Person Page - 281

     Barbara Uldine Poff was buried at Harman Cemetery (also known as Poff Family Cemetery or Pineview Cemetery), just off Rt. 114, Vicker, Montgomery Co., Virginia.^2,3 She was born on June 25, 1934 at Vicker, Montgomery Co., Virginia.^2,4 She died on June 26, 1934 at Vicker, Montgomery Co., Virginia.^2,4

     Her Social Security Number was 078-24-5506.⁵ Magdalen Barbara "Mag" Andrews was born on February 25, 1932 at Brooklyn, New York.^5,2 She married William Beverly Poff, son of John William Poff and Pansy Louise Boose, on December 28, 1957 at Charlottesville, Virginia.^1,2,3,4 As of December 28, 1957,her married name was Poff. Magdalen Barbara "Mag" Andrews died on June 10, 1997 at Virginia at age 65.⁵ She TIMES WRITER POFF DIES `ACCURATE,' `GRACIOUS,' `METICULOUS' REPORTER CODY LOWE THE ROANOKE TIMES

This story was written against her wishes, but such a life should not end unnoticed. This is what Mag Poff was like. Tuesday she called a co-worker here at the newspaper three times to give instructions about the material she had prepared for next Monday's Money Page. Mag was lying in a hospital bed, on oxygen, so short of breath that she could speak only a couple of minutes at a time. By day's end, Mag was dead from the effects of a virulent cancer that had overpowered her diminutive body, but not before we knew where she had left behind enough work to cover the next week. Monday, Mag's final contributions to this newspaper's business pages will appear in their usual place - as usual, carefully crafted well ahead of deadline. Magdalen Barbara Andrews Poff was raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., where she was born in 1932. She came to Virginia after winning an all-expense scholarship to Sweet Briar College. Once there, she edited the school newspaper, was elected Phi Beta Kappa and graduated magna cum laude. After college, Mag went to work as the education reporter for the Charlottesville newspaper. During the last half of the 1950s, she covered "massive resistance" to desegregation of the public schools there. Late in 1956, she was assigned to write a story on the judge-advocate general school - where the U.S. Army's lawyers were trained. There she met - and eventually fell in love with - a faculty member named William B. Poff. They married a year later, in December 1957. In 1959, they moved to Roanoke, where he began the practice of law and she became a general-assignment reporter for the city's afternoon newspaper, The World-News. Her first job involved covering the near-continuous conventions at the Hotel Roanoke, and the Norfolk and Western Railway, whose offices were across the street from the hotel. Later she covered City Hall, where her journalistic rival was Jeff DeBell, the reporter for the city's morning paper, The Roanoke Times. "Mag was the first reporter I met when I came to Roanoke in 1966," DeBell, now an editor for the newspaper, recalled Wednesday. "I still remember her warm smile. It made this young newsman feel welcome." Once they started vying for stories, however, "I quickly learned that the owner of that charming smile was a fierce and unrelenting competitor. Whatever skills I developed as a reporter I owe in part to my efforts to beat Mag to an occasional scoop." Mag's efforts didn't go unappreciated by her supervisors. Former Managing Editor John Eure remembers Mag as "one hell of a good newspaperwoman. ... I don't think I had anybody better" as a reporter, Eure said. Her "careful thoroughness and meticulous accuracy" made her "totally dependable." It was that commitment to accuracy and the "consistently high standards she set for herself" that impressed Warner Dalhouse, former chairman of First Union National Bank of Virginia and its predecessor, Dominion Bankshares. By the end of the 1970s, Mag had moved onto the business reporting staff, specializing in covering financial matters. She even attended a series of American Institute of Banking classes at a local college to learn more about that facet of her beat. She developed and reported the Money Page, a Monday feature that included financial advice for consumers. "She asked piercing, insightful questions," Dalhouse said, "but she was never deliberately antagonistic. I think she had determined she could get more real information and persuade her subject to reveal more if she asked the right questions and did a lot of listening. "I admired her a great deal." But there was one enthusiasm Mag would put ahead of even an interview with a source like Dalhouse - her daily aerobics workout.
Judith Shelburne, vice president and creative director at John Lambert Associates, also teaches aerobics. Mag was in her classes for almost six years. Shelburne recalls Mag's near-religious devotion to exercise, including at least one occasion when she talked Dalhouse into postponing an interview until after she had completed her aerobics routine.
Although she often walked to work from her South Roanoke home - usually while reading a book at the same time - Mag missed a midday aerobics session only if she was out of town or an assignment just could not be worked in another time. "She always had something pleasant to say. She made you feel that you were important, even if she was the only one to show up for a class," Shelburne said. "She would walk from The Roanoke Times building to the YMCA come rain, sleet or snow," Shelburne recalled. And she was always smoking. She would extinguish a cigarette on the steps of the Y on the way in, and light up another one on the way out. "She made no apologies about it," Shelburne said. "That was one of the things that was so great about her. She had a strong sense of who she was and she liked to smoke." In 1964, Mag became involved in what has become the Roanoke Valley Sister Cities program. She and her husband, Bill, were instrumental in setting up the organization that now includes official ties between the Roanoke Valley and cities in South Korea, Kenya, China, Russia, Brazil and Poland. Both Poffs served in a variety of leadership roles in the organization, and Mag's meticulously kept records of its early years now are stored in the Roanoke City Main Library as its official history. Mag also had a passion for cats that began when longtime friend Phyllis Harholdt asked her to baby-sit a kitten 25 years ago. After that, Mag had to have a cat, so Harholdt took her friend out to a farm where "Mag picked the runt of the litter. It was the ugliest kitten you ever saw. Its body was twice as long as it should have been. Its legs were twice as short as they should have been. Its tail had a crook in it ... but it grew up into the most beautiful big Persian cat." The Poffs have had what Mag called "a herd of cats" ever since, many of them strays Mag took in and nursed back to health. Start asking people about Mag, and you'll get an earful of compliments, but that was something she was never comfortable with. She wanted no funeral or memorial service and specified that any obituary about her was to say only that "arrangements are private." But on the day after her death, that request couldn't keep many of those who knew her from wanting to express their feelings about what her life meant to them. Beth Obenshain, the newspaper's New River Valley editor, worked with Mag for the past 17 years. "She was very supportive of me and other younger women who worked at the paper. She always showed an interest in our lives, in our work. "At the end, her professionalism was only exceeded by her courage in coming to work every day. To the end, she was gracious, serene, generous." Cody Lowe can be reached at 981-3425 or codyl@roanoke.com on June 12, 1997.²

