Obituaries | Fincastle Herald

ALLEN, Barbara N.

Barbara Nofsinger Allen, 79, of Fincastle, went to be with the Lord Monday morning, January 2, 2017.

Barbara was preceded in death by her mother and father, Virginia and Clarence (Dick) Nofsinger.

She is survived by her daughter, Susan Allen Rice and her husband, Eddie; her four grandsons, Zachery Kephart and his wife Lee, John Bentley, William Bentley, Benjamin Bentley; and great-grandchildren, Graham and Harrison Kephart.

She taught at Troutville Elementary School for 25 years. Barbara was raised in Fincastle on her family’s farm where she spent most of her life. She was an animal lover who raised everything from peacocks to pet raccoons, often speaking about her favorite pet cow named Suesue. Barbara leaves behind her two beloved Yorkies, Dori and Annie.

She was a teacher, a gardener, a quilter, a cook, a friend, a storyteller, and the best listener. Barbara enjoyed spending warm summer days knee-deep in her garden or piecing together a hand-sewn quilt. Her winters were spent looking for snow, and once it had fallen, she would let us know that if the snow stayed, it was waiting for more. Barbara lived for the country lifestyle, was proud of her ancestors, and cherished her time spent with family and friends. She will be dearly missed.

A private service was held to celebrate her life. On-line condolences may be made to the family at www.rader-funeralhome.com.

BRADLEY, Ernest E., III

On January 2, 2017, Ernest Edward Bradley III,  “Tubby,” was surrounded by his wife Lola and family as he crossed over.

Tubby was like an M&M, hard on the outside and soft on the inside. He loved his tasteless jokes and cheap sparkling wine, and he was a champion for nature and animals.

That love of nature and animals started in Madison, Fla., where he was born in 1930. He was a prolific fisherman, a hunter, a lover of dogs and chickens. He was the pack leader in charge of his family’s hunting dogs as well as a dog walker at the greyhound racetrack.

His love of the water brought him to Daytona Beach where he became a lifeguard.

In 1951, he joined the Marines where his hunting skills came into play. He was able to hit the center mass (bull’s eye) and became an expert on the rifle range and an instructor.  However, taking orders was not always his strong suit: while on a Naval ship he pushed a button that said “do not touch,” shutting down the entire ship for 24 hours. He left the military shortly after with an honorable discharge and less rank.

Tubby worked in the government for 30 years. His tenacity came into play as he worked his way up from a Grade 5 to a Grade 15 and then Senior Executive Service.

In 1971, he moved to Northern Virginia to help start the audit department of the brand new Environmental Protection Agency. He was selected as the No. 2 person in the auditing department. He was known to be good under pressure with a good sense of humor, keeping things light when the going got rough. He retired from the Federal Government in 1990.

While in Lucketts, Va., Tubby expanded his animal kingdom to a variety of barnyard pets…horses, cows, dogs, chickens and cats.

In 2005, he, Lola and Jack Russell Traveller (his favorite son) moved to Fincastle where he continued his love of nature and animals.

Please raise a glass of sparkling wine and send Tubby off with a toast as he walks the green fields with all his beloved pets. Services were private. Online condolences may be made at www.botetourtfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Angels of Assisi in Roanoke, http://www.angelsofassisi.org.

D’AMORA, Vincent A.

Vincent Anthony D’Amora, 85, of Daleville, died Thursday, January 5, 2017 at the Glebe following a long illness.

Vincent was born in Philadelphia, Pa., March 4, 1931 and was the son of the late Andrew and Lena Santise D’Amora. He lived in Botetourt County for the last three years.

Vincent was a business owner for 40 years and served in the US Army during the Korean Conflict. He enjoyed golfing, the Philadelphia Eagles, and was member of The Church of the Transfiguration.

Vincent is survived by his wife of 53 years, Kathryn A. D’Imperio D’Amora; daughters and sons-in-law, Christine and Yosi Shiloni of Southampton, Pa., and Julia D’Amora and Leland Potter of Fincastle; grandchildren, Maddox Potter, Adam Shiloni, Riley Potter, and Natalie Shiloni; and his sister, Francis Di Giacomo of Churchville, Pa.

A memorial service honoring Vincent’s life will be 11 a.m. Friday, January 13 in the Botetourt Room of the The Glebe, 200 Glebe Road, Daleville, with the Rev. Fr. Stephen McNally officiating.  A private burial will be at the convenience of the family.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8517. On-line condolences may be made to Vincent’s family at www.rader-funeralhome.com.

