Sue Ranson, chief executive officer of Good Samaritan Hospice for more than 25 years, has announced her intention to retire at the end of 2018.

In an announcement in the quarterly newsletter, Ranson noted that she came to the position of vice president for patient care services 27 years ago and was later elevated to director-CEO. A registered nurse, she had previously worked with terminally ill children at the old Community Hospital of Roanoke Valley. No successor has been named.

Good Samaritan Hospice, with headquarters at 2408 Electric Road, is one of the oldest in the area. The non-profit and non-sectarian agency is governed by a board of directors. Besides assisting persons not expected to recover and their families, it sponsors a number of support groups to help the bereaved.

In making the announcement, Ranson said she hopes to continue as part of the hospice as a volunteer present with the family at the time of a patient’s death.

-Submitted by correspondent Frances Stebbins