     Mamie Virginia Snider was buried at Roselawn Memorial Gardens, 2880 North Franklin Street, Christiansburg, Montgomery Co., Virginia.^4,5 She was born on September 15, 1911.⁴ She married Robert Thomas Poff, son of David Daniel Poff and Mary Jane Burke, on October 31, 1928 at Montgomery Co., Virginia.^1,5,2 As of October 31, 1928,her married name was Poff. Mamie Virginia Snider died on December 10, 1993 at Floyd Co., Virginia, at age 82.^4,5 She POFF, Mamie Snider, 82, of Christiansburg, died Friday, December 10, 1993, in Heritage Hall Nursing Home. She was the widow of Robert T. Poff and is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Walter C. (Thelma) Dean, Christiansburg, Mrs. James C. (Betty) Handy, Bristol; one son and daughter-in-law, David L. and Fredene Poff, Christiansburg; one daughter-in-law, Phoebe Poff, Christiansburg; one brother, Thomas Snider, Christiansburg; 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday, at the Richardson-Horne Funeral Home Chapel, conducted by the Rev. Raymond Kelley and Mr. Milton Nester, with burial in Roselawn Memorial Gardens. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be amde to Mt. Tabor United Methodist Church Building Fund, c/o Carroll Adkins, 1195 Radford St., Christiansburg, Va., 24073. The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday evening at the Richardson-Horne Funeral Home. on December 11, 1993.⁵

