Obituaries – April 19th, 2017

KING, Danny E.

Danny Eugene King, 64, of Cloverdale, went to be with the Lord Saturday, April 15, 2017 with his children by his side.

He was born August 16, 1952 in Altoona, Pa., and graduated from William R. Boone High School in Orlando, Fla. in 1970. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Jeanette and Paul Peterman; paternal grandparents, Charles J. and Clara May King.

He is survived by his daughter, Tiffany Snedegar and husband Ray of Covington; son, Christian King and wife Tiffany of Buchanan; parents, Earl “Gene” and Jane King; brothers, Terry King and Paul King, all of Eagle Rock; grandchildren, Benjamin, Rachel, and Rebekah Snedegar, Eli and Kennedy King, Ethan and Sydni Bunch; and dear friends, “The 3 Musketeers.”

We are all left to cherish the memories of Danny; son, brother, dad, and Grandpa. Memories of playing badminton with friends on Craigs Creek. Getting tied to trees and fishing for sun perch because that’s all we could catch. Throwing softball in the field or just sitting on the front porch watching the cows graze. We will remember him making deer burgers and not telling anyone they were deer until everyone finished eating. One of the most precious memories will be of the concerts that we performed in the car. Windows down, wind in our hair, singing as loud as we could. Our “carcerts” put the Bee Gees and Roy Orbison to shame and no Christmas is complete until we play the Chipmunk Christmas album.

The family will receive friends in the Eagle Rock Chapel of Botetourt Funeral Home from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, April 19. Memorial services will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Read Mountain Fire and Rescue, Attn.: Member at Large (Andrew Ferring), 43 East Park Drive, Roanoke 24019, or Mended Little Hearts of the Shenandoah Valley (MLHSV), 201 Rebecca Dr, Winchester, 22602. Online condolences may be made at www.botetourtfuneralhome.com.

RHODES, Dolores P.

Dolores Perry Rhodes, 88, of Troutville passed away April 6, 2017.

She was the daughter of the late James M. Perry Sr. and Eleanor B. Perry of Ridgeley, W.Va. She was preceded in death by her husband, Weldon G. Rhodes; sisters, Jane Phillips and Jackie Twoey; and brother, Jim Perry Jr.

Dolores was a dedicated member of Catawba Valley Baptist Church for over 64 years, served there as a Sunday School teacher and music director for 40 years. She taught elementary school in Botetourt County for 36 years of which three years she taught Bible for the Botetourt Weekday Religious Education program. After retirement she enjoyed traveling, reading, and her flowers. Her love of Jesus and her grandchildren where her ultimate joy.

She is survived by her daughter, Teresa R. Lee, and son-in-law, Alan W. Lee, of Troutville; grandson, Dr. J. Seth Lee and his wife, Dr. Julie Naviaux, of Memphis, Tenn.; granddaughter, R. Noell Clemons and her husband, Ben Clemons, of Troutville; four sisters-in-law, Millie R. Wingate and her husband Harold, Nelda R. McDaniel, and Dereta Perry, all of Troutville, as well as Millie G. Rhodes of Catawba.

The celebration of Dolores’ life was at Catawba Valley Baptist Church, Saturday, April 8; wake and funeral service were Sunday, April 9, with interment Mt. Union Cemetery. Dolores’ family wishes to thank the people of Memory Center at Salem Terrace and Gentle Shepard Hospice for their loving and compassionate care for the past 4+ years. At Dolores’ request, memorials can be given to Catawba Valley Baptist Church, P.O. Box 12, Catawba, 24070. Arrangements were by Valley Funeral Home and Cremation Service

PECKHAM, Elizabeth

Elizabeth “Betsy” Peckham, 81, of Eagle Rock, passed away peacefully Wednesday, April 12, 2017 at LewisGale Medical Center in Salem.

Betsy was born May 28, 1935 and lived in Botetourt County since 1981. She was the daughter of the late Marion Butler and Eunice May Biller Reynolds.

Betsy was a self-employed artist. She was a member of the Botetourt Garden Club, Botetourt Historical Society and employed at the museum; was a master-gardener for the Extension Service, volunteer for the National Park Service in Franklin County for 10 years, and was active in Relay for Life for many years. In addition to her parents, Betsy was preceded in death by her husband, Robert S. Peckham.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Dale Morse and Susan Holland of Waynesboro; daughter, Laura Rogers of Amelia; grandchildren, Jessica LeAnne Hobbs, Michael Carl Moseley and Daniel Wayne Moseley; great-grandchildren, Shawn Michael Moseley, Gabriel Edward-Alexander Hobbs, Isabella Anne Moseley and Madylen Justice Moseley; sister and brother-in-law, Jane and Walter Hayam of New York.

A celebration of Betsy’s life was held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 15 at Rader Funeral Home, Daleville with Ben Peyton officiating. Betsy’s family received friends at the funeral home 6-8 p.m. Friday.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to The Wildlife Society, Virginia Chapter, 425 Barlow Place, Suite 200, Bethesda, Md. 20814.

