staff reports
Published: April 23, 2008

Bobby Lee
Allen
Bobby Lee Allen, 78, husband of Kathleen (Seaman) Allen, of Staunton, died on April 15.
He was born May 15, 1929, in Augusta County, a step-son and son of the late Marvin R. and Bettie Kirby Smith and Charles Allen.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy having served during World War II. Prior to retirement he was employed as an electrician by DuPont. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church.
In addition to his wife of 59 years, he is survived by a daughter, Debra L. Gettings of Denver, Colo.; two sisters, Cleo Campbell and June Berry, both of Staunton; a sister-in-law, Shirley Poff and her husband, Jerry of Lynchburg; his mother-in-law, Lois Bradley Seaman of Lynchburg; two grandchildren, Clariborne W. Gettings III of Newport News and April L. Landon of Colonial Heights; two great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
A funeral service was conducted on April 18 in the Henry Funeral Home Chapel. Burial followed at Mt. Paran Baptist Church Cemetery in Montebello.

Della Collier Wood Byram
Della Collier Wood Byram, 81, died on April 17.
Born May 28, 1926, in Greene County, she was the daughter of the late Edward Collier and the late Mamie Lawson Collier. She was also preceded in death by her first husband, Guy William Wood and second husband, Lester Bruce Byram.
She was a member of Zion Baptist Church in Madison Run. For many years she was an employee of the American Silk Mill and later retired from Ridgid Products.
She is survived by four daughters, Doris W. Spotswood of Orange, Nancy W. Jackson of Rapidan, Shirley W. Proffitt of Scottsville, and Cynthia W. Hopper of Midlothian; three sons, Guy Wood Jr. of Warsaw, Ray E. Wood of Crozet, and Roger L. Wood of Toledo, Ohio; one sister, Arlene C. Byram of Orange; 17 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.
A funeral service was held on April 20 at the Zion Baptist Church in Madison Run. Interment followed at Graham Cemetery in Orange.

Donald W.
Currence
Donald W. Currence, 50, of Charlottesville, died on April 19.
Born May 15, 1957, in Sumter, S.C., he was the son of William H. and Eleanor June Coe Currence of Deltona, Fla.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by his wife, Linda Gitz Currence; his children, Alicia Marie Currence of Norfolk and Joseph William Gitz of Charlottesville; and three brothers, Douglas and Steven Currence of Florida and Michael Currence of Boston, Mass.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He was the owner of Simeon Market Pizzeria and Immigrant Soul Restaurant.
A celebration of his life was conducted on April 23 at Hinton Avenue United Methodist Church.

Joan Proffitt
Martin
Joan Proffitt Martin, 80, of Amherst, died April 17. She was the wife of the late William Thomas Martin.
Born April 14, 1928, in Baltimore, Md., she was a daughter of the late Manson Heath and Marietta Tenner Proffitt. She was a member of Ebenezer Baptist Church.
She is survived by two daughters, Jeanette Dale Thornhill and Shirley Murphy, both of Amherst; three sisters, Dorothy P. Norvell of Rustburg, Marion Barrs of Amherst and Marietta Hartless and husband, Junior, of Madison Heights; two brothers, Manson H. Proffitt and Weston J. Proffitt, both of Madison Heights; five grandchildren, Teresa Lynn Ray and husband, Jerry, Bobby Lee Swift Jr., William Thomas Tomlin, Jennifer Christian and husband, Alvin, all of Amherst, and Janet Ferguson and husband, Chris, of Lynchburg; and eight great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by three sisters, Jean Proffitt, Kathleen Simpson and Alice P. Crouch.
Graveside services were conducted on April 21 at the Amherst Cemetery.