     Thelma Marie Poff Thelma Poff Dean, age 86, of Christiansburg, VA entered into eternal peace on Saturday, December 19, 2015. She was born to the late Robert T. Poff and Mamie S. Poff on July 25, 1929 in Vicker, VA. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and sister. Thelma was a long time member of Mt. Tabor United Methodist Church (Walton Rd.) in Christiansburg, VA. She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Walter (Dub) Dean, Jr; brother Robert Odell Poff; and granddaughter April Simpkins. Those surviving to honor her memory are her two daughters, Linda Dean White and husband Jim of Milboro, VA., and Martha Dean Young and husband Ronnie of Christiansburg, VA; three grandchildren, Tommy Adkins (Missy), Matt Adkins (Serena), and Jami Ford (Michael); three great-grandchildren, Ashton Dean Andrews (Shane), Karlie Adkins, and Caden Adkins; sister Betty Poff Handy, brother David Poff and a host of nieces and nephews and a number of relatives and close friends. The family would like to express appreciation and thanks for all caregivers at Heritage Hall Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center and LewisGale Hospital Montgomery. The family will receive friends at the Horne Funeral Home on Monday, December 21, 2015, from 1:00pm to 2:00pm followed by a Funeral Service in the Funeral Home Chapel. Internment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Gardens.³ She was buried at Roselawn Memorial Gardens, 2880 North Franklin Street, Christiansburg, Montgomery Co., Virginia.³ She was born on July 25, 1929 at Vicker, Montgomery Co., Virginia.^2,3,4 As of July 1, 1950,her married name was Dean.² She married Walter Ceymour Dean Jr. on July 1, 1950 at Riner, Montgomery Co., Virginia.^5,9,10,6,2,3 Thelma Marie Poff died on December 19, 2015 at Virginia at age 86.³

     Robert Odell Poff Sr. was buried at Dublin Cemetery, off Rt. 11, Pulaski Co., Virginia.^1,4 He was born on December 15, 1930 at Vicker, Montgomery Co., Virginia.^1,4,5 He married Phoebe Jane Sturdivant on December 30, 1955 at Christiansburg, Montgomery Co., Virginia.^1,2,5 Robert Odell Poff Sr. died on April 20, 1984 at Blacksburg, Virginia, at age 53.^1,4

     David Lee Poff was buried at Southwest Virginia Veterans Cemetery, Dublin, Pulaski Co., Virginia.⁵ He was born on April 8, 1932 at Vicker, Montgomery Co., Virginia.^4,5 He married Eva Joyce Epperly, daughter of Willard Linkous Epperly and Annie Ruth Epperly, on January 24, 1953 at Christiansburg, Montgomery Co., Virginia.^3,4 David Lee Poff and Eva Joyce Epperly were divorced on February 11, 1975 at Montgomery Co., Virginia.⁹ David Lee Poff married Fredene Elizabeth Sheppard on January 18, 1986 at Montgomery Co., Virginia.^6,2 David Lee Poff died on May 10, 2020 at Virginia at age 88.⁵ He David Lee Poff, 88, of Radford, passed away on Sunday, May 10, 2020. David was born on April 8, 1932, in Vicker, Va. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Mamie Poff; brother, Odell; sister, Thelma, and daughter, Karen. He is survived by his loving wife, Fredene; sons, Dennis (Beth), Rick (Juliann), and Gary (Teresa); sister, Betty; sister-in-law, Phoebe; 10 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. David (aka Midnight Milker) was a Ruritan member for 54 years, serving his community through the Belmont II Ruritan Club and was a Tom Downing Fellow. He worked at Lynchburg Foundry for 31 years and many would know him as he was an avid farmer and slaughtered many cows and pigs through the years. He loved to go pheasant hunting annually with a group of friends in South Dakota, but we think they all liked Ms. South Dakota better. Due to current government restrictions, no services will be held. A private graveside service will be held at the Southwest Virginia Veterans Cemetery in Dublin. A memorial service will be held at Belview United Methodist Church at a time to be determined. on May 12, 2020.⁵

