1924
James
2009
James Gillespie
June 2, 1924 — July 7, 2009
Gillespie, James G., 85, of Christiansburg, VA, passed away on Tuesday, July 7, 2009.
He was preceded in death by brothers, Garfield Gillespie and Harold Gillespie, and sisters Joyce Bowen, Phyllis Meredith, Janet Meredith, daughter, Sandra G. Johnson, and granddaughter, Sarah Colley. He was born June 2, 1924 in Ada, West Virginia to the late William Jennings and Bertie Pennington Gillespie.
He joined the U.S. Navy in December of 1941 where he served as a Coxswain-Boatsman on LCT for troop movements in the Asiatic and Pacific Theatres. He served in New Guinea, Okinawa, Sipan, and Japan during WWII. After his discharge from the Navy in 1945, he met and married Betty Zane Hodges from Thornhill, WV. After briefly living in Longview, Washington, they eventually settled in Christiansburg, VA where Jim was employed with Radford Army Ammunitions Plant until his retirement in 1975.
He is survived by his wife, Betty Zane Hodges Gillespie; four daughters and sons-in-law; Donna and Alvie Cullop of Roanoke, VA, Debbie and Stanley Coley of Christiansburg, VA, Sue and Walter Baumoel of Roanoke, VA, and Cecile and Brian Beverage of Troutville, VA; ten grandchildren: Brian Cullop, Zac Cullop, Christy Wallace, Stacey Crowder, Phaydra Epperly, Travis Colley, Aaron, Lindsey, and Abby Baumoel, and Austin Beverage; 11 great grandchildren; Kara and Lacee Cullop, Andrew Cullop, Alexa Smith, Ashton Crowder, Danielle Keesee, Kayla and Maggie Criner, Eli and Abby Wallace, and Tripp Cullop. One great great grandson, Mason Cullop, brother and sister-in-law Herbert and Bonnie Gillespie, of Radford, VA, sister and brother-in-law Freda and Travis Quesenberry of Gulfport, MS, and sister-in-law and brother-in-law Mitzi and Clyde East of McDowell, WV; many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
Jim loved life and lived it to the fullest. He never met a stranger. He will be remembered by his humor and pranks. He loved his family and friends, especially all his camping buddies. His greatest concern was that no one ever went hungry. The family would like to thank Ken Murdock for his special support and Roger Carroll for his spiritual support.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 8:00 pm on Thursday, July 9, 2009 at Horne Funeral Home. A funeral service will be conducted on Friday, July 10, 2009 at 2:00 PM at Belview United Methodist Church with Rev. Aaron Finch and Rev. Sebert Rorrer officiating. Interment will follow in Roselawn Memorial Gardens.
The family request in lieu of flowers that memorial contributions be made to S.W. Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank, 1025 Electric Road, Roanoke, VA 24153 or Carilion Hospice of The New River Valley, 111 West Main Street, Christiansburg, VA 24073.
He was preceded in death by brothers, Garfield Gillespie and Harold Gillespie, and sisters Joyce Bowen, Phyllis Meredith, Janet Meredith, daughter, Sandra G. Johnson, and granddaughter, Sarah Colley. He was born June 2, 1924 in Ada, West Virginia to the late William Jennings and Bertie Pennington Gillespie.
He joined the U.S. Navy in December of 1941 where he served as a Coxswain-Boatsman on LCT for troop movements in the Asiatic and Pacific Theatres. He served in New Guinea, Okinawa, Sipan, and Japan during WWII. After his discharge from the Navy in 1945, he met and married Betty Zane Hodges from Thornhill, WV. After briefly living in Longview, Washington, they eventually settled in Christiansburg, VA where Jim was employed with Radford Army Ammunitions Plant until his retirement in 1975.
He is survived by his wife, Betty Zane Hodges Gillespie; four daughters and sons-in-law; Donna and Alvie Cullop of Roanoke, VA, Debbie and Stanley Coley of Christiansburg, VA, Sue and Walter Baumoel of Roanoke, VA, and Cecile and Brian Beverage of Troutville, VA; ten grandchildren: Brian Cullop, Zac Cullop, Christy Wallace, Stacey Crowder, Phaydra Epperly, Travis Colley, Aaron, Lindsey, and Abby Baumoel, and Austin Beverage; 11 great grandchildren; Kara and Lacee Cullop, Andrew Cullop, Alexa Smith, Ashton Crowder, Danielle Keesee, Kayla and Maggie Criner, Eli and Abby Wallace, and Tripp Cullop. One great great grandson, Mason Cullop, brother and sister-in-law Herbert and Bonnie Gillespie, of Radford, VA, sister and brother-in-law Freda and Travis Quesenberry of Gulfport, MS, and sister-in-law and brother-in-law Mitzi and Clyde East of McDowell, WV; many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
Jim loved life and lived it to the fullest. He never met a stranger. He will be remembered by his humor and pranks. He loved his family and friends, especially all his camping buddies. His greatest concern was that no one ever went hungry. The family would like to thank Ken Murdock for his special support and Roger Carroll for his spiritual support.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 8:00 pm on Thursday, July 9, 2009 at Horne Funeral Home. A funeral service will be conducted on Friday, July 10, 2009 at 2:00 PM at Belview United Methodist Church with Rev. Aaron Finch and Rev. Sebert Rorrer officiating. Interment will follow in Roselawn Memorial Gardens.
The family request in lieu of flowers that memorial contributions be made to S.W. Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank, 1025 Electric Road, Roanoke, VA 24153 or Carilion Hospice of The New River Valley, 111 West Main Street, Christiansburg, VA 24073.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of James Gillespie, please visit our flower store.
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