Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, October 7, 1995                   TAG: 9510090060
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Long

OBIT

BIRCHAM, Grace Whitaker, 90, of Dublin, died Friday, October 6, 1995, in Radford Community Hospital, Radford. She is survived by her husband, Harry Edgar Bircham; a daughter, Mrs. Harold (Peggy) Parks, Dublin; granddaughters, Mrs. Terry (Brenda) McCoy, Mrs. Cliff (Debbie) Farlow; one grandson, H. Michael Shupe; great-grandchildren, Travis McCoy, Tracy McCoy, Leanne Farlow, Bill Farlow, Megan McGowan, Jeff Lightner, Matthew Lightner, Carla Lightner. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Sunday, October 8, 1995, at the Vaughan-Guynn Funeral Home Chapel, Galax. Burial to follow in the Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Fries, Va. The Rev. Richard Patterson and the Rev. Frank Bauman officiating. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Vaughan-Guynn Funeral Home.

COCCHIO, Edward Carmen, 67, of Bedford, died Thursday, October 5, 1995. Private cremation services by Carder-Tharp Funeral Home and Crematory.

COVEY, Lillian Barlow, 76, of Huddleston, died Friday, October 6, 1995. Arrangements by Carder-Tharp Funeral Home, Bedford.

DISTLER, Alice B., 97, of 1060 Showalter Dr., Blacksburg, formerly of Homestead Village and 445 North Duke St., Lancaster, PA., died Thursday, October 5, 1995, at her home after a short illness. She was the wife of the late Dr. Theodore A. Distler, former president of Franklin & Marshall College. Mrs. Distler was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., the daughter of the late George P. and Susannah Bowles Boxold. She graduated from Aldelphi University, Garden City, Long Island, in 1920. She taught in the public school systems in Brooklyn a nd New York City for 10 years. She was a member of St. James Episcopal Church, Lancaster, Pa. She was the founder of the Women's Auxiliary of Franklin and Marshall College Infirmary, of which she was recently feted for such at the Auxiliary's 50th Anniversary. In 1988, she received a citation and was made an Honorary Member of the Franklin and Marshall College Alumni Association. Surviving is one son, Dr. P. Antonie of Blacksburg; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at St. James Episcopal Church, Duke & W. Orange St., Lancaster, Pa., on Saturday, October 28, 1995 at 11 a.m. Private interment in Brooklyn N.Y. Please omit flowers, If desired, memorials may be sent to the Theodore A. and Alice B. Distler Scholarship Fund or the Women's Auxiliary of the Infirmary, both at Franklin and Marshall College, P. O. Box 3003, Lancaster, Pa. 17604-3003

EUBANK, Florence Welsh, 85, of Bedford, passed away Friday, October 6, 1995 in the Campbell Rest Home. She was born July 31, 1910 in Washington, DC, a daughter of the late William Welsh and Florence Adam Welsh. She was preceded in death by her husband, Buford W. Eubank, and a daughter, Barbara Jean Eubank. She was a retired employee of the U.S. Justice Department and was a member of the Calvary Baptist Church. She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, William A. Sr. and Ann Eubank, Bedford; a sister, Robina Shackleford, Philadelphia, Pa.; two grandsons, William A. Eubank Jr., Robert Lee Eubank, both of Bedford; a granddaughter, Judy Eubank Reynolds, Bedford. Funeral services will be conducted Sunday, October 8, 1995 at 2 p.m. from the Updike Funeral Chapel, Bedford, by the Rev. Ray T. Lyons. Interment will follow in the Suck Springs Bapti st Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends today from 7 to 9 p.m. at Updike Funeral Home, Bedford, and requests that those wishing to make memorials consider the Calvary Baptist Church Missionary Fund, P.O. Box 885, Bedford, Va. 24523.

GRAY, Clarence E., 69, of Martinsville, died Monday, October 2, 1995. Graveside service 2 p.m. Sunday, Mountain View Cemetery. Arrangements by Stone Funeral Home, Martinsville.

