Myers, Derek Stimpert
Derek Stimpert Myers, 72, of Blacksburg, died Monday, February 23, 2009, at Lewis-Gale Hospital. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Florence Myers, and his brother, Paul.
Mr. Myers grew up in Galva, Illinois. He graduated from Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, in 1959. He studied art history at the University of Chicago. After completing his military service and teaching high school in Vermont, he earned his Master of Fine Arts in painting from the State University of Iowa.
Before setting in Blacksburg he taught at Knox College and St. Andrews Presbyterian College, Laurinburg, N.C. He taught at Virginia Tech from 1973 until his retirement. An active member of Luther Memorial Lutheran Church and elected to Blacksburg town council in 2008. Mr. Myers also served on the board of Valley Interfaith Child Care Center and Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy. He had recently visited San Jose deBocay, Blacksburg’s sister city in Nicaragua in order to assess the needs for school children there.
Mr. Myers is survived by his wife of 47 years, Rhoda; his daughter, Meigra Myers Chin and husband, Prescott, of West Orange, N.J.; his son, Robin Myers, of Santa Barbara, Calif.; and two grandchildren, Hannah Nichols and Keira Chin. The family expresses gratitude to the doctors and nurses too many to name who cared for Mr. Myers and made him feel safe.
A service in memory and thanksgiving will be held at 3 p.m., Thursday, February 26, 2009, at Luther Memorial Lutheran Church in Blacksburg. Everyone is encouraged to stay after the service to visit and friends are always welcome at the home, 312 Cherokee Drive. Mr. Myers was an avid gardener and loved flowers, but also loved helping people. A good way to honor his memory would be gifts in lieu of flowers to Valley Interfaith Child Care Center, 950 Heather Drive NW, Blacksburg, Va. 24060, Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, P. O. Box 12516, Richmond, Va. 23241, or Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, 600 Prices Fork Road NW, Blacksburg, Va. 24060. McCoy Funeral Home, Blacksburg, Va. is in charge of arrangements.