New River Obituaries ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- CARRERA, Felix Lawrence, 94, of Warm Hearth Village, Blacksburg, formerly of Arlington, Va., died on Wednesday, March 7, 2001. He was born in Gioia del Colle, in the province of Bari, Italy, and at 16 immigrated to the United States, landing at Ellis Island in 1924, then joining the rest of his family in Washington, D.C. Like his father, he apprenticed as a barber and rose to become manager of the barber shop at the Hotel Washington, an establishment favored by government officials. He interrupted his work there during WWII to serve in the Army. Upon his retirement in 1972, the barber shop was closed. "Felicetto was the serious, intellectual one of the family," said his sister Laura. He was passionate about education and although he had to leave school to come to America, he later attended George Washington University, while sending all four of his children to college. He often said, "This is the greatest country in the world," and wanted to give his children opportunities he never had. His life-long love of music led him to play violin for the Arlington Symphony, where he established a scholarship that continues to support young musicians. His management skills were also put to use as personnel manager during his many years with the Symphony. Mr. Carrera was preceded in death by his parents Nicola and Adele Vasco Carrera, brother Dominic Carrera, and sister Laura Carrera Frick. He is survived by his wife M. Caroline Carrera of Evansville, Ind.; brothers, Vincent Carrera, Henry Carrera; and sister, Isabella White; four children, son Nicholas J. Carrera and daughter-in-law MaryJeanne of Falls Church, Va., son Felix Ludwig Carrera of Batesville, Va., daughter Carole Carrera Davis and son-in-law C.Y. Davis of Blacksburg, daughter Maria Carrera Fayman and son-in-law Corey Fayman of San Diego, Calif.; and four grandchildren, Alexandra Carrera of Los Angeles, Calif., John Carrera of Waltham, Mass., Sylvia Davis Barnard of Columbus , Ga., and Cynthia Davis May of Arlington, Va. Mr. Carrera's funeral will take place at St. Patrick's Episcopal Church, Falls Church, Va., on March 12, 2001. Contributions in his memory can be made to the Felix Carrera Scholarship Fund, The Arlington Symphony Orchestra, Ballston Common Mall, 4238 Wilson Blvd., Suite 3064, Arlington, Va. 22203-1823. Arrangements by Murphy's Funeral Home, 1102 W. Broad St., Falls Church, Va. 20046. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- DILLOW, John Livingstone, of Narrows, Va., passed away of cancer on Saturday, March 10, 2001, at the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home in Winston-Salem, N.C. He was 97. Born February 7, 1904, Dillow attended the University of Virginia and Roanoke College, and received his law degree from the University of Richmond Law School in 1925. The following year in Pearisburg, Va., he began a general practice of law spanning more than six decades. Dillow's long and successful career included stints as Commonwealth's Attorney for Giles County, chairman of the Republican Party in Virginia, director of The First National Bank of Narrows, and president, chairman, and founding member of the Giles Memorial Hospital. While a candidate for Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Virginia, he argued successfully before the United States Supreme Court for the abolishment of the poll tax. That decision put an end to the practice in some Southern states requiring that voters pay a fee in order to cast their ballots. Dillow gained notoriety for his defense of many high profile cases including the murders on the Appalachian Trail. He had a brilliant legal mind and was a gifted orator who believed strongly in the presumption of innocence and entitlement by the accused to the best possible defense. He was a mentor to many of his fellow attorneys and supported the general education of many young people. Dillow was a member of the Narrows Methodist Church. His late wife, Margaret Durst Heslep Dillow, passed away in 1979. He was devoted to his family and is survived by his daughters, Carole Johnson and Patricia Guynn and their husbands Paul and Bob; grandchildren, John, Margaret, Catherine, Robert, and Courtney; great-grandchildren, Carlie, Gillian, John, Matthew, Addison, Leighton, and Anna Jane; great-great-grandchildren, Caitlin, Rachel and Riley; many nieces and nephews including Sherrie Williams, Ann Dye, David Saleeba, and Travis Dye; and beloved family friend, Hazel Walker. Funeral services will be held Monday, March 12, 2001, at 2 p.m. in the First United Methodist Church in Narrows with the Rev. Wayne Monroe officiating. Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery, Narrows. The family will receive friends at the church from 12 to 2 p.m. on Monday. The family is being served by Riffe's Funeral Service, Narrows. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- GRAY, Ethel Mae Guynn, 56, of Pulaski, passed away on Friday, March 9, 2001. Funeral service on Monday at 2 p.m. in the Bower Funeral Chapel, Pulaski. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- HUNTER, Rev. Bobby G., 55, our dear beloved husband and father was called by our Savior to his eternal heavenly home on Friday, March 9, 2001. He was born October 29, 1944, in Pulaski, Va. He was the son of the late Julia Hunter. Reverend Bobby G. Hunter was Associate Pastor of Abundant Life Ministries. He was also the former Pastor of Prayer Praise Worship Center and River Hill Baptist Church, Galax, Va. Reverend Hunter was also a Chaplain at Pulaski Community Hospital and long time employee of Volvo White. Additionally, he was the Religious Committee Chairperson of the Pulaski County Branch of the N.A.A.C.P. and a long time member of First Baptist Church, Pulaski. He leaves to cherish his memory, his wife, Iva P. Hunter of Pulaski; three sons, Bobby (Bridgett) G. Hunter, Jr., Louie (Sonja) Hunter and Julian Hunter, all of Pulaski, Va.; two daughters, Yolanda (Sissy) Hunter and Veronica (Lady) Hunter, both of Pulaski; four brothers, James (Valerie) Hunter and Edward (Betty) Hunter of Roanoke, David (Robin) Hunter of Pulaski, Frank (Jeanette) Johnson of Hampton; one sister, Connie (David) Patterson of Dublin; and a very special cousin / sister, Shirley Akers of Pulaski; six grandchildren, Dorion Tyler, Bre Jame (LJ) Xavier and Brent; very special friend, father in the ministry, Reverend C.G. (Doris) Slaughter; special friends, Pastor Randall (Bonna) Lawrence and Pastor Doug (Debra) Patterson and a host of other nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. Funeral services will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Church of God on Bob White Boulevard, Pulaski, Va. with the Rev. C.G. Slaughter officiating. Burial will be at Pinehurst Cemetery. Family will receive friends on Monday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. at First Baptist Church, Magazine Street, Pulaski, Va. Penn's Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- SANDERS, Annie Elizabeth, 73, of Pearisburg, died Saturday, March 10, 2001. Arrangements by Kendall Funeral Home, Pembroke. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- SPANGLER, Stella Tracey, 93, of Pembroke, died Saturday, March 10, 2001. Arrangements by Kendall Funeral Home. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- THOMAS, Richard Henry, 76, of Christiansburg, went to be with the Lord on Friday, March 9, 2001, at his home. He was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church. He is survived by his wife, Sarah Thomas; one son, George Thomas; granddaughters, Jennifer Thomas and Stacy Thomas-Jackson; close sister, Ruth Sayre; and numerous relatives and friends. The family will receive friends from 12 to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 11, 2001, at Horne Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Chuck McHose officiating. Entombment will follow at Highland Memory Gardens in Dublin. The family request in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Christiansburg Rescue Squad, Box 176, Christiansburg, Va. 24073. Arrangements by Horne Funeral Service. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- WILEY, Alice L., 78, of Christiansburg, died Saturday, March 10, 2001. Arrangements by Claytor-Dean Funeral Home, Radford. Local content copyright © 2000 The Roanoke Times