New River Obituaries ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- ATKINS, Mary Dowdy, 79, of Pearisburg, died Sunday morning, March 25, 2001, in Montgomery Regional Hospital. Mrs. Atkins had been a resident of Warm Hearth Village, Blacksburg. She was born on May 14, 1921, in Giles County, and was daughter of the late Burt Dowdy and Elizabeth Williams Dowdy. She was the widow of Frank Mason Atkins. She is survived by two sons, Richard Atkins of Narrows and Frankie Atkins of Pearisburg; one daughter, Sue Talbert of Draper; three brothers, Marcus Dowdy, Salem, Claude Jack Dowdy, Newport, and B. Walter Dowdy of Newport; one sister, Hazel D. Fisher, Staunton; nine grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren; and two special friends, Charlotte Reynolds of Warm Hearth and Tina Dowdy of Christiansburg. Funeral services will be conducted on Wednesday, March 28, 2001, at 11 a.m. in the Givens Funeral Chapel, Pearisburg with the Rev. Barbara Wilson officiating. Interment is in Birchlawn Burial Park, Pearisburg. The family will receive friends at the Givens Funeral Home on Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- CARDEN, Sinie Flinchum, 82, of Radford, died Saturday, March 24, 2001 in Wheatland Hills Retirement Center. She was the widow of A.L. Carden. Surviving are a daughter and son-in-law, Catherine C. and David B. Clark, Richmond; a sister, Blanche Kanode, Christiansburg; a granddaughter, Christie L. McHone, Richmond; and a great-granddaughter, Emma McHone. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 27, 2001 at the DeVilbiss Funeral Chapel with Mr. Larry Phillips officiating. Interment will follow in Highland Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, March 26, 2001 at the DeVilbiss Funeral Home, Radford. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- EPPERLY, Raymond E., 65, of Christiansburg, was called home to the Lord on Saturday, March 24, 2001. He was a member of the North Fork Baptist Church, and a retired employee of Reed Lumber Company with over forty-four years of service. The son of the late Posey George and Lula Hixon Epperly, he was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Joyce Walters Epperly; two sons and daughters-in-law, Raymond, II and Lisa Epperly, Floyd, and Eric and Tena Epperly, Riner; three precious grandchildren whom he dearly loved, Amanda, Meghan, and Cole; six brothers and sisters-in-law, Ray and Edith Epperly, Leonard and Ruby Epperly, Luther and Helen Epperly, Garnett and Peggy Epperly, Robert Epperly, and Garland Epperly; two sisters and a brother-in-law, Ruby and Alfred Cupp, Christiansburg, Delores Lane, Baltimore, Md.; his mother-in-law, Mildred Walters; also surviving are his friends and traveling companions of forty-five years, Tom and Agnes Knowles, Indian Trail, N.C.; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. The family would like to express their appreciation to Drs. Scott Jamison, Joe Calkins, Bhairvi Trived, and Jessie Davidson for the professionalism, care, and concern. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 27, 2001, at the North Fork Baptist Church conducted by the Rev. Fred Brugger and the Rev. Olan Gardner, with interment to follow in Sunset Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to the Christiansburg Rescue Squad, Box 176, Christiansburg, Va. 24068. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. on Monday, March 26, 2001, at the Horne Funeral Service. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- RORRER, Thelma Lake Harman, 81, of Floyd, and formerly of Coalwood, W.Va., passed away Sunday, March 25, 2001. She was preceded in death by her mother, Etta Susan Harman Epperly; and two sons, Freddie Lee and Robert Eugene Rorrer. She was a member of Fairview Church of the Brethren. She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Ervin L. Rorrer, Floyd; daughter-in-law, Janet F. Rorrer, Floyd; grandchildren and spouses, Lynne and Mike Metzler, Brian and Kim Rorrer, and Barry and Kay Rorrer, all of Floyd; great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn Metzler, Taylor Metzler, Daniel Metzler, Sidney Rorrer, R.J. Rorrer, all of Floyd, and David Metzler, Blacksburg; one brother and sister-in-law, Lane and Dorothy Epperly, Copper Hill; two sister-in-law, Reva Belcher and Silvian and Reg Hancock, both of Floyd; two brother-in-law, Claude and Christine Rorrer, Baltimore, Md., and Sebert and Jean Rorrer, Chesepeake, Va.; also several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. on Tuesday at Gardner Funeral Home with the Rev. Glen H. Sage and the Rev. Graham Mitchell officiating. Interment will follow in Jacksonville Cemetery. Friends may call at Gardner Funeral Home on Tuesday morning before the funeral. All other times at the home of Janet Rorrer at 316 Rorrer Rd. in Floyd. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- SIMMONS, Ardith Hylton, 85, of Christiansburg, went to be with our Lord, Saturday evening, March 24, 2001. She is survived by a son and a daughter-in-law, Richard and Colleen Simmons, Christiansburg; a granddaughter, Teresa Hafey and husband Joe, Roanoke; a grandson, Shane Simmons, and wife,Jackie, Radford; a great-grandson, Ethan Hafey, Roanoke; two sisters, Edith Kenley, Radford, Virginia Roop, Christiansburg; a brother, Alvah Hylton, Blacksburg. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday March 27 in the Horne Funeral Chapel conducted by Rev. Steve Aker and Mr. George Guilliams with burial to follow in Sunset Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday evening at Horne Funeral Service. Flowers will be accepted, however those wishing to make memorial contributions are asked to consider Auburn United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 74, Riner, Va. 24149. Arrangements are being handled by Horne Funeral Service, Christiansburg ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- STEWART, Timothy Lee, 31, of 408 Painter Street in Pearisburg, died Friday evening, March 23, 2001 in Princeton, W.Va. Born on February 22, 1970 in New York City, he was the son of Diane Stewart Saunders of Pembroke and the late Randolph Saunders. He was retired on disability from the Norfolk-Southern Railway. He was a 1988 graduate of Giles High School. Timmy is survived by his mother, Diane Stewart Saunders; a daughter, Brittany Nicole Santolla of Pearisburg; two brothers, Jerry R. Saunders and Derek J. Saunders, both of Pembroke; his maternal grandfather, Linwood Stewart of Princeton, W.Va., two uncles, Chuckie Stewart of Pembroke, and Nelson Saunders and wife Marie all of Pembroke; a great-aunt, Virgie E. Love, Bluefield; four great-uncles, James Stewart, Jake Stewart and Sterling Stewart all of Christiansburg, and Cal Stewart of Washington, D.C.; several cousins; nieces; nephews; and a host of friends and relatives. Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, March 28, 2001 at 2 p.m. in the Kendall Funeral Home Chapel at 605 Snidow Street in Pembroke, with the Rev. Fred Carpenter, Jr., Evangelist. Joann Carper and Pastor Eddie Kendall officiating. Burial will follow in the Harris Cemetery in Rocky Hollow near Pembroke. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Tuesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- WARDEN, Charlie David, 50, of Hiwassee, died Sunday, March 25, 2001. Arrangements by Bower Funeral Chapel, Pulaski. Local content copyright © 2000 The Roanoke Times