Spire Summer 2020

class notes

1970 Ida C. Allgood of Boydton, Virginia, passed away on May 21, 2011.

James C. Mabe of Moneta, Virginia, passed away on March 21, 2012. He served in the United States Army, and enjoyed fishing and gardening. 1965 Linwood H. Gilman, III of Richmond, Virginia, passed away on March 30, 2019. He served in the United States Army and was employed with Bellwood, a defense general supply center. Charles D. McCoy of Newport, Virginia, passed away on September 15, 2016. He had retired from Turf Research Center Virginia Tech. 1966 Royce D. Barker of Marion, Virginia, passed away on January 28, 2019. Royce received a purple heart for serving in the United States Marine Corps. He worked for the Smyth County Sheriff’s Department, Virginia State Police, and retired from the Smyth County Ambulance Service. William G. Whittington of Chesterfield, Virginia, passed away on May 14, 2018. Bill served in the United States Army and loved sports, animals, gardening, and playing the stock market. 1967 Philip E. Blankenship of Sarasota, Florida, passed away on June 8, 2011. He was the Executive Director of the Suncoast School for Innovative Studies and the Administrator of Education at First Baptist Church. Philip founded the Small Forest Foundation to help people in need. Robert C. Hufford of Hopewell, Virginia, passed away on March 4, 2019. Bob was a Physician’s Assistant for 40 years, 15 of those were for the Army. He was an actor of the American Revolution, a biographer on finding a grave; an interpreter; and ran marathons. 1968 Emmet R. Blankenship of North Chesterfield, Virginia, passed away on August 30, 2017. Stephen E. Boling of Waynesboro, Virginia, passed away on July 25, 2019. He held positions in local companies as a sales representative and retired from Oryx Designs promotional products. Stephen served as a deacon, Sunday school teacher, and member/ chair of numerous committees at First Baptist Church. 1969 James K. Clark of Hinton, West Virginia, passed away on April 7, 2020. Jim was a Brakeman-Conductor with CSX and legislative lobbyist/secretary/treasurer for United Transportation Union, Local #118. He was a member of several civic clubs and active with United Methodist Men, Yummy Bags Ministry, and the Matthew 2540 Guatemala Mission at First United Methodist Church in Hinton, West Virginia. Arthur A. Shrader of Columbia, South Carolina, passed away on June 24, 2014. He retired as a Major from the U.S. Army, and served during Vietnam and the Gulf War, receiving a Bronze star. Shrader was employed with SCDHEC as a hydrogeologist. His hobbies included rock hounding, duck/deer hunting, and Civil War history. He was past president of Columbia Gem and Mineral Society.

was active in the junior golf programs throughout the area and in Virginia. He was an assistant coach for the golf team at Bluefield College. 1990 Mary Ann Robinson Price of Franklin, Tennessee, passed away on March 24, 2018. She was a teacher, worked in a flower shop and dental office, taught water aerobics at the Y, but her favorite positions were serving as Student Personnel Director at Bluefield College, working with special needs adults in Kentucky, and Upward Bound High School students in Virginia. Mary Ann was in the Girl Scouts for 21 years, participated in synchronized swimming, was active in various churches, including as a hand bell choir member and choir director. Her hobbies included arts and crafts, gardening, collecting seashells and sea glass (some on the beaches of the Dominican Republic), and visiting friends across the United States and Germany. 1991 Joseph F. Spear of Okinawa, Japan, passed away on August 3, 2015. Joe was the former pastor at Christ First Community Fellowship Baptist, Norfolk; served as interim pastor at Shadowlawn Baptist Church and served at the Korean Baptist Church. Joe also taught the Kingdom Seekers Sunday School class at Kempsville Baptist Church. 1993 James D. Brumagin of Dublin, Virginia, passed away on April 29, 2018. He served in the United States Navy, was an associate professor at New River Community College, and Lay Witness Minister for the Methodist Church. Nannie Elswick Dunford of Claypool Hill, Virginia, passed away on February 21, 2014. Nan was the Business Manager for Southwest Virginia Community College. She was a member of the Red Hatter’s, the Richlands Women’s Club, the Friendship Circle, and Richlands First United Methodist Church. 1994 Vanessa Bandy Hicks of Pecks Mill, West Virginia, passed away on March 28, 2020. 1995 Tammy Burcham Vass of Hillsville, Virginia, passed away on February 16, 2014. 1996 David T. Kimball of Marion, Virginia, passed away on July 7, 2002. F. David Shockley Jr. of Newport News, Virginia, passed away on June 18, 2019. David was a United States Navy veteran and retired from Norfolk Southern Railroad. He also worked for the Federal Railway Administration and was an adjunct professor at Bluefield College. David was active with the Big Brothers Mentoring Program, Little League sports associations, Parent Teacher Association, the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, and the Piedmont Chapter of the American Foundry Society. 2000 Denise Sykes Harris of Portsmouth, Virginia, passed away on October 4, 2019. She organized Bridal Shows and assisted brides-to-be in finding the perfect dress at Tiffany Bridal Shop in Norfolk, Virginia. Denise was also employed in the Workforce Development Department at Tidewater Community College until health issues forced her to retire at an early age.

