Rhea, Richard Edwin

Mr. Richard Edwin Rhea, 76, of the Rhea Valley Community, Meadowview, Va., passed away Sunday October 22, 2006.

Mr. Rhea was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Justin and Annie Laurie Rhea. He was a graduate of Bethel High School and Virginia Tech, the Class of 1951. He was a devoted Hokie fan. He taught agriculture at Pearisburg High School and Castlewood High School and retired from the Soil Conservation Service in 1994 after 32 years of service. He was a member of the Sinking Spring Presbyterian Church serving as Elder and participated in the Fellowship of the Senior Men’s Breakfast. Being active after retirement, he served on the Washington County Planning Commission, was Treasurer of NARFE and served on the Holston River District Board.

Surviving is his wife of 54 years, June Kitts Rhea; his daughter and son-in-law, Terri and Leo Webb, Cullowhee, N.C.; his son and daughter-in-law, Bob and Kathy Rhea, Richmond, Va.; his two grandchildren, Krystina and Lee Barksdale; his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, John and Faye Cuddy, Bluefield, Va.; and several cousins also survive.

The funeral service for Mr. Richard Edwin Rhea will be conducted Wednesday, October 25, 2006 at 11 a.m. in the Sinking Spring Presbyterian Church with Rev. Robert Tolar officiating. Interment will follow in Forest Hills Memory Gardens. Pallbearers will be Jeff Warren, John D. Cuddy, Robert Wolfe, John Roberts, Fred Copenhaver, Wayne Turley and William Rosenbaum. Honorary pallbearers will be Bob May, Kenneth Shoun, Joe Derting and John Copenhaver. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Those wishing to express sympathy on line may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com. The Main Street Chapel of Farris Funeral Service, 427 E. Main Street, Abingdon, VA is serving the Rhea family.