Staff Reports
Published: April 1, 2008

Lynn Elizabeth
Grosz
Lynn Elizabeth Grosz, of Shipman, died on March 20. She was the wife of the late Ronald Kurt Grosz for 35 years.
She is survived by her two sons, Jason and Christopher, of Madison, Wisc.; her brother and sister-in-law, Thomas and Mary Kuck of Buckingham; her sisters-in-law, Carol Antisdel and Kathy Jesk and her partner of the last two years Arvin Cohen, of Crozet; and friends and colleagues too numerous to mention.
She and Ron were in the Peace Corps in Liberia from 1963 to 1965 where she started The Sasstown Sun, a newsletter that included village news, health tips and folk tales from the African elders. She also worked as a copy writer and editor for Countryside Publications, Ltd. After receiving her MS in Development Communications in 1985 at the University of Wisconsin, she found a new calling in training, meeting facilitation and communications management. In that capacity she worked as Vice President for Industry Training for the Cable Telecommunications Association and Director of Business Development for the Training Resources Group. She and her husband moved to Nelson County full time in 1995.
She was involved in many local charities and organizations, such as the Nelson County Rural Health Outreach, Keep Nelson Beautiful, the Nelson Center and the local Welfare Board. She worked for 4H and as a substitute teacher in the Nelson County school district.
Friends and family will be staying at the Grosz property in Shipman for the next few months as her heirs decide what to do with the land and house.
There will be a private ceremony in May for her family, close friends and colleagues on her property in Shipman.

Jesse Frank
Gunter Jr.
Jesse Frank Gunter Jr., 77, of Nellysford died March 23.
Born in Buckingham County on Nov. 24, 1930, he was the son of the late Jesse Frank Gunter Sr. and Ruby Mawyer.
He was a retired truck driver for Campbell Woodyard and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
He is survived by three sons, Larry Dean Gunter (Diane) of Arrington, Dennis Wayne Gunter of Nellysford, and Jesse F. Gunter III of Spottsylvania; three daughters, Sonja G. Reid (Kenny) of Afton, Sherry G. Byers (Steve) of Shipman, and Lisa G. Stevens (Mark) of Roseland; one brother-in-law, Kenneth P. Davis of Nellysford; one sister-in-law, Charlotte Campbell of Waynesboro; a niece; a nephew; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Davis Gunter; a sister, Anne Stevens; and a grandson, James Gregory Jordan.
A graveside funeral service was conducted March 29 in Wintergreen Christian Church Cemetery.

Dolly Potter
Holdren
Dolly Potter Holdren, 69, of Stafford, died March 24.
She was born March 19, 1939 in Queenstown, Md., a daughter of the late Harold D. Potter and Mary Moore Potter. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her sister, Arlene Rose.
She was employed by Breaner’s Bakery in Arlington.
She is survived by her daughter, Dianna L. Mathis of Stafford; a son, David D. Holdren of Lorton; three sisters, Mildred M. Lee of Afton, Virginia L. Sawyer of Fredericksburg, and Dorothy G. Carder of Unionville; two brothers, Herbert B. Potter of Bennett, Nb., and Jerry D. Potter of Amarillo, Texas; a grandson, Jason Hughes; and a great-grandson.
A graveside service was held on March 29 at the Lee Family Cemetery in Afton.

Celestine J. Jackson
Celestine J. Jackson, 68, of Lynchburg died on March 27.
She was born Aug. 5, 1939 in Campbell County, to the late Sampson and Edith Cheatham Jones. She was the wife of James E. Jackson Sr. for 50 years.
She is survived by her husband; two daughters, Kathy Jackson, Madison Heights and Carolyn (Raymond) St. John, of Phoenix; three sons, James E. Jackson Jr., William Jackson and Roger (Zina) Jackson, all of Lynchburg; six sisters, Louise Burks, Nancy Wood, Clara (William) Johnson, Virginia (Lloyd) Jones, all of Lynchburg, Anna (Samuel) Canada, of Concord and Annie Dixon of Baltimore, Md.; 13 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren and a host of family and friends.
A funeral service was held March 31 at New Vine Baptist Church. Interment was in the church cemetery.

Larry V. Lorence
Larry V. Lorence, 85, of River View Lane, Faber died March 22.
He was born July 22, 1922 in the Czech Republic. He lived in New York City for 33 years beginning in 1956 and moved to Virginia in 1989. He was a Physical Fitness Expert and Trainer.
He is survived by his wife, Maxine Fox Lorence; his daughters, Helen Driver, Jane Melville and her husband Ted Freeland, Eliska Meyers and her husband Randy; his brother-in-law, Robert Fox; and five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
A memorial service was held March 28 at Wells/Sheffield Funeral Chapel in Lovingston.

Doris Virginia
Manning
Doris Virginia Manning, 80, of Lovingston, died March 30.
Born July 21, 1927, she was a daughter of the late Floyd Kidd and Mary Adams Kidd. She was the wife of the late Earl Manning Jr.
She is survived by two sons, Earl D. Manning III of Charlottesville and Kenneth W. Manning (Tine) of Washington, N.C.; two daughters, Doris Adams (Elwood) of Lovingston and Deborah Mason (Steve) of Richmond; one sister, Annie Mae Campbell; 16 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by four brothers and one sister.
A funeral service was conducted on April 2 at Byrum-Parr Funeral Home. Burial followed in Bethlehem United Methodist Church Cemetery.

