Obituaries and Condolences

Christine C. Dooley, 87, of Richmond and formerly of Bedford, went to be with the Lord Tuesday, May 15, 2012. She was born on Christmas Day, 1924 in Bedford County, daughter of the late Wyatt Edward Creasy and Roxie Miear Creasy. In addition to her parents, Christine was preceded in death by her husband, L. Pete Dooley. Christine is survived…

Katherine Frances McInturff McCrea “Kitty,” 96, died Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at Westminster Canterbury in Lynchburg, VA. Kitty was born on August 23, 1915 in Middletown (Frederick County), VA. She was one of four children and the only daughter of William A. McInturff and Florence F. Willey McInturff. Born and raised in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, Kitty and her…

Margaret Marie O’Hara, 74, of Rustburg died Tuesday May 15, 2012. She was the loving wife of James Edward O’Hara. Marie was born August 1, 1937 in County Cork, Ireland and then pursued a career in nursing. She met her husband, James, in Africa. The family then settled down in Virginia and Marie became a U.S. Citizen. Marie was a…

Richard “Dick” Perry Lockwenz, 78, of Lynchburg died May 15, 2012. He is survived by his beloved wife Mary Lou Lockwenz. Richard was born, August 16, 1933 in Schenectady, NY, a son of the late Paul and Anna Lockwenz. Richard proudly served in the Navy and was employed at Hills Department store as the manager, where he retired after 20…

Margaret Estelle Jones Thaxton, 89, of Matthews, NC died Tuesday, May 15, 2012. She was preceded in death by her parents George L. Jones, Sr. and Emma S. Jones; two brothers, John S. Jones and George L. Jones, Jr.; and a sister, Eva J. Moon. Surviving are her daughters; Suzanne T. Stultz, Margaret T. Berkey and husband H. Breck Berkey;…

Claiborne Watkins Craddock died on May 15, 2012 at Lynchburg General Hospital after a long and joyful life. He was born in Lynchburg, Virginia on September 10, 1925, the son of George Gilmer Craddock and Nan Atkinson Craddock. He leaves behind his wife of 30 years, Jerry G. Craddock and three daughters, Cullen Craddock of Charlottesville, Virginia, Libba Dudley (Cabell)…

Thomas Henry Lewis Jr., 64, of Lynchburg, VA, died Monday, May 14, 2012. He was the husband of Myra Sue Albright Lewis. Mr. Lewis was born Sunday, May 2, 1948 in Arlington, VA, a son of the late Thomas Henry Lewis, Sr. and the late Elizabeth Steptoe. He proudly served our country in the U.S. Army during Vietnam. He was…

Ella Branham Mays, 74 of Forest, VA., went to be with the Lord on Sunday, May 13, 2012, with her family by her side. She was the wife of the late William Mays. Mrs. Mays was born June 27, 1937 in Amherst County a daughter of the late James B. Branham and the late Carsia Branham. Ella retired from the…

Ruth Brown Akers, 83, of Amherst went to be with her Lord Friday May 11, 2012. She was the devoted wife of the late Clarence Richard Akers. Ruth was born June 11, 1928 in Clifton Forge a daughter of the late William Connie Brown and Mary Clark Brown. Ruth was a devoted homemaker and Sunday School teacher, she loved the…

Jean Stinnett Banton, 77 of Forest went home to be with the Lord Thursday May 10, 2012. Jean was born November 15, 1934 in Lynchburg a daughter of the late Louis Edward Stinnett and Mary Tyree Stinnett of Madison Heights. Jean graduated from E.C. Glass High School and then worked at Lowe’s for 19 years. She also enjoyed working with…

  Charles Frederick Flaugher “Charlie”, 82 of Lynchburg VA died Friday morning at Virginia Baptist Hospital. Born in Mooresville, IN, he was the son of the late Grover and Helen Rathbun Flaugher. He was preceded in death by His wife, Betty Jean Beck Flaugher, and his brothers Kendrick, Donald, and Robert. Before moving permanently to Lynchburg in 1966 Charlie was…

Roger Lynn Shaner passed away Friday, May 11, 2012 at his home.  Born to Thornhill and Dorothy Shaner on November 24, 1946, he was the first of four children.  Roger graduated from Amherst County High School and Phillips Business College. He served his country in the Vietnam War and later attended Lynchburg College. Even though his health was declining, he…

Edward Ruble, Jr., 88, of Forest died peacefully Wednesday May, 9, 2012 at his residence. He was the loving husband of Christine Ryan Ruble for 66 years. Edward was born June 11, 1923 in Bedford, VA., a son of the late Edward Ruble, Sr. and Dorothy Staton. Edward honorably served his country in the U.S. Army. He was formally employed…

Mary Martin Kinney, 56, died Wednesday, May 9, 2012 at her father’s home in Smith Mountain Lake. She was born July 4, 1955 in Highland Falls, NY, a daughter of John Alexander Martin and the late Shirley Marie Timberlake Martin. Mary lived in Cumming, GA for the past 35 years except in the last six months where she moved to…

James “Jimmy” Michael Pheasant, 48, of Bedford, died Tuesday, May 8, 2012. He was born November 29, 1963 in Silver Spring, MD. Jimmy is survived by his parents, Suzanne and LeRoy Peter of Bedford; two sons, James LeRoy Pheasant and Jonathan Michael Pheasant; three siblings, Thomas George “Tommy” Pheasant, Jr. and Kathryn Victoria “Vicki” Jarels and Jennifer “Lynn” Sanderson and…

Edward Morris Lewis passed away at home Monday after a valiant fight against Parkinson’s Plus / MSA. He was born in Suffolk, VA on September 10, 1947 the son of Edward L. Lewis and Nellie C. Lewis of Lynchburg, VA. Edward Lewis was a devoted husband and loving father who served his country by enlisting in the Navy. He worked…

Anne Marie Hoffman, 95, of Lynchburg, passed away on Sunday, May 6, 2012. She was the loving wife of the late William Bertrand Hoffman for 68 years. Anne was born November 30, 1916 in Pennsylvania a daughter of the late Charles William Gutekunst and Anna Brugel Gutenkunst. Anne was a devoted homemaker, wife mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was an…

Douglas Harrison Stinespring, Sr., 76, of Lynchburg died on Monday, May 7, 2012. He was the devoted husband of Ruth Cook Stinespring. Doug was born on March 15, 1936 in Charlottesville and was the son of the late Forrest Bernard and the late Dora Lucille Norman Stinespring. Doug cherished his children and grandchildren and in addition to his wife, he…

D. Joyce Detamore, 66, of Bedford, died Saturday, May 5, 2012 at Lynchburg General Hospital. Born on November 25, 1945 she was the daughter of the late Arlie Elmer Mullins and Beatrice Mullins. In addition to her father, Joyce was preceded in death by two granddaughters and a great-granddaughter. She was a member of Lighthouse Free Will Baptist Church in…

Opal Lane Hurst, formally of Lynchburg, departed this life on Friday, May 4, 2012 in Oak Ridge, TN.  She was the wife of R.V. Hurst for 62 years.  Born November 29, 1921 in Sevierville, TN, she was the daughter of the late John L. Lane and the late Ida Hixon Lane.  Opal is survived by her son Michael W. Hurst and his wife Rita…