Dunford, Ina Farmer

Ina Farmer Dunford, 65, of Blacksburg, died Thursday January 8, 2015. She was born August 3, 1949 in Richmond Va. to the late Floyd A. Farmer and Anna B. Farmer.

She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Richard L. Dunford; a special “daughter” Kimberly Johnson Watson and her family of Alpharetta, Ga.; and very special friends, Sue, Joe and Kim Kowalski of Virginia Beach.

Ina attended Radford College, earning a BS in Early Childhood Education and an MS in Reading. She taught school in Montgomery County for 32 years, two at Elliston-Lafayette and 30 at Margaret Beeks in Blacksburg. Her work at Beeks involved many special-needs and English as a second language children.

Ina was a “Silver Sister” in Alpha Delta Kappa International Honorary Society for Women Educators and had served as Rho chapter president, district president, state Sergeant-at-Arms, State Convention Chairman, and as Chairman of several state committees. She had also been a member of Phi Delta Kappa and in 1999 received their Teacher-As-Researcher Award.

After retirement in 2004 Ina involved herself in many local projects, most related to her love of children. She served as an advisor, board member, Vice-president and President of the Valley Interfaith Child Care Center (VICCC). She served on the eligibility committee of the Montgomery County Christmas Store, worked at the Blacksburg Interfaith Food Pantry, and was on the board of To Our House men’s shelter program.

At Christ Episcopal Church Blacksburg she was on the Altar Guild, served as a Lay-Eucharistic Minister, was Co-President of Saint Elizabeth chapter of Daughters of the King, and was a delegate to Diocesan Council the past four years. She was on the Church Vestry, and she served on the Stewardship, Canterbury and Hospitality Committees. As a key member of the Christ Church Yard Sale crew, she helped raise money to support many outreach projects such as VICCC and the Christmas Store.

Her funeral Services will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday January 17, 2015 at Christ Episcopal Church Blacksburg the Rev. Scott West and the Rev. Emily Lukanich officiating. A reception will follow interment in the Church Memorial Garden. Visitation will be held from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, January 15, 2015 at the Christ Church library.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Christ Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 164, Blacksburg, VA 24063 to support Local Outreach. Arrangements by McCoy Funeral Home, Blacksburg.