FIREBAUGH, Rufus C.

Rufus Clemmon Firebaugh, 78, of Daleville, passed away Tuesday, January 3, 2017.

He was a faithful member of Grace Bible Church and worked at Roanoke Auto Spring Works for over 40 years. He was a veteran of the US Navy. Rufus was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Virginia “Jenny” Jones Firebaugh; parents, Hubert and Mable Firebaugh; sister, Mary Firebaugh; and aunt, Nancy Jones.

He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Terresa and Brian Odum of Fincastle; son and daughter-in-law, Hubert and Melissa Firebaugh of Raleigh, N.C.; grandchildren, Dustin, Darren and Dylan Odum, Naomi and Nathan Firebaugh; brother and sister-in-law, Phillip and Karen Firebaugh of Roanoke; special friend, Janet Adams.

Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Friday, January 6, in the Buchanan Chapel of Botetourt Funeral Home with the Pastor Jay Robinette officiating. Interment was in Trinity Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or the Roanoke Valley SPCA. Online condolences may be made at www.botetourtfuneralhome.com.

GIFFIN, Marjorie W.

Marjorie Ruth Wike Giffin (Margie) was born on October 2, 1929, the only child of hardworking Cannon Mills employees Ada Estelle Millsaps Wike and Clayton Roosevelt Wike.

Despite being born at the onset of the Great Depression, Margie had an idyllic childhood in Kannapolis, N.C., thanks to her father’s ingenuity.”Clayt” (Trader, as he was known) Wike ran the first mobile grocery store in Kannapolis, all while holding down his Cannon Mills job. This provided Margie the ability to graduate from High School with honors, and attend both Furman University and Wingate College, earning a Bachelor’s Degree from each. Furthering her education, Margie studied for and attained her Master’s Degree in Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, where in 1953 she met her husband, the Rev. David Lloyd Giffin, in jail! Margie and David were both students at Southwestern participating in the school’s robust prison ministry.

Margie met the love of her life doing God’s work, and remained his loyal partner from 1955 until David passed away in 2012, ending 57 beautiful years of marriage. Margie and David were both public school teachers in North Carolina and Virginia for over 30 years while David was a full-time Baptist minister. Margie played an active role as a pastor’s wife, leading Women’s Missionary Union groups and Lottie Moon Missions offering drives throughout the South.

In their lives, Margie and David devoutly served the Fincastle Baptist Church and Zion Hill Baptist Church in Fincastle, Va., Ross and Bethany Baptist Churches in Windsor, N.C. and Hartland Baptist Church in Morganton, N.C.  Margie and David spent many summers crossing the country to visit family in Wyoming, often taking their (surviving) nieces Nancy (Giffin) Bohannon, Jeannie (Thompson) Gainer, Bonnie (Thompson) Schreiber, Marjorie (Thompson) Beacham and nephews Don Giffin and (the late) Roy Thompson in tow.

In 1973 Margie gave birth to her only child Clayton (Clay Giffin), who survives her and resides currently in New York City. Margie and David raised Clay primarily in the Brushy Mountains of Morganton and Lenoir, N.C., and they ultimately retired to Margie’s family farm in Hiddenite, N.C., in 1995, until moving to Newcastle, Wyo. in 2012.

Margie passed away painlessly, quickly and peacefully of natural causes in the mid-morning on Wednesday, January 4, 2017 under the caring, capable and watchful eyes of the employees at Weston County Manor in Newcastle, Wyo.

Margie leaves behind many friends and cousins in Virginia and North Carolina.  She was preceded in death by her parents and husband. Her sole survivor is her son Clay. The funeral service was held Monday, January 9 at 1 p.m. at Osage Community Bible Church, Osage, Wyo. Interment was in Upton Cemetery.

SLOAN, David R.

David Ronald Sloan, 65, of Blue Ridge, passed away Monday, Dec. 26, 2016.

He served proudly in the Marines on the VMA231 Squadron as a Corporal. He was preceded in death by his parents, James, Sr. and Dorothy Sloan and brother, James “Junie” Sloan Jr.

He is survived by his wife of devoted, admired, worshiped and beloved wife of seven years, Glenda; sons, Tony Sparks and wife, Katherine; Patrick Sparks and wife, Terri; six grandchildren; sisters, Mary Lou Kerns and Nancy Culler; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be held at 12 noon Saturday, Jan. 14 in the Eagle Rock Chapel of Botetourt Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.botetourtfuneralhome.com.