DeHART, Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland (GC) DeHart, 82, of Ripplemead, died Tuesday, September 19, 2006 at Fairlawn Manor in Radford. Born in Giles County on December 28, 1923, he was a son of the late Andrew and Minnie Catherine King DeHart.
G.C. was a graduate of VPI where he earned his Masters Degree in Education and was proud to have been able to do it through the GI Bill after World War II when he served in the US Marine Corps as a Staff Sergeant VMB-612 Gunner in the Sough Pacific; he was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Pearisburg, American Legion Post 311 in Pembroke, and the Ripplemead Ruritan Club; and taught in the public school system of Giles County at Pembroke and Eastern Elementary Schools for over 24 years.
He was an avid sports fan and especially loved the game of football. In his youth he played for the Pembroke Corn Cutters. G.C. coached and helped lead the Pembroke Trojons to win the county championship in the mid 1970’s.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife, Martha Santolla DeHart; a brother, Garnett DeHart; four sisters, Clarice D. Fern, Virginia D. Martin, Kathleen D. Truitt, Anderine DeHart; and a grandchild Michael Ray DeHart.
He leaves to cherish his memory a son, Michael DeHart of Ripplemead; three daughters, Cathy DeHart of Blacksburg, Susanne Brawn of White Heath, Illinois, Mary Elizabeth Dowdy of Chrisitansburg; seven grandchildren, Cindy Faint (Bill), Craig DeHart (Jessica), Josh Dowdy, David Ellis (Lisa), Justin Olgesby, Sullivan Brawn, Summer Ramsey; nine great-grandchildren, Mack and Grady Faint, Gavin DeHart, Hunter Smith, Alyssa Dowdy, Jamie Ellis, Shelby Ellis, Patrick Ellis, Noah Ramsey; a special family friend, Shirley Myers.
Funeral services will be conducted Friday at 1 p.m. in Holy Family Catholic Church in Pearisburg with the Rev. Father John Prinelli officiating. Burial will follow in Birchlawn Burial Park in Pearisburg. The family will receive friends at the Kendall Funeral Home at 605 Snidow St. in Pembroke Thursday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to Town of Pembroke, Attention: Recreation Department, PO Box 5, Pembroke, Va. 24136. A scholarship fund has been set up in Mr. DeHart’s name for needy students to participate in the Eastern Elementary Seventh Grade Williamsburg Trip.
Pallbearers will be Vick Edwards, Jim Wheeler, Everett Ellis, Jimmy Ellis, Mike McGuire, Mat McGuire, Timmy Spicer, Jim Thompson. Honorary Pallbearers will be Tommy Johnston, Bobby Bostic, Ernest Bowles, Doug Eaton, Barry Guthrie, Claude Galliher, Jack McCall. Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.kendallfuneralhome.com.