Pitzer, Cedella Miller
Virginia Cedella Miller Pitzer of the Poplar Hill community of Giles County, departed her earthly life and slipped into the loving arms of Jesus Christ on October 20, 2016 at the age of 72. She had been battling an extremely rare form of ovarian cancer for the past 19 months.
A daughter of the late James Robert and Agnes Stone Miller, she was born on March 10, 1944. She was an outstanding example of self – giving love and was well respected and loved by all who came to know her. After graduating from Giles High School in 1962, she enrolled at Radford College and completed the requirements for a degree in mathematics in less than three years. In August of 1965, she began her teaching career at Narrows High School, where she taught hundreds of students math over the next 34 years. Shortly after beginning her career, she returned to Radford College, obtaining her Master’s Degree during summer sessions. Although she took early retirement in June of 1999, she truly loved her calling as a math teacher.
Cedella was soft spoken, fiercely independent, a loving and caring wife to her husband, Tom, who she married on January 16, 1968. In 1988, they began their farming together as a team when they purchased a farm in White Gate. In 1991, they began farming a portion of the family farm where Cedella was reared. She was always giving, helping and fulfilling her calling as a wife, aunt and neighbor. Cedella had a passion for farming and a devoted relationship with their two dogs, many cats and five donkeys, in addition to many cows which became pets to her over the years.
She was a faithful member of Walker’s Creek Presbyterian Church for 47 years until its closing in 2003 at which time she moved her membership to New Dublin Presbyterian, where she remained a member while also devoting time to her favorite community church, Shady Grove United Methodist in Poplar Hill.
Cedella is survived by her loving husband, Tom; brother & sister-in-law, Ernie & Elizabeth Miller, Poplar Hill; special nephew, Shannon Miller, his wife, Whitney and their daughter, Peighton; special niece, Sherri Jones, her husband, Justin and their daughters, Leah and Nora; brothers-in-law & sisters-in-law, Gene & Mary Lou Pitzer, Bill Pitzer, Jerry & Sandra Pitzer, Johnny & Darla Pitzer and Dennis Pitzer; and also, a large number of nieces and nephews, as well as great-nieces and great-nephews.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, October 23, 2016 at 2:00 P.M. at Walker’s Creek Historical Presbyterian Church, White Gate, with Rev. Andrew Taylor-Troutman and Rev. Olen Robertson officiating. Burial will follow in Walker’s Creek Cemetery, White Gate. The family will receive friends Saturday, October 22, 2016 at A. Vest & Sons Funeral Home Chapel, White Gate, from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to either Walker’s Creek Historical Presbyterian Church, Inc., or Walker’s Creek Cemetery, Inc., 369 Walkers Creek Valley Road, Pearisburg, VA 24134.
This family is in the care of A. Vest & Sons Funeral Home, White Gate, avestandsons.com, (540) 921-2985.