Basham, Arnold E.

Arnold E. “Gene” Basham, 79, of 302 College Ave., Bluefield, W.Va., died early Monday morning, June 22,2009, at Bluefield Regional Medical Center. He was born in Basham, Va., on June 16,1930, and was son of the late Olivia E. Stewart and Brainard H. Basham. He was preceded in death by sisters, Beulah (Bea) Brammer, Minnie Light, Thelma Charlton; and a brother, Earl Basham.

He was a graduate of Auburn and Christiansburg High School. After obtaining a B.A. degree in business, he taught at National Business College and Carnett School of Business in Roanoke, Va. Because of his love of floral design, he left Christiansburg in the 1950’s and moved to Washington, D.C., where he trained under floral designers for three years. He worked at Arlington Florist and handled accounts such as the French and Spanish Embassies among other governmental departments.

He moved to the Bluefield-Princeton area in 1957 and began working at Pine Florist Inc. in Princeton. He was the owner of Gene’s House of Flowers and spent his final retirement years at Roller Floral in Bluefield. He was elected to the Gard Hall of Fame as one of the top 100 designers in the country early in his career. He had served as SecretaryTreasurer of FTD District 3-F State of West Virginia, Vice Chairman of Florists FTD and State Chairman of Florists FTD. He had been a District Representative of FTD covering the state of West Virginia. He was a charter member and past officer in the West Virginia State Florist Association as well as a member of the Middle Atlantic Florists, Society of American Florists, and Professional Floral Commentators International. He served on the Advisory Board for the Restoration of the Mother’s Day Shrine in Grafton. W.Va. He appeared as a special designer and lectured in various schools and floral shows all over the country through out his career.

He was a member of the Summit Players appearing in or directing over 40 productions; was a member of the Bluefield Elks; was serving as chaplain until he became ill this year; and was a member of Christ Episcopal Church and a member of the choir.

Survivors include sisters, Katherine Link, of Roanoke, Va., and Mary Epperly, of Floyd, Va.; lifelong companion of 52 years, Peery Blackwell, of Bluefield, Va.; sister-in-law, Lois Basham, of Christiansburg, Va.; and several nieces and nephews.

According to his wishes he has been cremated and friends may call at Dudley Memorial Mortuary in Bluefield, Va., on Wednesday, June 24, 2009, from 5 to 7 p.m. with a memorial services conducted at 7 p.m. with The Very Rev. Michael E. Snider II officiating. Burial will be private at a later date. Dudley Memorial Mortuary in Bluefield, Va., is serving the Arnold E. “Gene” Basham family.