VanHoozier, Melissa Dowdy

Melissa Joe VanHoozier, 56, of Virginia Ave., Newport, departed this life Saturday afternoon, October 20, 2018, in the care of Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital after a long and hard-fought battle with MS.

Born in Giles County on January 18, 1962, she was a daughter of the late Claude McKinley “Jack” and Mary Cumbee Dowdy. She was a 1980 graduate of Giles High School and worked at Heritage Hall Blacksburg for over 24 yrs nursing and caring for countless patients. She was known for her passion for shopping and enjoyed spoiling her grand kids, a very loving and caring person, a person more willing to generously give than receive, had never met a stranger, and made a habit of not judging others. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her brother, Harold Dowdy.

She leaves to cherish her memory her devoted husband of 37 yrs., Michael W VanHoozier; her sons and daughter-in-law Michael Lee and Alicia VanHoozier of Pearisburg and Wayne McKinley VanHoozier of the home; her daughter and son-in-law Michelle and Justin Olinger of Christiansburg; her sisters and brother-in-law Sylvia and Donnie Stump of Newport and Sandy Dowdy of Blacksburg; her grandchildren Ryleigh and Kameron VanHoozier, Emma Grace Olinger; several devoted and beloved neices, nephews and in-laws.

Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, October 25, 2018 at 1 pm in the Kendall Funeral Home, 605 Snidow St., Pembroke with entombment following in Birchlawn Abbey in Pearisburg. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Wednesday evening from 6 until 8 pm. In lieu of flowers the family suggests that contributions be made to the MS Society in Melissa’s memory.

Online condolences may be sent by visiting kendallfuneralhome.com.