U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Birchfield
James Fenton Birchfield, age 89, of Abingdon, died Thursday, Aug. 14, 1997 at Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon. He was a native of Marion and was the son of the late William van Stavern and Olivia Bonham Birchfield. He attended VPI, class of 1929.
Mr. Birchfield's long career as a newsman started in 1935 when he was editor of a new weekly in Abingdon, The Washington County Forum, which was published by Robert Anderson with his father, Sherwood Anderson, as contributing editor.
In 1939, Mr. Birchfield went on to The Richmond Times Dispatch where he served in several editorial positions. Soon after Pearl Harbor, Mr. Birchfield joined the staff of The Washington Star, again as editor of several departments until his retirement in 1974.
Shortly after retirement, he joined the staff of The Piedmont Virginian, an environmental weekly in Northern Virginia. Later, for several years, he served as editor of The Loudoun Times-Mirror in Leesburg.
In 1983, after selling "The Forty Acres," the family farm near Leesburg, he and his wife, an author, returned to Abingdon where they were living at the time of his death.
He is survived by his wife, Jane Birchfield; two daughters, Tam Hartell, Philadelphia, Penn., and Mace McEligot, Manasquan, N.J.; one son, John Birchfield, Cupertino, Calif.; five grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Sunday, Aug. 17, at 3 p.m. at St. Thomas Episcopal Church with the Rev. Victor Mansfield officiating. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the St. Thomas Organ Fund, c/o St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 124 E. Main St., Abingdon, VA 24210.
Farris Funeral Service in Abingdon was in charge of arrangements.
Eller
Elsie Snavely Eller, age 95, died Sunday, Aug. 17, 1997 in Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon.
Mrs. Eller was born in Atkins and was a lifelong resident of Smyth County.
She received her teaching degree from Radford College and taught in the Atkins school where she was known by her students as Ms. Elsie. She was a member of the Grace Christian Fellowship in Seven Mile Ford.
Survivors include one daughter, Charley Mae Eller, Marion; three grandchildren, Sgt. Bobby Burton Jr., Heidelburg, Germany, Amy Harris, Marion, and Mary Fields, Meadowview; five great-grandchildren, Timothy Jones, Jeremiah and Angus Harris, Aspen and Austin Burton; one step-granddaughter, Joanna Fields; one very special niece, Elsie Whitfield, Ringgold; two nephews, E.H. Phillippe III, and Johnny Eller.
Private graveside services will be held today, Aug. 20, at 3 p.m. in Roselawn Cemetery. A memorial service will be held Sunday, Aug. 24, at 7 p.m. at the Grace Christian Fellowship in Seven Mile Ford. Flowers are to be omitted and donations may be made to the Grace Christian Fellowship or to a charity of your choice.
Barnett's Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Greer
George W. "Punch" Greer III, age 57, died Monday, Aug. 18, 1997 at his home in Marion. He was an active lifelong member of Ebenezer Lutheran Church, having served on the church council. He also served on numerous boards, with a special interest in the Bank of Marion, serving as an active director for 19 years.
Mr. Greer was a 1958 graduate of The Hill School in Pottstown, Penn., and graduated from the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., having served five years as a Supply Officer in the United States Navy with service in Vietnam. He then returned to Marion where he worked in the furniture business with his father for 1 1/2 years.
Mr. Greer attended the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary, receiving a Master's degree in Oceanography. He also attended Harvard Business School receiving his M.B.A. in 1972. He worked, briefly, for Southern Natural Gas and then returned to Marion, working with his father at Virginia House Furniture, later becoming C.E.O. He retired in 1995.
He was a devoted son, husband, father and brother and had an avid interest in outdoor activities with a special love for the ocean.
He is survived by his wife, Susan McDowell Greer of Marion; one son, George W. Greer IV of Montreal; one daughter, Emily cope Greer of Raleigh, N.C.; his mother, Beulah Killinger Greer of Roanoke; one sister, Judith Greer Schulz of Lynchburg; one brother, Dr. Kenneth E. Greer of Charlottesville; and his beloved dog, Keller.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, Aug. 21, at 11 a.m. at Ebenezer Lutheran Church with Pastor James Bangle officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Building Fund of Ebenezer Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 1799, Marion, VA 24354. The family will receive friends tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. at Ebenezer Lutheran Church, 222 W. Main St., Marion, and anytime at the home.
