Bethea, John S.

John S. (Big John) Bethea, 65, of Radford, passed away Tuesday, January 14, 2014. He was a member of Grace Episcopal Church and retired owner and operator of Southwest Virginia Tobacco Company.

He was a member of the Blacksburg County Club and Round Meadows where he enjoyed golf and the RHS Booster Club. He was also an avid VA Tech and Bama football fan and loved Radford Bobcats football. He was preceded in death by his parents Oscar W. and Delma Johnson Bethea.

Survivors include his wife Judy W. Bethea of Radford; son and daughter-in-law John S., II and Jeaneanne Bethea of Radford; daughter and sons-in-law Meredith and Samer Katicha of Christiasnburg and Elizabeth Paige and Youssef Fahmane of Atlanta, GA; and the light and love of his eyes his six grandchildren, John William and Ashleigh Bethea, Adam and Ben Fahmane, and Samantha and Christopher Katicha; brother George N. Bethea of Radford; and sister and brother-in-law, Hazel and Ron Long of Evergreen, Colorado.

Memorial services will be held Friday, January 17, 2014 at 11:00 am at Grace Episcopal Church in Radford with Rev. David Rose officiating. Interment will follow in the church Rose Garden. The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the American Diabetes Association, Richmond-Petersburg VA Office,4335 Cox Road, Glen Allen, VA 23060.

The Bethea family is in the care of Mullins Funeral Home & Crematory in Radford, VA. www.mullinsfuneralhome.com