GRUBB, William Cecil, 58, of Sugar Grove, passed away Wednesday, October 4, 1995. Funeral 2 p.m. Saturday in the Troutdale Baptist Church. Arrangements by Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home, Independence.

HAGA, Robert Gray, 93, of Asheville, N.C., died Thursday, October 5, 1995. Funeral 2 p.m. Sunday at Williams Funeral Home Chapel, Chilhowie, Va.

HAIRSTON, Henry Lee, 36, of Bassett, died Friday, October 6, 1995. Arrangements by Collins Funeral Services.

HARRIS, Melba Louise, 85, of Blacksburg, died Thursday, October 5, 1995 at Lewis-Gale Hospital, Salem. Born in Giles County on July 29, 1910, she was the daughter of the late Harrison and Viola Albert Hixon. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Ernest W. Harris, a daughter, Mildred Louise Harris, a son, Wilford Eugene Harris, and two brothers, Arnold Hixon and Charles Luck Hixon. She attended Gateway Baptist Church. Surviving are two daughters, Edna H. Linkous, Roanoke, and Hester H. Hundley, Richmond; 13 half brothers and sisters; six grandchildren, Jerry Lee Linkous, Gainesville, Fla., Danny Ray Linkous, Salem, Ricky Harris, Dwayne Harris, and Sara Harris, all of Christiansburg, Stephen P. Hundley, Washington, DC; three great-grandchildren, Susan E. Bell, Connecticut, David L. Linkous, Lynchburg, Mic helle Linkous, Salem; three great-great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, October 8, 1995, at McCoy Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Dewey O. Weaver Jr. officiating. Interment will follow in Roselawn Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m. at McCoy Funeral Home.

HINES, William Branson, 88, of Radford, passed away Friday, October 6, 1995. Arrangements by Seaver-Sanders & Mullins Funeral Home, Radford.

JOYCE, Virginia Watson, 73, of Fieldale, died Friday, October 6, 1995. Funeral 2 p.m. Sunday at Collins Funeral Chapel, Bassett.

LANE, Gene Alan, 43, of Roanoke, died Monday, October 2, 1995. Arrangements by Oakey's Vinton Chapel.

MARKHAM, Paul Edward, 63, of Roanoke, died Friday, October 6, 1995. He is survived by his wife, Lorene Barbour Markham; daughters and sons-in-law, Bonnie M. and Earl Williams, Linda Belcher and Bill Ferguson, Pat Markham; son and daughter-in-law, Rick and Wendy Markham; brother, Tink Markham; sister and brother-in-law, Audrey and George Overstreet; sisters-in-law, Peggy Markham, Stella B. Stalnacker and Corene and husband, Bill Hartman; brother-in-law, James Maughan; 11 grandchildren; and a special nurse, Rhonda Hartman. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Monday at the Lotz Vinton Chapel by Pastor Chip Gunsten with burial in Cedar Lawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends Saturday and Sunday at the Lotz Vinton Chapel.

MARTIN, Gilford Preston, 77, of Ferrum, passed away Thursday evening, October 5, 1995 in Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Mr. Martin was born April 5, 1918, son of the late Thomas Preston and Sarah Ella Thomas Martin of Ferrum. He was preceded in death by four sisters, Lola M. Sumner, Marie Martin, Clemmie M. Woods, and Ellen M. Rakes, and by four brothers, Harry, Winford, Buford and Clifford Martin. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Dixie M. and Lynn Davis, Rocky Mount; one granddaughter, Lynette Davis, Richmond. Also surviving are four sisters and three brothers-in-law, Edna M. Macky, Oxford, Pa., Sylvia M. and Clews Bowling, Larmie M. and Fred Ingram, all of Ferrum, Arlene and Jack Brammer, Rocky Mount. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, October 7, 1995 at Flora Funeral Service. Private family services are planned. Arrangements by Flora Funeral Service, 342 So. Main St., Rocky Mount.

