Bingham, John (Jay) Charles

John (Jay) Charles Bingham, 84, of Radford, formerly of Pearisburg, left his painful earthly home of suffering Wednesday, January 20, 2016, in Radford. Jay was born February 26, 1931, in Princeton, W.Va., and was a son of the late H. Luther Bingham and Mary Beatrice (Bea) Belcher.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, H.B. Bingham and wife, Edith, Jay Robert Bingham and wife, Kathleen; and two sisters, Mary B. Taylor and husband, Carl, and Anne B. Eaton.

Jay was a graduate of Pearisburg High School Red Devils earning a football scholarship to Emory and Henry College and played baseball with the Bluff City Ducks. He was an Army Veteran having completed his sporting career by playing sports in Germany. He attended Key Street First United Methodist, Pearisburg First United Methodist Church and Fairlawn First United Methodist Church. Jay was retired from Verizon with 40 years of service. He was also a charter member and organizer of the Bane Ruritan Club and the Radford-Fairlawn Ruritan Club serving in many offices plus being Zone Governor in 1990. He was a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America, he was a past president of the Golden Triangle Telephone Pioneers and lead the construction of handicap fishing ramp in Claytor Lake State Park.

He survived by his wife, Jo Ann Morehead Bingham of Radford; two brothers, Richard Neal Bingham of Ohio, Donald L. Bingham and wife, Shirley, of Floriday; one sister, Betty Bingham Donovan of Roanoke; one brother-in-law, C.D. Morehead and wife, Robin; many nieces and nephews including Ellen T. Jubin and husband, Jim, of North Carolina, Evan Morehead, and five Morehead “rugrats”.

Funeral services will be conducted 1 p.m. Monday, January 25, 2016, at the Givens Funeral Chapel in Pearisburg with the Rev. Randolph Morris officiating and burial following in the Southwest Veterans Cemetery in Dublin. The family will receive friends at the Givens Funeral Home two hours before the service from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers or food, the family request gifts be made to the NRCC Foundation, 5251 College Dr., Dublin, VA 24084 for the J. Bingham/Cook Scholarship Fund or the charity of your choice.

Online condolences can be sent to the family at givensfuneralhome.