On-line condolences may be made to Betsy’s family at www.rader-funeralhome.com.

WILLIS, Delcinia S.

Delcinia Earllease Saunders Willis, 57, of Roanoke, formerly of Buchanan, passed away Wednesday, April 12, 2017.

Delcinia was a loving and caring wife and mother to many, a great checkers and marbles player, and a great artist. Delcinia loved to talk, she could talk for hours. She also loved to dance. But most importantly, Delcinia loved serving God and working at First Baptist Church of Buchanan, where she died after fixing the flowers on the church doors.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. James Earlie Saunders and Mrs. Ruth Jones Saunders. Those left to cherish her memory are her husband of 39 years, Kenneth Willis I; sons, Kenneth Willis II of Georgia; Karlton (Olivia) Willis of Orlando; daughter, Delleita (Mark) Downes of Roanoke; god daughter, Alexis Burwell; sisters, Delores Pemberton of Absecon, N.J.; Faye (Clyde) Burks of Roanoke; Shirley L. Saunders of Buchanan; brother, the Rev. James (Valerie) Saunders of Goodview; four grandchildren, Jassmyn Paxton, Mark Downes, Nasir Willis, including a special grandchild, Jahzae Kimbrough; and a host of aunt, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 22, in First Baptist Church of Buchanan with the Rev. James Saunders officiating. Interment will follow in Fairview Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. Friday, April 21, at the Buchanan Chapel of Botetourt Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.botetourtfuneralhome.com.

WRIGHT, Sarah O.

Sarah Overstreet Wright, 90, of Chesapeake, went to be with the Lord on Monday, January 23, 2017. In Heaven, she joins her beloved husband, Earl G. Wright, and her son, Joseph Wright, as well as other family members who preceded her. Sarah was born in Roanoke to the late Joseph and Julia Overstreet. After Sarah married Earl, they built a home in Botetourt County (Troutville) where she resided 58 years before moving to Chesapeake.

Sarah grew up during the Great Depression and saw the original showing of the movie “Gone with the Wind” in 1939. She witnessed the horrors of WWII and before graduating from Jefferson High School she saw the Allies’ victorious D-Day Landing in Normandy, France on June 6, 1944. She graduated from the Lewis-Gale School of Nursing as a Registered Nurse (RN) and worked as Head Operating/Surgical Nurse at the Salem’s Veterans Administration Hospital. Then she went to work at Roanoke Memorial Hospital as Head Nurse before going to work at the Catawba Sanatorium (Hospital). Then 2½ years later, Roanoke Memorial Hospital Rehabilitation Center offered Sarah a promotion as Nurse Supervisor Coordinator, which she accepted. She remained employed at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital until her retirement in 1996, having served 50 years as an RN.

Attending First Baptist Church of Roanoke from childhood, she grew in her Christian faith. Upon moving to Troutville, she moved her church membership to Pleasant Hill Baptist Church (PHBC). As a faithful member of PHBC, Sarah served in a variety of leadership roles: Choir Director, Sunday School Director, Women’s Missionary Union President, and Deacon. She had a great love for music, the Bible, and PHBC. She also sang in the Botetourt County Chorus and she appeared briefly as a Resort Guest in the 1987 movie, “Dirty Dancing”. She can be seen learning to dance with other resort guests in the Gazebo scene. She is the woman in the straw fedora hat wearing an orange blouse and floral skirt.

An accomplished seamstress, Sarah tailor-made clothing that included suits and evening gowns. Sarah enjoyed traveling along the Blue Ridge Parkway and Smoky Mts. in Gatlinburg, TN. In her travels, she was in awe of Hawaii’s beauty, of Canada’s majestic Niagara Falls (Horseshoe Falls), of the Grand Canyon’s grandeur, of Walt Disney’s fabulous theme parks, of the Biltmore Estate’s lovely Christmas decorations, and of the Broadway shows she saw while visiting New York City.

The family would like to thank the Citizens’ Committee to Protect the Elderly (CCPE) for visiting Sarah weekly for the last 4 years. CCPE volunteers have helped ensure that Sarah was treated properly and professionally by caregivers. Sarah immensely enjoyed the social visits from the CCPE volunteers.

Left to cherish Sarah’s memory are her beloved daughter, Carol Wright of Virginia Beach, family and friends. Sarah will be deeply missed for her singing as well as for her kind and loving nature. A Celebration of Life service will be held at Saturday, April 29, at 11 a.m. at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, 4930 Country Club Road, Troutville. Attendees are invited to wear butterfly or cross jewelry and red (Sarah’s favorite color) or another bright color. Please call the church at (540) 992-5556 for information. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: CCPE, P.O. Box 10100, Virginia Beach, Va. 23450. For info, call CCPE at (757) 518-8500, ask for Sophia.