Barbara Ware Morris
Barbara Ware Morris, 61, of Amherst, died on March 28.
Born Jan. 13, 1947, the only daughter of the late Garth Ware and Virginia Ware Denning. She was preceded in death by her son, Michael Dean Morris.
She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Stanley Dean Morris; three daughters, Diane Archie and husband Lorenza of Lynchburg; Lisa Morris of Amherst and Rachel Morris of Madison Heights; five grandchildren, Ciara and LJ of Lynchburg, Ashlyn and Ryan of Amherst and Savannah D. of Madison Heights.
Funeral services were conducted on March 31 at Driskill Funeral Chapel. Private burial was in the Amherst Cemetary.

Richard E. Mountjoy
Richard E. “Dick” Mountjoy, 61, of Ablemarle County, died on March 26.
He was a long-time morning announcer on the city’s long-time top-rated AM station, WINA and had celebrated his 40th anniversary on the air in Charlottesville in the summer of 2006. He started working at WUVA while an engineering student at the University of Virginia in the 1960’s.
Born on Nov. 6, 1946 in Alexandria, he was the son of the late Wesley and Mary Anne Mountjoy. He grew up in Stafford County and was salutatorian of his class at Stafford High School. He attended UVA as an engineering student and left early for his love of radio.
He is survived by his wife, Susan Mountjoy; son, Michael Mountjoy of Charlottesville; daughters, Wendi Mountjoy of Amherst and Chrissy Robinson and her partner Penny Watson of Portland, Oregon; three grandchildren, Nathan Mountjoy, John Horsley and Sarah Horsley; his brother, John Mountjoy and his wife Tawana of Fredericksburg; sister, Patricia Hertzog and her husband Larry of Spotsylvania; and three nephews.
A memorial service was held on March 31 at Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. Interment was private.

Margaret Madeline Parrish
Margaret Madeline Parrish, 90, of Madison Heights, died March 24. She was the wife of the late Lloyd Cecil Parrish.
Born Feb. 3, 1918 in Petersburg, she was the daughter of the late Walker Gilmore and Reba Crouch Parrish. She was retired from the Central Virginia Training Center and was a member of Randolph Memorial Baptist Church.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers and two sisters.
She is survived by three sons, Charles M. Parrish and his wife, Lillie of Goode, W. Lawrence Parrish and his wife, Carole of Fairbanks, Alk., and Samuel E. Parrish of Evington; three daughters, Reba P. Thomas and her husband, Frank of Downington, Penn., Katherine P. Grigg of Lynchburg, and Julia P. Doss and her husband, James of Gladstone; one sister, Ollie P. Walton and her husband, Robert of Lynchburg; 18 grandchildren; 34 great grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.
A funeral service was conducted March 28 at Whitten Monelison Chapel. Interment followed in Spring Hill Cemetery.

Gladys Hicks Pugh
Gladys Hicks Pugh, 88, of Madison Heights, died March 26. She was the wife of the late Wallace Eugene Pugh Sr.
Born in Lynchburg on Dec. 6, 1919, she was a daughter of the late Joseph Acey Hicks and Florence Carroll Hicks and was preceded in death by two siblings. She was a member of Sandy Bottom Christian Church.
She is survived by two daughters, Betty P. Morcom and her husband, Ronnie of Madison Heights, and Brenda P. Gray and her husband, Bill of Lynchburg; a son, Wallace E. Pugh Jr. and his wife, Beverly of Madison Heights; a sister, Jean H. Eagle of Lynchburg; eight grandchildren, Cynthia Henderson, Donna Vaughan, Diana Pace-Morcom, David Roberts, Karen Dillon, Wendy P. Wilmer, Eric Gray, Tim Gray; 16 great-grandchildren and a great-great grandson.
A funeral service was conducted on March 29 in the chapel of Heritage Funeral Service. Burial followed in Fort Hill Memorial Park.

Harold Edward
Thacker Sr.
Harold Edward Thacker Sr., 76, of Madison Heights, died March 25.
Born May 2, 1931 in Nelson County, he was the son of the late Wade Hampton and Louise Thompson Thacker. He was a retired self-employed contractor, a U.S. Marine Corp. veteran and a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church.
He is survived by four sons, Harold E. Thacker Jr. and his wife, Brenda of Amherst, Rowland W. Thacker of Lynchburg, Steven A. Thacker and his wife, Michele of Radford, and Paul T. Thacker and his wife, Libby of Tacoma, Wash.; two sisters, Barbara Zirkle and her husband, Bo of Afton and Betty Thacker of Madison Heights; four brothers, Paul Thacker and his wife, June, of Madison Heights, Wade Thacker Jr. and his wife, Chris of Amelia, Raymond Thacker and his wife, Carolyn of Covington, and Cecil Thacker and his wife, Jean of Piney River; six grandchildren, Michael and his wife, Tanya, Chris, Steven, Elizabeth, Jocelyn, and David; one great-granddaughter; and many nieces and nephews.
A funeral service was conducted March 29 at Whitten Monelison Chapel. Interment followed in the Thacker Family Cemetery in Nelson County.

Gloria S. Wilber
Gloria S. Wilber, 85, of Mechanicsville, died March 21.
She was born April 7, 1922, daughter of the late William Roy Summerville and Thelma Fehl Summerville. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Daniel A. Summerville and her husband of 52 years, Ralph M. Wilber.
She is survived by one brother, Donald R. Summerville of Leland, N.C.; two daughters, June W. Stork of Crozet and Sharon W. Tierney of Massies Mill; a son, Ralph M. Wilber Jr. of Mechanicsville; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
A memorial service and celebration of her life will be held at 11:30 a.m. on April 7 at Lakeside Presbyterian Church in Richmond. Interment will be private.