     Her Social Security Number was 223-30-7821.⁴ Ora Mae Keister was buried at Highland Memory Gardens, Rt. 11 between Dublin and Radford, Pulaski Co., Virginia.^5,6 She was born on September 14, 1913 at Virginia.^4,5,6 She married Edward David "Eddie" Poff, son of David Daniel Poff and Mary Jane Burke, on September 23, 1931 at Montgomery Co., Virginia.^2,3,5,6 As of September 23, 1931,her married name was Poff. Ora Mae Keister died on February 25, 1987 at Blacksburg, Virginia, at age 73.⁶

     John C. Edwards was buried at St. Matthew Cemetery, 910 Dobbins Hollow Road, Riner, Montgomery Co., Virginia.² He married Sallie Epperly. John C. Edwards was born on November 15, 1861.² He died on January 6, 1937 at age 75.²

     Sallie Epperly married John C. Edwards. Sallie Epperly was buried at St. Matthew Cemetery, 910 Dobbins Hollow Road, Riner, Montgomery Co., Virginia.² Her married name was Edwards. She was born on February 19, 1858.² She died on February 3, 1948 at age 89.²

     Joseph "Joe" Mabry was buried at Sayers Cemetery, Wythe Co., Virginia.³ He was born on December 11, 1831 at Carroll Co., Virginia.^1,2,4 He married Mary E. Poff, daughter of Peter Edward Poff and Catherine Radford, on August 14, 1883 at Floyd Co., Virginia.² Joseph "Joe" Mabry died on August 6, 1914 at Lead Mines, Wythe Co., Virginia, at age 82.³

     John McKern was born circa 1819 at Ripley Co., Indiana.² He married Selina Caroline Van Doren on August 9, 1840 at Mount Pleasant, Henry Co., Iowa.^1,3 John McKern John McKern enlisted in the 8th Iowa Volunteer Calvary as a private and was soon appointed Vet Surgeon on Aug. 30, 1863 John with his Regiment was taken prisoner and held at Andersonville Georgia Prison for a time then taken to Goldsboro, North Carolina where he died Feb. 21, 1864 in his 45th year. in 1863.³ He died on February 21, 1864 at Goldsboro, Wayne Co., North Carolina.³

     His Social Security Number was 224-09-1332.⁷ Curtis Fisher Bell was buried at Pensacola Memorial Gardens, Pensacola, Escambia Co., Florida.^3,8 He was born on September 26, 1913 at Little River, Floyd Co., Virginia.^2,7,3,4,6 He married Bernice Christine Plaster on December 28, 1932 at Botetourt Co., Virginia.⁵ Curtis Fisher Bell died on May 19, 1972 at Escambia Co., Florida, at age 58.^2,3,8 He Curtis P. Bell, 58, of 401 New York Dr., died Friday in a local nursing home. He was a resident of Pensacola for the past 11 years and was manaqer of the Circle American Oil Service Station. Survivors Include his widow, Mrs. Bernice Bell of Pensacola; a son, Raymond O. Bell of Portland, Ind; a brother, Ray Bell of Copper Hill, Va. and two grandchildren. Burial will be in Pensacola Memorial Garden Cemetery. on May 21, 1972.⁸

     His Social Security Number was 224-03-9921.⁶ Preston Burll Poff was born on April 7, 1919 at Willis, Floyd Co., Virginia; All records except his birth certificate have a birth year of 1918.^6,4,5,7 He died on May 17, 1970 at Dade Co., Florida, at age 51.^6,5

     Richard Poff was born circa 1839 at Virginia.¹

     John Henry Poff was buried at Head of the River Cemetery (also known as Salem Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery), Rt. 221, Check, Floyd Co., Virginia; His tombstone reads "J. H. Poff age 79."^4,3 He was born on September 8, 1846 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^5,1,3 He married Mary Magdaline "Polly" Bird, daughter of William Bird Jr. and Asenath Sink, on April 28, 1871 at Floyd Co., Virginia.¹ John Henry Poff died on April 5, 1926 at Locust Grove, Floyd Co., Virginia, at age 79.^6,3