Ryan Patrick McConaghy
Ryan Patrick McConaghy, 26, of Madison Heights, died April 14.
Born Sept. 15, 1981, in Lynchburg, he was a son of Samuel H. and Leigh Sutherland McConaghy. He was a graduate of Amherst County High School and Central Virginia Community College and also attended Lynchburg College. He was an employee of Lowes Home Improvement Store in Lynchburg and attended Madison Heights Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by two grandfathers, William Sutherland and John M. McConaghy Sr.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by his son, Caleb Parker McConaghy of Lynchburg; two brothers, Griffin Neal McConaghy and Collin Carey McConaghy, both of Madison Heights; his maternal grandmother, Virginia McIvor Sutherland of Madison Heights; his paternal grandmother, Frances Harvey McConaghy of Lynchburg; and friends.
A graveside service was conducted on April 17 at Fort Hill Memorial Park.

James Christopher McIvor
James “J.C.” Christopher McIvor, 75, of Bedford, died on April 15.
He was born on March 14, 1933 in Bedford County, a son of Cornelia Overstreet McIvor of Forest, who survives, and the late Malcolm Earl McIvor. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Malcolm McIvor Jr., and a sister, Margaret M. Hargis.
He attended New London Academy and graduated from Lynchburg College and the T. C. Williams Law School. He was an attorney in Bedford for 45 years. He was also a member of Main Street United Methodist Church and was a U. S. Army veteran.
In addition to his mother, he is survived by his wife, Leigh Cowan McIvor; two daughters, Elizabeth Allen McIvor and partner, Erin Curtis of Sterling, Tracy M. Saint-Maxens and husband, Tim of Bethesda , Md.; three grandchildren, Meg Saint-Maxens, Mary Saint-Maxens, McIvor Saint-Maxens; three sisters, Barbara Ann Morris and husband, Marshall of Forest, Cornelia McIvor Overstreet of Lynchburg, and Virginia Sutherland of Madison Heights.
Funeral services were held on April 18 at Main Street United Methodist Church. Interment followed in Virginia Memorial Park.

James William
Pryor
James “Jimmy” William Pryor, of Cheverly, Md., died on April 9.
He was born on Oct. 19, 1939 in Rochester, Minn.
He is survived by his son, Kenneth A. Pryor of Amherst; grandson, Dustin A. Pryor of Amherst; two sisters, Sandra L. Pryor of Maryland and Barbara J. Pryor (Steve Coley) of Amherst; an aunt, Lois Franklin Foster of Elon; and numerous cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl Pryor (son of James Thomas Pryor of Amherst and Ardell Reel Pryor) and Elsie Franklin Pryor (daughter of Robert Abner and Lena Reeves Franklin both of Amherst). He was also preceded in death by his sister, Peggy Pryor Campbell and her husband B.H. Campbell Jr., both of Amherst.
He learned the construction trade from his father and owned Pryor and Barbieri, Inc, a block and brick construction business.

Robert Kent
Reed Jr.
Robert “Bud” Kent Reed Jr., 74, of Gladstone, died April 14.
Born April 28, 1933, in Lynchburg, he was a son of the late Robert Kent Reed Sr. and Evelyn Deaner Reed.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Joyce Brown Reed; three brothers, H. Jack Reed and his wife, Helen, of Four Oaks, N.C., Jerry T. Reed and his wife, Molly, of Forest, and James O. Reed and his wife, Jane, of Boonsboro; three brothers-in-law, Gerald Brown and his wife, Sue, of Williamsburg, Wayne Brown and his wife, Shirley, of Topeka, Kas., and Charles Brown and his wife, Serena, of Ruckersville; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three siblings, Edward Lee Reed, Peggy Jean Reed, and Janet Reed.
He was a U.S. Navy veteran, having served during the Korean War. He was a member of the AARL, Amateur Radio League.
A funeral service was conducted on April 18 in the chapel of Tharp Funeral Home. Interment followed in Fort Hill Memorial Park.

