Vaught, Rena Grindstaff

Rena May Grindstaff Vaught, 89, of Blacksburg, passed away on April 27, 2006 in Blacksburg, Va.

Born in Elizabethton, Carter County, Tenn. in 1916, she was the daughter of Elbert Clinton Grindstaff and Lydia Peters Grindstaff of Elizabethton. She was also the stepdaughter of Golda Hardin Grindstaff from 1919 until 1985. She is preceded in death by her husband, Vassie A. Vaught, Sr., originally from Giles County, Va., 1903 – 1967. Also preceded in death by her half brother, Sherman G. Grindstaff of Elizabethton, Tenn.; stepchildren, Travis Vaught of Silver Spring, Md., William Vaught of Denver, Colo., and Elmer (Rocky) Vaught of Valdese, N.C.

Rena attended East Tennessee State University, received her teachers’ certification in 1939, and taught elementary school in Carter County until 1942. She was employed until 1945 at Radford Ordinance Works as a laboratory technician, and retired from Virginia Tech in 1985. She is a former longtime resident of New River House, Warm Hearth Village, Blacksburg, Va.

Surviving are son, Vassie A. Vaught, Jr., with wife, Linda of Bent Mountain, Va.; and daughter, Vera V. Kidd with husband, Jeffrey of Blacksburg, Va. Dear grandchildren are Vasse Vaught and wife, Margaret of Cambria, Va., Nathan Vaught and wife, Linda, and Emilyn Kidd of Blacksburg, Va. Beloved great-grandchildren are Adam, Alex, Andrew and Addison Vaught of Blacksburg, Va. Rena is survived by half sisters, Wanda Peters, Norma Carrier and husband, Gray, Rita Payne and husband, Nat from Elizabethton, Tenn.; and half brother, Anthony Grindstaff and wife, Betty of Bristol, Tenn.; also surviving is stepson, Clarence Vaught of Nevada; also daughters-in-law, Charmaine Atkins of Claudville, Va., and Miriam Vaught of Valdese, N.C. Beloved stepgrandchildren include Judy, Claudia, Terry, David, Ann, Don, Linda, Joe, Billy, and Keith, and their families.

Funeral services are scheduled at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 30, at McCoy Funeral Home Chapel in Blacksburg, Va. with the Rev. John Hopkins officiating, with interment at Westview Cemetery, Blacksburg. If desired, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or a charity of choice. Family and friends are invited to gather Sunday from 12 noon until the funeral service at McCoy Funeral Home, Country Club Drive, Blacksburg.