     Malinda Alice Richards was buried at Monte Vista Park Cemetery, Bluefield, Mercer Co., West Virginia.^3,4 She was born on January 17, 1871 at Floyd Co., Virginia; Her death certificate has a birth date of Jan 8, 1871.^2,3,6 She married John Cleve McGhee, son of William Thomas McGhee and Elizabeth Conner, on March 9, 1892 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^1,3,7 As of March 9, 1892,her married name was McGhee. Malinda Alice Richards died on December 19, 1936 at Bluefield, Mercer Co., West Virginia, at age 65.^3,8 She Mrs. J. C. McGhee, 65, a resident of Bluefield for many years, died last night at her home on Bluefield avenue. She had been in failing health for a number of years and for the past two weeks had been suffering from pneumonia. She is survived by her husband, three sons, Preston McGhee, of Beckley; Albert McGhee, of Winding Gulf, and Leonard McGhee, of Bluefield, also two daughters, Miss Lena McGhee and Mrs. Joe Shepherd, both of Bluefield. Five brothers and two sisters also survive, namely, Lee Richards, who is in a war veterans camp: Albert Richards, of Norton; Floyd Richards, of Kentucky; J. R. Richards, of Christiansburg; Elmer Richards, of Bluefield; Mrs. W. H. McGhee, of Princeton avenue, and Mrs. T. C. Jones, of Pulaski. on December 20, 1936.⁸

     Ann "Annie" McKern was born on August 19, 1822 at Indiana.² As of March 26, 1846,her married name was McMurren. She married Thomas McMurren on March 26, 1846 at Henry Co., Iowa.^2,1 Ann "Annie" McKern died on April 5, 1900 at Fort Thomas, Graham Co., Arizona Territory, at age 77.²

     Mary J. Poff was buried at Howell-Slusher Cemetery, 158 Fairview Church Road, Floyd, Floyd Co., Virginia.¹ She was born on January 13, 1853 at Franklin Co., Virginia.^1,2,6 As of August 13, 1896,her married name was Howell.⁶ She married Elisha Howell on August 13, 1896 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^1,2,7 Mary J. Poff died on December 22, 1900 at Floyd Co., Virginia, at age 47.^1,2

     Etta Florence Wimmer was buried at Huffville Union Church Cemetery, Terrys Fork, Floyd Co., Virginia.^6,5,7 She was born on March 9, 1885 at Montgomery Co., Virginia.^6,1,5,7 She married Robert Trigg Walters on December 26, 1905 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^1,8,3,5 As of December 26, 1905,her married name was Walters. Etta Florence Wimmer died on January 17, 1970 at Christiansburg, Montgomery Co., Virginia, at age 84.^6,3,5,7 She Etta Wimmer Walters, 84, Pilot, widow of Robert T. Walters, died Saturday in the Christiansburg hospital. Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Oscar Duncan, Pilot, Mrs. Clint Nolley, Chrlstiansburg; a son, Rassie Walters, Pilot; a sister, Mrs. Iva King, Christiansburg; three brothers, Edgar H. Wimmer, Pilot, Ezra P. Wimmer, Chrlstiansburg, Stanley G. Wimmer, Danville. Funeral services were today at Huffville Church, Floyd County, with burial in the church cemetery. Richardson Funeral Home, Christiansburg, handled arrangements. on January 19, 1970.³

     Erasmus Elmer Wimmer was born on September 16, 1895 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^1,4 He died on June 6, 1917 at Locust Grove, Floyd Co., Virginia, at age 21.⁴