James Richard
Routon
James Richard Routon, 61, of Rustburg, died on April 19. He was the husband of Sandra Guill Routon.
He was born June 27, 1946, a son of Margaret Routon and the late Richard Routon. He was a longtime employee of Limitorque/Flowserve, served in the U.S. Navy, a member of the National Rifle Association and attended Heritage Baptist Church.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Paul Routon and Eric Routon and wife, Pamela; three grandchildren, Ciara, Krystal and Gabrielle; three brothers and their wives, Steve and Amy of California, Carl and Dora of North Carolina and Mike and Fay of Gladstone.
He was preceded in death by his son, Jonathan.
A memorial service was conducted on April 21 at Heritage Baptist Church in Lynchburg.

Anna Mae
Burke Rutter
Anna Mae Burke Rutter, 83, died on April 19. She was a resident of Fort Pierce, Fla., and Madison Heights.
She was born and raised in Tuckerton, N.J., and lived many years in West Creek, N.J. She was a member of St. Helens Catholic Church in Vero Beach, Fla., and Holy Cross Catholic Church in Lynchburg. She was a 1941 graduate of Tuckerton High School and was a bookkeeper for K-Forte Oil Company, retiring in 1977. She was a lifelong member of the West Tuckerton Fire Company and also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star.
She was predeceased by her parents, Edward and Mae Burke; two brothers, Edward and Joseph Burke; and two sisters, Margaret Price and Dorothy Beloff.
She is survived by her husband, James N. Rutter; two daughters and their husbands, Margaret and Edward Bennett of Hurt, and Cheryl and Walt Martin of Madison Heights; six grandchildren, Edward Bennett and his wife, Eileen, of Salisbury, Md., James Bennett of Manahawkin, N.J., David Bennett and his wife, Cindy, of Little Egg Harbor, N.J., Michael Bennett of Little Egg Harbor, N.J., Amy Whitus and her husband, Rodney, of Rice, and Jeffrey Martin of Little Egg Harbor, N.J.; nine great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
A Christian funeral mass was conducted on April 22 at St. Victoria Catholic Church in Hurt.

JoAnne Trumbule
JoAnne Trumbule, 70, died on April 20.
After raising a family of five and a long career of public service at various levels of government in Maryland, she built a home on family property in the Blue Ridge Mountains where she hosted many family gatherings and helped raise her five grandchildren.
She is survived by her five children, Bob, John, Ed, Steve, and Patty and their spouses and partners, Charlotte, Susan, Melanie, Karyn and Tony; and grandchildren, Kara, Emily, Katie, Natalie and Stephen.
A website has been established to share thoughts and memories of her. Please contact joannetrumbule.legacy.com for more information.

Beatrice Downey
Unroe
Beatrice Downey Unroe, 88, of Amherst, died on April 17. She was the wife of the late Henry Edward Unroe Jr. for 57 years.
She was born Dec. 4, 1919, in Clifton Forge, a daughter of the late Jasper Walter Downey Sr. and Minnie Pearl Bowling Downey. She attended New Beginning Tabernacle.
She is survived by her children, Dee Wills and husband, Phil, of Blue Ridge, Henry Edward Unroe III and wife, Kathy, of Evington, Jackie Magann of Lynchburg, Fred Unroe of Madison Heights, Celena Unroe of Rustburg and Calvin Unroe of Lynchburg; her guardian angel and caregiver, Carol Unroe of Amherst; a sister, Violet Balser of Clifton Forge; 13 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was also preceded in death by one brother and two sisters.
A graveside service was conducted on April 19 in Fort Hill Memorial Park.

Yvonne T.
Walker
Yvonne T. Walker, 41, of Madison Heights, died on April 20.
Born April 26, 1966, in Cumberland, Md., she was the daughter of Constance Tucker Walker of Madison Heights and the late Thomas Lee Walker. She was a laboratory director and supervisor with the Virginia Department of Health and a member of the First Methodist Church in Keyser, W.Va.
In addition to her mother, she is survived by her brother, Thomas Lee Walker II, of Madison Heights.
Her wishes were to be cremated. There were no services.