Oakes Sr., Willis Ray

Mr. Willis Ray Oakes, Sr., 78, of 1905 Sandy Court, Rock Hill, S.C. and formerly of Saltville, Va., passed away Monday, June 25, 2007 at his home.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, June 30, 2007 at 2 p.m. at Givens Funeral Home, 110 Woodrum St., Pearisburg, VA, 24134 with the Rev. Fred Austin officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. A native of Saltville, Va.,

Mr. Oakes was the son of the late E. Gordon Oakes and the late Mattie Stephenson Oakes. He was a 1950 graduate of Emory and Henry College where he played baseball and was inducted into the Emory and Henry Hall of Fame. He also was a 1953 graduate of the University of Tennessee School of Engineering. He retired as a chemical engineer from Hoescht-Celanese Corporation with 29 years of service. He was a member of First Methodist Church in Pearisburg, Va.

Mr. Oakes is survived by his wife, Peggy Ingram Oakes of the home; his sons, Willis R. Oakes, Jr. and Robert N. Oakes, both of Rock Hill, Paul E. Oakes of Bejing, China, Jon H. Oakes and wife, Nona, of Ripplemead, Va., and Pete A. Oakes of Christiansburg, Va.; his daughters, Karen N. Oakes of Charleston and Jane Oakes of Concord, N.C.; his brothers, E. G. Oakes, II of Chesapeake, Va., Charles Oakes of San Antonio, Texas, and Bill Oakes of Danville, Va.; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice and Community Care, P.O. Box 993, Rock Hill, S.C. 29731. Greene Funeral Home Northwest Chapel is in handling the local arrangements.