Local Obituaries for Tharp Funeral Home
June Wheeler Mays
Sep 5, 2026
June Wheeler Mays, 71, of Amherst Virginia went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on September 5, 2026.
June leaves behind a family who loved her dearly and who will continue to honor her memory. Born on December 24, 1954, to the late Homer Haywood Wheeler and Lula Maddox Wheeler. In addition to her parents, she was...
Mary Jane Higginbotham
Sep 5, 2026
Mary Higginbotham, of Amherst, transitioned to be with the Lord on Saturday, September 5, 2026.
A homegoing celebration of triumph will be held Saturday, September 12, 2026 at Pine Hill Baptist Church at 2:00 P.M. The family will receive friends on Friday, September 11, 2026 from 6:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M.at Tharp Funeral Home Madison Heights location.
Tharp Funeral Home, Madison Heights,...
Pastor George David Peters
Sep 4, 2026
George David Peters, born on September 23, 1937, at Flanagan Mountain, West Virginia, went to be with his Lord and Savior on September 4, 2026.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Vera Peters, daughter, Karen Peters Hart, and great grandchild, Lucille Hansen.
Pastor Dave is survived by two daughters, Debbie Read (Brian) and Ginger Hahn (Rob); two...
Angela Dennise Peterson
Sep 2, 2026
Angela Dennise Peterson, 50, passed away on September 2, 2026, in Roanoke, Virginia. She was born on December 30, 1975, in Tacoma, Washington.
Angela built a life marked by learning, dedication, and a love of discovery. She worked as an accountant and, more recently, began teaching as an assistant professor at West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Beckley, West Virginia....
Ted August William Swanson
Sep 1, 2026
Ted A. Swanson
Born July 30, 1931 in Chicago, Ted graduated from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1954. He then began a 40-year career with General Electric that included assignments across the United States and international posts in Frankfurt and Milan. He loved to travel and experience new places and people.
Ted was known for his kindness, genuine interest in others,...
Petra Gonzalez
Sep 4, 2026
Petra Gonzalez, 93, of Gretna, Virginia, passed away on September 4, 2026. Petra was born on April 22, 1933, in Caguas, Puerto Rico.
Petra was the matriarch of the family. She enjoyed cooking, helping her community, and spending time with family and friends.
She is survived by her two daughters, Jeannette and Anita; three grandchildren, Elia, Felicia, and Romelo; seven great-grandchildren, Alexia,...
Thomas “Tom” Langhorne Houck
Sep 3, 2026
Thomas “Tom” Langhorne Houck, 85, of Forest, Virginia, passed away on Thursday, September 3, 2026. He was the husband of Joyce Ann Cyrus and third son of the late Joseph William Houck and Katherine Kemp Houck.
He was born on July 4, 1941, in Tazewell County, Virginia. He graduated from Virginia Tech in 1966 with a BS in Economics and Lynchburg...
Barbara Ellen Durham
Sep 3, 2026
Barbara Ellen Durham, 85, passed away on September 3, 2026, in Lynchburg, VA. Born October 5, 1940, in Abingdon, VA, she was the daughter of the late Rev. Riley Traner Clark and Bessie Lee Gillespie Clark.
An adventurous soul who loved to "GO". Barbara shared stories of working at the Pentagon, C&P, and the Shade Shop to name a few, before...
Phyllis Loretta Bradley
Sep 2, 2026
Phyllis Loretta Bradley, 91, of Evington, passed away Wednesday, September 2, 2026.
Phyllis was born in Bedford, Virginia on March 21, 1935, a daughter of the late Fuller Ramsey Bradley and Erma Dinkle Bradley. Phyllis was retired from General Electric.
She is survived by her daughter Cynthia Zich of Kernersville, NC. She is also survived by two brothers; Garland Bradley and Billy...
Thomas Eldred Robinson, Sr.
Sep 2, 2026
Our beloved Papa, Thomas Eldred Robinson, Sr., 86, of Forest, Virginia, slipped away quietly on September 2, 2026, in his home with his loving wife, Sheila Austin-Robinson by his side.
Thomas was born on June 2, 1940, in Hillsville, Virginia. He was the son of the late Eldred Pierce Robinson and Mary Chitwood Robinson Taylor. He was a graduate of Lynchburg...