Thomas L. Bailey, Jr. of Henrico, Virginia, passed away on August 23, 2019.

Robert S. Johnson, Sr. of Deep Run, North Carolina, passed away on August 19, 2018. He was the Director of the Department of Social Services in Pamlico County. Robert served as a deacon, choir member, and Sunday School Director at Albertson Missionary Baptist Church. He also served as a Gideon in Lenoir County. 1971 Peggy Emert Bickford of New Canton, Virginia, passed away on April 16, 2020. Peggy was employed with the United States Postal Service and retired as the Arvonia Postmaster. She served on the Guest Services Team at Passion Community Church and hosted a weekly study group in her home. Peggy and Steve spent many weekends on the sidelines watching the Bluefield College Rams. She served on the President’s Advisory Council, Centennial Campaign Steering Committee, and hosted the Central Virginia Alumni Reunion during the summer at her home. The last words she spoke were “My work is done, there is more to do, and ya’ll need to do it.” In the end she continued to encourage others to carry the torch and share God’s love. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Bluefield College, 3000 College Avenue, Bluefield, VA 24605. Please add “Peggy Bickford” in the memo field of the check. Lofton P. Delgado of Lima, Ohio, passed away on February 28, 2018. He was a Senior Consultant with Abreon Group. George “Rich” R. Nuckolls, Jr. of Marietta, Georgia, passed away on May 23, 2019. Rich retired from Norfolk Southern, was co-founder of Art Colony Giverny, and sang with Georgia Festival Chorus and church choirs. He was past-president of the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra, a volunteer for Bugles Across America, and a member of the Weatherstone ALTA team. Rich was an Eagle scout and an award-winning photographer. 1972 Stephen R. Drosick of Lexington, Kentucky, passed away on April 15, 2019. Stephen was a LFUCG engineer, and an active member of Holy Spirit Parish Newman Center. 1976 E. W. “Scott Walker” Paulette, Jr. , of Forest, Virginia, passed away on March 12, 2020. He was the radio host for WTTX, WYYD, and program director for Equip FM. 1978 Robert J. Lyttle of Sterling, Virginia, passed away on June 13, 2019. He was a field engineer for Leidos, Inc. formerly called Lockheed Martin. 1979 James Richard Bartholomew of Remington, Virginia, passed away on May 17, 2020. Richard was a sergeant in the United States Army and the pastor at Calverton Baptist Church in Midland, Virginia. 1985 Michael L. Miles of Bluefield, Virginia, passed away on October 11, 2019. Mike was an employee of Richwood Golf Club and Fincastle Country Club, and

Donald L. Tatum of Petersburg, Virginia, passed away on July 20, 2012.

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