will also be at Ebenezer Lutheran Church at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Aug 21.