     Stanley Garner Wimmer was buried at Sunset Cemetery, North Franklin Street, Christiansburg, Montgomery Co., Virginia.^8,9 His Social Security Number was 231-42-1972.¹⁰ He married Elsie Haymore.⁹ Stanley Garner Wimmer was born on July 22, 1899 at Huffville, Floyd Co., Virginia.^8,1,10,2,9,3 He married Loula Blanche "Lou" Epperly, daughter of Charles E. Epperly and Harriet E. "Hattie" Payne, on May 14, 1920 at Montgomery Co., Virginia.^1,11,7,12 Stanley Garner Wimmer died on February 6, 1979 at Danville, Virginia, at age 79.^8,1,9 He DANVILLE - Stanley G. Wimmer, age 79, of 102 Greenwood Lane, formerly of Christiansburg, died early Tuesday, February 6, 1979, in a Danville hospital. He was the retired owner of S. G. Wimmer and Son in Christiansburg and Wimmer and Wimmer, Inc. in Danville, both John Deere implement dealerships. Born in Huffville, Floyd County, in 1899, he moved to Christiansburg in 1931. He was active in civic affiars in Montgomery County for a number of years and served on the Christiansburg Town Council and was mayor of the town for two terms. Wimmer was a charter member and past president of the Christiansburg Lions Club, past president of the Virginia Canners Association, a past director and officer of the Virginia Farm and Industrial Equipment Association and owned and operated Brush Creek Canning Factory in Christiansburg for a number of years. He had been a member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church and served on the administrative board there before moving to Danville and becoming a member of the Design United Methodist Chuch there. Surviving are his wife, Elsie Haymore Wimmer, Danville; one son, Nelson J. Wimmer, Christiansburg; one brother, Edgar H. Wimmer, Pilot; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren. The funeral was held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, February 8, 1979, from the Richardson-Horne Funeral Home, Christiansburg, with interment in Sunset Cemetery. on February 15, 1979.⁹

     His Social Security Number was 227-10-9832.⁵ Robert Trigg Walters was buried at Huffville Union Church Cemetery, Terrys Fork, Floyd Co., Virginia.^6,7,8 He was born on May 22, 1881 at Montgomery Co., Virginia.^{6,1,2,5,7,8,4} He married Etta Florence Wimmer, daughter of Flemon Burwell/Burrell "Fleming" Wimmer and Mary Ann "Mollie" Correll, on December 26, 1905 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^1,9,10,7 Robert Trigg Walters died on August 18, 1962 at Pilot, Montgomery Co., Virginia, at age 81.^6,7,8

     Her Social Security Number was 229-05-9399.⁵ Myrtle Annie Walters was buried at Huffville Union Church Cemetery, Terrys Fork, Floyd Co., Virginia.^6,1 She Mrs. Myrtle W. Duncan, age 67, of Rt. 4, died Saturday night in the Montgomery County Hospital. Surviving are her husband, Oscar E. Duncan; two sons, Paul A. Duncan, Blacksburg; R. B. Duncan, Christiansburg; a sister, Mrs. Erma W. Nolley, Pilot; a brother, Rasie Walters, Pilot; four grandchildren, Gary Duncan, Gerald Duncan, David Paul Duncan and Martha Duncan. Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday from Huffville Church by the Rev. Eugene Sowder, Rev. Richard Horne and the Rev. Jim Moran with burial in the Huffville Cemetery.¹ She married Oscar Eddie Duncan.^6,1 Her married name was Duncan. Myrtle Annie Walters was born on August 8, 1909 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^5,6 She died on December 3, 1977 at Montgomery Co., Virginia, at age 68.^6,1

     Her Social Security Number was 226-16-5994.⁸ Irma Ossie Walters was buried at Huffville Union Church Cemetery, Terrys Fork, Floyd Co., Virginia.^3,4 She was born on July 29, 1911 at Huffville, Floyd Co., Virginia.^8,2,4 As of December 17, 1932,her married name was Nolley.⁷ She married Jacob Clinton "Clint" Nolley on December 17, 1932 at Montgomery Co., Virginia.^3,4,7 Irma Ossie Walters died on August 5, 1978 at Blacksburg, Virginia, at age 67.^3,4

     Her Social Security Number was 231-05-7856.⁶ Dora Grace Wimmer was buried at Sherwood Burial Park, 1045 Lynchburg Turnpike, Salem, Roanoke Co., Virginia.^2,4 She was born on January 20, 1911 at Roanoke, Virginia.^2,3,6,4 As of December 12, 1931,her married name was Eggleston.³ She married Jesse Dillard Eggleston on December 12, 1931 at Roanoke, Virginia.^2,4,3 Dora Grace Wimmer died on January 8, 1979 at Roanoke, Virginia, at age 67.^2,4