James Wiltz Macdonald Jr. "Mac"
Sep 1, 2026
James Wiltz Macdonald Jr. “Mac,” 67, of Forest, Virginia, originally from Lynchburg, Virginia, passed away unexpectedly on September 1, 2026. He was born June 23, 1959, to the late James and Margaret Macdonald.
Mac graduated from Holy Cross Catholic School, attended Virginia Military Institute (VMI), and later graduated from Lynchburg College. He dedicated nearly 40 years to Appomattox Lime Company. He...
Wanda Murphy
Aug 31, 2026
Wanda Thacker Murphy, of Forest, Virginia passed away on August 31, 2026. She was the loving wife of John I. Murphy, Sr. for 58 years.
Wanda was born in Roanoke, Virginia to Rupert G. Thacker and N. Juanita Jones Thacker. After marrying John in 1968, Wanda moved from Roanoke to various places in Virginia before settling in the Forest, Virginia area. She...
Larry Edward Carson Sr.
Aug 31, 2026
Larry E. Carson, 85, of Lynchburg, Virginia, went to be with the Lord on August 31, 2026, at his home, surrounded by his loving family.
He was born on March 25 1941 to the late Charles and Bertha Selma Carson. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his devoted and loving wife of 63 years, Helen H....
Laura Ann Lavigne
Aug 30, 2026
Laura Ann Lavigne, 58, of Bedford, Virginia, passed away surrounded by the love of her family. Laura was the daughter of Minnie Pearl Lavigne and Donald Edwin Lavigne Sr. She was a cherished mother, devoted grandmother, loving sister, aunt, and beloved friend. Laura had a kind and caring heart and was always there for the people she loved.
She leaves behind...
Reuben L. Smith Jr.
Aug 30, 2026
On Sunday, August 30, 2026, Reuben L. Smith, Jr. was called from this earthly life to his eternal reward by his Heavenly Father.
Reuben was born November 3, 1950, in Lynchburg, Virginia, to the late Reuben Smith, Sr. and Bertha Lee Hayden Smith. The second-born child and first son among four siblings, Reuben seemed to understand the role of big brother...
Gary Maurice Dillard
Aug 28, 2026
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Gary Dillard
January 11, 1959 – August 27, 2026
“A life well lived, a heart well loved, and a memory that will live forever.”
Gary Dillard was born on January 11, 1959, in Lynchburg, Virginia. Gary was a special light in the lives of those blessed to know him. His warm spirit, love for people, and unforgettable personality touched his...
Dolly Rebecca Parton
Aug 25, 2026
Dolly Rebecca Parton, beloved singer, songwriter, actress, philanthropist, and one of the most treasured figures in American music and culture, passed away on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, in Nashville, Tennessee, at the age of 80.
Born on January 19, 1946, in rural East Tennessee, Dolly was the fourth of twelve children and grew up in the foothills of the Great Smoky...
Littleton Gardner Blanks, III
Aug 24, 2026
Littleton Gardner Blanks III (Lit) of Forest, Virginia passed away peacefully in his sleep early Monday morning and went home to be with Our Heavenly Father.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 44 years, Janice Mahanes Blanks; his son, Littleton Gardner Blanks IV; his daughter, Brooksie Kramer and her husband Matt; his grandsons, Gardner Blanks V, Blanks Matthew Kramer,...
Obie Lewis Carter, Jr.
Aug 24, 2026
Obie Lewis Carter, Jr., 65, of Bedford, Virginia, passed away on Monday, August 24th, 2026. He was the son Obie Lewis Carter, Sr. and the late Carol Overstreet Carter Stanley.
He was born on December 8, 1960, in Bedford, Virginia. Obie worked as a fabricator at Aerofin for many years. He had a deep appreciation for music, especially rock and roll,...
The Reverend Robert Lee (Tré) Smith, III
Aug 24, 2026
The Reverend Robert Lee (Tré) Smith, III, 62, of Lynchburg, Virginia, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, August 24, 2026.
Born on March 20, 1964, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Tré was the son of the late Robert Lee Smith, Jr., and Paula Spiczak Smith. He grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, a place that remained close to his heart...
Make Arrangements Online
Online Pre-Planning
Begin planning now. Online Cremation and Burial Arrangements Available - all details can be arranged from home.
