Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Good neighbor a treasured friend
Good Neighbors Fund
Donation form
Previous Good Neighbors Fund stories
- Good Neighbors Fund tally tops 2007 contributions
- Donations to fund surpass expectations
- Good grocer is given gratitude
- Immigrant battles to stay afloat
- The cost of keeping a family together
Total amount raised
Sometimes neighbors become treasured friends.
When Louise Wimmer of Rocky Mount made her annual donation to The Roanoke Times Good Neighbors Fund, she made it in memory of Charles VanLear Jr.
"When my husband passed away in 2005, he was here the next day telling me not to worry about my yard, that he would take care of it," Wimmer wrote in a note attached to her donation form. "And take care of it he did for three years."
VanLear died in November 2007.
"He was one of those people who just liked helping other people," Wimmer said.
Wimmer wrote that she and VanLear enjoyed long talks over casual meals at his patio table.
"He was a true gentleman, a good Christian and a great neighbor," Wimmer said. "I still miss him a lot."
Wimmer now has new neighbors.
"There's a wonderful young family in the house now," Wimmer wrote. "But I always think of it as Charles' house."
Donors through Dec. 25 include:
An anonymous donor in memory of Polly Bowman and in honor of O.F. Bowman
Tom and Linda Hollie in memory of their son, Samuel Dale Hollie
Friendship Class of First Church of the Brethren in memory of deceased members and in honor of teachers
RCC Monday Morning "No Shows" in memory of Fred Rawlings
Don and Jeanne Altis
Mary Lee Sharp in memory of Irving Sharp
Cindy Phelps in honor of all Carilion HIM staff
Bea Peck in memory of her husband, Homer S. Peck
Diane S. Grant in honor of Betty Jean Monger Howell, her former fifth-grade teacher at Washington Heights Elementary
Clair and Gay Sykes in memory of Grace Lovegrove
Stephanie Danco and family in memory of her uncle, Archa Vaughan
Miranda Murtaugh in honor of Teresa Walthall
Jim and Janet Webster in memory of their parents
Nan and Jay Massey in memory of Lillie Casey
Maggee M. Dorsey in honor of Ruth Reynolds
Cynthia Taylor Vaught in memory of her mother, Jane Taylor Bohon, and in honor of her mother- and father-in-law, Betty and David Vaught
Michael Lugar in memory of Bill Lugar and in honor of Bettye T. Lugar
Townside Gardens in honor of its loyal customers
Ogretta Bayer in honor of Charlene Lester and her brothers, Jr. and Ted, for the beautiful gospel music they play
Nicholas, Kelly and Katie Varelos
Jimmy, Laurie and Trevor Adams in memory of their parents and grandparents, Winston and Jane Adams and Lawson and Maxine Stacy
The Baumgardner Family in honor of the faculty and staff at Woodrow Wilson Middle, Patrick Henry High and the Roanoke Valley Governor's School
Roger, Brenda, Jason and Mason in memory of Laura Dobbins
Ron and Ann in honor of their buddies
The Thompson family
Diane Beason in memory of Hazel Wickham
Amy V. Graybill in memory of Mr. and Mrs. C. Lewis Graybill and Mr. and Mrs. Sid R Harris and in honor of her mom, Mrs. Gayle H. Graybill, who is her rock
Grace Terry in honor of Frank Terry Jr., her brother
Debbie Trolsen in honor of her dear friend, Brenda Page
Debbie Trolsen in memory of Suzanne Glass, sorely missed friend
Debbie Trolsen in memory of Patty Trolsen Coffman
Debbie Trolsen in honor of Sarah and Todd O'Brien
Garry and Jo Ann Saunders in honor of their grandchildren: Kaitlin, Ashlyn, Ryan and Emily
Kay and Dan Moore in memory of their parents: Eunice and Jimmy Quisenberry and Velma and Joe Moore
Cora L. Cahoon in memory of Owen Cahoon
Brenda Mills in memory of Dale St. Clair, Marie Huffman, Jimmy Oyler, Chet Mills and Bill Grant
Howard "Slick" Fisher in memory of and in honor of military troops
M.B. Spencer
Mr. and Mrs. G. Marshall Mundy in memory of Antonia Ferguson Shepherd, Virginia Shackelford and Louis Tucker
Roy and Dorothy Breeden in memory of loved ones and in honor of brothers and sisters
Roy and Dorothy Breeden in honor of Ben and Liz Breeden
Roy and Dorothy Breeden in honor of Alice Breeden
Roy and Dorothy Breeden in honor of Gerald Breeden
Roy and Dorothy Breeden in honor of Donna and Jerry Gill
Roy and Dorothy Breeden in honor of Melody and Ted Purser
Charles C. Kennedy in memory of deceased family members
Rebecca Leigh Carter in memory of Walter E. Leigh Jr. and in honor of Dorothy Leigh, David and Gail Price, Mark and Debbie Watts, Bob and Carolyn Bent
Beverly W. Kasey in memory of Gloria White and in honor of Herbert White, in the memory of his mother
Rebecca Leigh Carter in memory of Walter Baker and in honor of Margaret Baker, John Dennis and Fran Morgan
Joann Walthall in memory of Jim and Greg Walker, Stephen Walthall