Seaver-
Brown Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.
Petty
Bonnie Ann Petty, age 58, died Sunday, Aug. 17, 1997 in Bristol Regional Medical Center in Bristol, Tenn. She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Joseph and Lucy Henegar Petty; and five brothers, Bill, Joe, Willis, Johnny and Roy Petty.
She is survived by four sisters and brother-in-law, Frances Schmidt of Byron, Mich., Lucy Chapman, Eleanor Daly and Charlotte and Clifton Barbrow, all of Saltville; one brother and sister-in-law, Raymond and Mildred Petty of Marion; a special sister-in-law, Carol Sue Petty Barrett of Saltville.
Funeral services will be held today, Aug. 20, at 11 a.m. in Seaver-
Brown Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Benny Frye and the Rev. Ray Petty Jr., officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Lawn Cemetery.
Seaver-
Brown Funeral Service was in charge of arrangements.
Snavely
Elsie Buck Snavely, age 83, died Sunday, Aug. 17, 1997 at her home in Marion. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Ray Snavely.
Mrs. Snavely was a member of the Marion Baptist Church for many years, a member of the Senior Citizens and a member of the Orchard Towers Bible Study.
She is survived by one daughter, Polly A. Prater of Marion; three sons, William R. (Bill) Snavely of Lake Placid, Fla., Paul K. Snavely of Rural Retreat, and Joseph P. Snavely of Orlando, Fla.; seven sisters, Monnie Repass and Nadine Dutton, both of Rural Retreat, Hazel Cox and Cecil Umbarger, both of Wytheville, Eva Spraker of Speedwell, Evelyn Hart of Marion, and Betty Jo Crockett of Roanoke; two brothers, Vance Buck of Richmond and Bill Buck of Atkins; nine grandchildren, several great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held today, Aug. 20, at 2 p.m. at Seaver-
Brown Chapel with Dr. William A. Slater officiating. Burial will follow in Rosewood Cemetery in Rural Retreat.
Seaver-
Brown Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.
Buck
Paul F. Buck, age 85, of Rural Retreat, died Monday, Aug. 18, 1997 in the Wytheville Manor.
Mr. Buck was born in Rural Retreat, the son of the late William B. and Daisy Mae Catron Buck. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, World War II and was a member of the Grace Lutheran Church in Rural Retreat.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth Kinder Buck.
He is survived by one daughter and son-in-law, Betty and Barry Guynn; one son and daughter-in-law, Donald and Kathy B. Buck; two grandchildren, Bradley Guynn and Brian Guynn of Rural Retreat; one aunt, Ennis B. Kinder, Rural Retreat; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Thursday, Aug. 21, at 2 p.m. at the Grace Lutheran Church with Pastor Edward Schaack officiating. Interment followed in the Mountain View Cemetery in Rural Retreat. Graveside military rites were conducted by Rural Retreat American Legion Post #229. The family requests that those who prefer, may make memorials to the Rural Retreat Volunteer Emergency Services.
Lindsey Funeral Home in Rural Retreat was in charge of arrangements.
Cullop
Pearl Virginia Myers Cullop, age 91, died Sunday, Aug. 24, 1997 in Francis Marion Manor Nursing Home.
Mrs. Cullop was preceded in death by her husband, Maurice Hale Cullop Sr., and a son, David Allen Cullop Sr. She was the daughter of the late James E. "Bud" and Rose Ann Rich Myers.
Mrs. Cullop was a lifelong resident of Smyth County. She had been an active member of Mount Zion United Methodist Church where she was the oldest living member and had taught Sunday School there for 43 years.
She is survived by four sons, Charles Painter Cullop of Greenville, N.C., Maurice Hale Cullop Jr. of Wytheville, Richard Dale Cullop of Fayetteville, N.C., and William Clarence Cullop of Marion; one daughter, Peggy Jean
Williams of Marion; one brother, Robert H. Myers Sr. of Marion; one brother, Robert H. Myers Sr. of Marion; two sisters, Stella Wilson of Sumter, S.C., and Anna Laura Trail of Marion; 14 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held today, Aug. 27, at 11 a.m. at Mount Zion United Methodist Church with the Rev. Robert S. Thorton officiating. Burial will follow in Mount Zion Cemetery. Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made to the Marion Life Saving Crew, P.O. Box 784, Marion, VA 24354.
Seaver-
Brown Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.