MARTIN, John David, 90, of Roanoke, died Thursday, October 5, 1995, in a Salem hospital. He graduated from Jefferson High School, attended Va. Tech and was an active member of Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church, where he served as Deacon, Elder, and Trustee. He was retired from Colonial American National Bank. He was past President and current board member of the Miss Virginia Pageant, served on the Board of Directors and was a life member of The Salvation Army and was retired business manager for the Roanoke Symphony. He was a former Boy Scout leader and troop chairman, was an active member of the Roanoke Boosters Club, was a life member of B.P.O.E. (Elks), was a member of the Society for the Crippled of Southwest Va., and was an active member of Roanoke Young Democratic Club. He is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Helene M. and Dale T. Vest, Summit, N.J., Ellender M. and Tony Stanchina, Charleston, W.Va.; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted at Oakey's Roanoke Chapel 10:30 a.m. Monday, October 9, 1995 with The Rev. Tupper Garden and the Rev. Gene Edmunds officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Burial Park. Friends may call at Oakey's Roanoke Chapel, where the family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday and 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday.

MORTER, Hilda Meriweather Daniel, 88, of Boones Mill, died Friday, October 6, 1995 in a Roanoke hospital. Mrs. Morter was retired from Occanneechi Orchards and was a member of Boones Mill United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert L. Morter Sr. and three brothers and two sisters. Surviving are a son and daughter-in-law, Robert L. Jr. and Dorothy Morter, Chester; one daughter, Donna M. Guthrie, Boones Mill; her grandchildren and their spouses, Ben and Lori Cook, David and Susan Cook, Danny Cook, Meribeth Cook, Grant Guthrie; great-grandchildren, Evan Cook, Lesley Cook, Chels ea Cook and Logan Cook; one sister, Bernice Page, Jacksonville, Fla.; also surviving are several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted at Flora Funeral Chapel 11 a.m. Monday, with Rev. A. Benjamin Chidester and Rev. Ralph Wimmer officiating. A graveside service will be conducted at Green Hill Cemetery in Buena Vista at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to Boones Mill United Methodist Church Building Fund, P. O. Box 288, Boones Mill, Va. 24065. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Flora Funeral Service, 342 S. Main St., Rocky Mount

MUSTARD, Frances Iris, 75, of Mechanicsburg, died Friday, October 6, 1995, in a Wythe County hospital. She was born March 5, 1920 at Radford, Va., the daughter of the late James D. and Iris Deyerle Heinline. She was a member of the Byrnes Chapel Methodist Church and was preceded in death by a son, Jerry D. Mustard, and a daughter, Frances Lee Mustard Stafford. She is survived by her husband, Wayne Edward Mustard; one daughter, Mrs. barbara Jean Davidson, Saltville; one son, John Wayne Mustard, Mineral; one brother, Guy Heinline, Christiansburg; four sisters, Mrs. Betty Baker, Elk Creek, Mrs. Iris (Tootsie) Muncey, Mrs. Martha Owells and Mrs. Mary Walker, all of Radford; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren; also several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be sunday at 2 p.m. at the A. Vest & Sons Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Jerry Long and the Rev. Frank Clift on officiating. Burial in the Mechanicsburg Cemetery. Visiting will be at the funeral home Saturday after 1 p.m. and the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m.

SIFFORD, Robert Kenneth, 60, of Parrott, died Thursday, October 5, 1995 in Radford Community Hospital. Surviving are his wife, Carolyn R. Sifford, Parrott; one stepdaughter, Dana Gayle Sifford, Colorado; one stepson, Kenneth Houston Sifford, Parrott; one brother, Donald Sifford, Parrott; one half brother, June Ledford, Christiansburg; one sister, Joanne Carroll, Parrott; two half sisters, Oweta McCoy, McCoy, Melita Moran, Christiansburg. Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 7, at 2 p.m. at the Parrott Church of God with the Rev. W.O. Myers officiating. Interment will follow in the Sifford Cemetery. The family will receive friends Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the DeVilbiss Funeral Home in Radford. DeVilbiss Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

SMITH, Milton Miller, 84, of Roanoke, died Thursday, October 5, 1995. Graveside service 11 a.m. Monday at Corner Springs Cemetery. Arrangements by Oakey's Roanoke Chapel.

