Hamlin, Albert Lee

Albert Lee (Poppy) Hamlin, 89, of Christiansburg, Va., went to be with the Lord on Thursday, April 30, 2009, at Montgomery Regional Hospital. He was born on Stroubles Creek, Montgomery County, Va., on July 19, 1919, to the late Isaac and Agnes Sheppard Hamlin. He was preceded by his wife, Betty Joe Hamlin; five sisters, Nellie, Alice, Ruby, Ruth, and Mary; and his brother, Isaac; and stepson, William Sawyers.

He was a veteran of the United States Army having served during World War II and took part in the D-Day Invasion. He worked as a coal miner in several of the area mines and was a member of the Coal Miners Heritage Association.

He is survived by his wife, June G. Hamlin; one daughter and son-in-law, Edna and Hobart Rakes, of Christiansburg; three sons and daughters-in-law, Roger and Brenda Hamlin, Jerry and Wanda Hamlin, and Tommy and Linda Hamlin, all of Christiansburg; three stepdaughters and sons-in-law, Linda and Doug Gilmore, of Georgia, Barbara Criner, of Blacksburg, and Toni and Dale Vaught, of Newport; 11 grandchildren; 20 stepgrandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren and greatgreat-grandchildren.

The family wishes to thank the doctors and nurses at Montgomery Regional Hospital who helped care for Albert during his illness.

Funeral services will be conducted 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 2, 2009, in the McCoy Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Jerry Shepherd, the Rev. Jimmie Lee Price, and the Rev. Lee Sarver officiating. Interment will follow in the Sheppard Family Cemetery. Friends may call anytime after noon on Friday, May 1, 2009, and the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday evening at McCoy Funeral Home, in Blacksburg, Va.