Person Page - 3101

     Robert Dale Vest was born on August 1, 1941 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^5,3 He married Lena Evelyn Smith, daughter of John Hampton Smith and Bonnie Annie Laurie Cannaday, on October 16, 1969 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^6,3,7,4 Robert Dale Vest died on October 18, 2017 at Virginia at age 76.⁴ He Robert (Dale) Vest, 76, of Floyd, Va., completed the final lap of his earthly race on Wednesday, October 18, 2017. There to greet him at the gates of Heaven were his devoted of wife of 53 years, Lena E. Smith Vest; and his parents, Ralph B. Vest and Irene R. Akers Vest. Dale was a free-spirit, who was charismatic and danced to the tune of his own banjo. He was a generous man, always willing to help others. He was well-known for his unique sense of humor and practical jokes. Many will remember him for his entertaining one-liners and sayings. Dale was employed for a number of years at Pet Dairy. He also operated his own successful business, Dale Vest Refrigeration, for over 20 years. In his later years, Dale was a cattle farmer. He played as hard as he worked. Dale was a very talented bluegrass musician as well as a lover of bluegrass music. He was an avid NASCAR fan and enjoyed many other types of racing. Dale was a car enthusiast. He also participated in 4X4 racing, winning many races. Dale will be fondly remembered by his three children, Laura E. Vest, Jeffrey D. Vest (Elisabeth) and Catherine I. Hartman (Billy). Referred to as "Poppy" by his grandchildren, he will be affectionately remembered by his favorite granddaughter, Stephanie M. Vest Hubbard (Allen); and her son, his great-grandson, Dylan A. Thompson; as well as grandsons, Charles H. St.Clair and Jason R. Texter. Also left to cherish his memory are many close relatives and special friends. Instead of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to either St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or to the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation. There will be an immediate private family service. A celebration of his life to include all other relatives and friends will be announced in the near future. Arrangements by Oakey's South Chapel. on October 20, 2017.⁴

     Orina Huff was born circa 1848 at Floyd Co., Virginia.¹

     John J. Huff was born on October 14, 1849 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^1,2 He died on May 23, 1851 at Floyd Co., Virginia, at age 1.²

     Peter Fernando Huff was born circa 1849 at Floyd Co., Virginia.¹

     Lydia A. Unknown was born in July, 1842 at Virginia.¹ As of circa 1891,her married name was Cannaday.¹ She married Andrew Bailey Cannaday, son of John Cannaday and Martha "Susan" Winfrey, circa 1891.¹

     Paul Lorton Purdy was buried at Evergreen Burial Park, 1307 Summit Ave SW, Roanoke, Virginia.⁸ He was born on August 28, 1926 at Roanoke, Virginia.^3,4,6,11,8 He married Mary Jo Miller on May 1, 1951 at Roanoke, Virginia.⁵ Paul Lorton Purdy and Mary Jo Miller were divorced on February 22, 1968 at Roanoke, Virginia.⁶ Paul Lorton Purdy married Martha Josephine Jane Vaughan on May 6, 1979 at Roanoke, Virginia.^5,8,9 Paul Lorton Purdy died on February 14, 2007 at Salem, Roanoke Co., Virginia, at age 80.^7,8,11 He Paul Lorton Purdy, 80, of Salem, passed away Wednesday, February 14, 2007. He was born August 28, 1926 in Roanoke, Virginia, attended the public schools of the City of Roanoke and Roanoke County and graduated from Jefferson High School in June of 1944. He was drafted into the Army of the United States in 1944 and served overseas in the Asiatic Pacific Theater of Operations. After World War II he helped to institute what was then called the Army Organized Reserves Corps. He served in and worked for the U.S. Army Reserves until retirement in 1984 and was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious service. He was a Past Master and Member of Lakeland Lodge No. 190 AF & AM, Past High Priest of Elmwood RAC No. 33, Member of D.C. Shanks RAC No. 31 and Murray RAC No. 22, Past Commander and Member of Bayard Commandery No. 15, Past Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery, Knights Templar of Virginia, Past Governor of Wilderness Road York Rite College and Associate Regent, Sov. College of North America, and Member and Past Sov. of the Red Cross of Constantine and numerous other Masonic Organizations. Paul is survived by his wife, Jane Vaughan Purdy; son, Michael L. Purdy; daughter, Carolyn Sue Purdy Tucker; grandson, Brian Scott Tucker; great-grandsons, Isaac and Caleb Tucker; sisters, Jean Martin, June DeWease, Shirley Thomas; and numerous nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, February 17, 2007 at Oakey's Roanoke Chapel with the Rev. Bob L. Hutchins officiating. Masonic Rites will be conducted by Lakeland Lodge after the Christian Service at the Chapel. Interment will follow in Evergreen Burial Park. on February 17, 2007.⁸

     Danny Ray DeWease Jr. was buried at Sherwood Burial Park, 1045 Lynchburg Turnpike, Salem, Roanoke Co., Virginia.^3,5 He was born on July 16, 1971 at Roanoke Co., Virginia.^3,4,5 He died on July 23, 1971 at Roanoke, Virginia.^3,5

     David Wilson Thomas was buried at Evergreen Burial Park, 1307 Summit Ave SW, Roanoke, Virginia.⁴ He was born on March 12, 1928 at Roanoke, Virginia.^1,2,3 He married Margaret Shirley Purdy, daughter of Kyle Huston Purdy Sr. and Dora Mattie Sigmon, on June 1, 1951 at Buchanan, Botetourt Co., Virginia.^1,4 David Wilson Thomas died on May 11, 2015 at Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, at age 87.⁴ He David Wilson Thomas, 87, passed away Monday, May 11, 2015, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Born in 1928, he was the son of the late Nellie Jane Thomas and David Franklin Kern, of Roanoke, and the adopted son of George Thomas of Roanoke. He is survived by his wife Shirley Purdy Thomas of Roanoke and by his son Randolph Thomas and daughter-in-law Jane Thomas of Baton Rouge. David grew up in Cambria, Virginia, graduated from Christiansburg High School, and received a B.S. from Virginia Tech. He served in the United States Navy at the close of the Second World War and in the Korean Conflict; he was a Navy reservist between the conflicts. Following his graduation from college, he worked as a cost accountant for Burlington Industries, and later sold advertising for WJJJ AM radio and The Montgomery News Messenger. In 1971, David started his own business, Go News Round Roanoke, the first successful visitor publication for the Roanoke Valley, a magazine that brought together and provided information about events, dining, arts, and entertainment. Working closely with Roanoke Civic Center, the Parkway Association, The Roanoke Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Roanoke Valley Motel Association, he published Go News until his retirement in 1988. He also published a similar guide for the New River Valley, Campus Town Culture & Cuisine. He was a former member and president of the organization of Visitor Information Publications, and a member of many other organizations supporting and celebrating tourism and history in Virginia, and, in particular, the Roanoke and New River Valleys. He enjoyed the outdoors and was a member of Appalachian Trail Club in the 1950s. In the mid-1960s he developed an interest in geology, and was a member of The Roanoke Valley Mineral and Gem Society from the 1970s until his death. He was a lifelong fan of Virginia Tech football, and, in later years, a supporter and friend of the Republican Party. At the heart of his many interests and projects was a desire to celebrate the people of Southwest Virginia, their hopes, aspirations, and stories. For many years a native of Montgomery County and then Roanoke City, he moved to Louisiana in 2013, where he was a resident of the Louisiana War Veterans Home in Jackson. A graveside service celebrating David's life will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 30, 2015 at the Chapel of Light in Evergreen Burial Park in Roanoke. on May 28, 2015.⁴