TOSH, Grover Cleveland, 82, of Wirtz, died Friday, October 6, 1995. He was preceded in death by his wife, Hettie Smith Tosh, and a brother, Benjamin Tosh. Surviving are one son and daughter-in-law, Grover and Linda Tosh Jr., Wirtz; one daughter and son-in-law, Elaine and J. T. Brooks, Union Hall; three granddaughters, Donna Tosh Beckner, Sharon Brooks, Amy Tosh; one grandson, Tommy Tosh; two great-grandchildren, Dustin and Danielle; and six sisters, Elma Wilkenson, Huddleston, Edith Overton, Moneta, Magdalene Tosh, Rocky Mount, Estelle McGhee, Blue Ridge, Margaret Dunn, Baltimore, Md., Lucille Emmerick, Pasadena, Md.; and also two special friends, Billy Hall and Jerry Smith. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Sunday, October 8, 1995, at Lynch Funeral Home, with Elder Larry Hollandsworth and the Rev. J. D. Hunt III officiatin g. Burial will follow in Crossroad Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery, Wirtz, Va. Friends may call after 2 p.m. saturday, October 7, 1995, at Lynch Funeral Home, where the family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Lynch Funeral Home, Rocky Mount, Va., is in charge of arrangements.

TURNER, George Noel, 78, of Martinsville, died Friday, October 6, 1995. Graveside service 11 a.m. Monday, Roselawn Burial Park. Arrangements by Roselawn Funeral home.

WALTERS, Lula Mae Umberger, 91, of Wytheville, died Friday, October 6,1995. Graveside service Sunday, 2 p.m., New Bethel Cemetery. Arrangements by Barnett Funeral Home, Wytheville.

WHITE, Merritt Thomas, 79, of Radford, died Friday, October 6, 1995. Arrangements by DeVilbiss Funeral Home.

WHITTAKER, Hilda W., 63, of Boones Mill, died Thursday, October 5, 1995, at her home. She was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Thelma Wilhelm and a son, Mark Alton Whittaker; also three brothers. Surviving are her husband, Jimmie A. Whittaker; sons and daughters-in-law, Michael G. and Janet Whittaker, Copper Hill, Jon Hunter and Jennifer Whittaker, Pulaski; a daughter, Vicki J. Whittaker, Lynchburg; grandchildren, Jeremiah A. Whittaker, Jennifer P. Whittaker, Morgan R. Whittaker, F. Niki Whittaker. Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, October 7, 1995 at Sherwood Memorial Park with the Rev. Bernard S. Via Jr. officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Old Dominion Eye Bank, 1001 East Marshall St., Richmond, Va. 23219. Arrangements are by Oakey's Roanoke Chapel.

WOOLWINE, Thomas Jesse 32, of Arlington, formerly of Christiansburg, died Wednesday, October 4, 1995. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Jesse and Margaret Woolwine. Surviving are his mother and stepfather, Sandra and Larry Knowles, Riner; his father and stepmother, Tom and LeeAnn Woolwine, Floyd; sisters and brothers-in-law, Teresa Woolwine, Riner, Vicki and Jeff Wall, Rhonda and Luke Flowers, all of Blacksburg; one brother and sister-in-law, Rick and Cymric Woolwine; Christiansburg; half brothers, Chris and Brad Woolwine, Shawsville; grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Brainard Hall, Christiansburg, Marie Davis, Shawsville; a very special friend, Dwayne Callaway, Arlington; nephews, Brandon, Tyler, Trevor, Zachary, Ryan and Travis; niece, Brittni. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Monday, October 9, at the Richardson-Horne Funeral Home Chapel, conducted by Pastor Jerry Gibson with burial in Sunset Cemetery. Friends may call after noon Sunday at the Richardson-Horne Funeral Home, Christiansburg, where the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m.