Kegley, Sr., William Martin

William Martin Kegley, Sr., 92, of Back Creek in Pulaski County, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022. He was born June 28, 1930 in Augusta County, the youngest son of the late John Rahn Kegley, Sr. and Victoria Martin Kegley.

Bill was a 1948 graduate of Mt. Sidney High School and farmed with his family before enlisting in the Army. He served in the U.S., Austria, and Germany, and was honorably discharged as a sergeant in 1957.

He began college at James Madison and continued on to Virginia Polytechnic Institute where he finished a B.S. in Dairy Science in 1960. At VPI he was active in Alpha Zeta and the Dairy Club. While in Blacksburg he also got his pilot’s license and enjoyed piloting a plane to Bluefield and other regional airports. He loved flying and seeing the beautiful country, later reminiscing that during those years he had probably flown over Pulaski County not knowing that it would be his future home.

He returned to the home dairy farm in Verona in Augusta County, but when the I-81 construction took some of the property, he embarked on a new adventure on his own in 1967 in Pulaski County.

In 1962, Bill married Betty Bright. Beth and Martin were born in Augusta County and Ann joined the happy family after the move to Pulaski County.

Bill built a large-diversified farming operation, that has thrived for 55 years. Bill loved the farm, but he still found time to be actively involved in New Dublin Presbyterian Church where he was an Elder and Trustee. He also served many agriculture organizations, including serving on the boards for Statemen’s Financial, Farm Bureau, and the Pulaski Livestock Market. He was active in the Ruritans and served on the County Planning Commission. He liked to be busy.

After Betty’s death in 2012, in 2014 he married Betsy Tate of Dublin.

Bill was preceded in death by his brothers, John R. Kegley, Jr. and Thomas S. Kegley; sister Catherine Ray; brothers-in-law, Emmet Ray, John H. Rubush, and Peyton Hatcher; and sisters-in-law, Ruth Kegley and Mary Bright.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Betsy Tate Kegley; his son, Martin Kegley and wife Lisa, of Pulaski; daughters, Beth and husband Tim Johnson, of Springdale, Ark., and Ann and husband Jeff Reeves, of Pulaski; grandchildren, Tori Alley (Dillon), Will Kegley, Sarah and Sam Johnson, and Emma (Derek) Brown, and Ella and Eli Reeves; sister Mary Ann Rubush of Mt. Sidney, sisters-in-law Nancy Kegley of McGaheysville, Virginia (Jack) Foster of Richmond, and Millie Hatcher of Danville; great-grandchildren Kip Alley and Colby Brown; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. With the marriage to Betsy, he also gained a brother and sister-in-law, Bobby and Becky Tate, and special friends Sam and Selma Jennings.

The family gives special thanks to Cathy Dalton and others who helped care for him these last few weeks, including Intrepid Hospice. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to New Dublin Presbyterian Church, 5331 New Dublin Church Road, Dublin, VA 24084, or the charity of your choice.

A memorial service celebrating his life will be held Saturday, Nov. 12, 1:00 p.m. at New Dublin Presbyterian Church. A reception will follow in the fellowship hall. The family will receive visitors at New Dublin Presbyterian Church from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 11, or at the home.