Charles Abbott “Chuck” Salter, 85, of Bedford, died Sunday, June 28, 2020. He was born in Harkers Island, NC on May 30, 1935 a son of the late Abbott Salter and Laurenna Rose Salter. He proudly served his country in the United States Air Force and he was a retired Sgt. with the New Jersey State Police with thirty-two years of service. He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Shirley Hagerman Salter; four children, Debi Sagerholm, Dona Salter, Tom Salter, Kelly Pizzola; and four grandchildren, Tommy Salter, Stephanie Salter, Nicole Martin, and Bobby Martin. Per his wishes no services will be held. Arrangements by Burch-Messier Funeral Home, Bedford, 540-586-7360.

“A life well lived” Anita Crowell, 97, died Friday, June 26, 2020 in her beloved Bedford, VA. She was born on January 11, 1923 in Woonsocket, RI a daughter of the late Delphus and Emma (Cote) Duval. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Everett “Peewee” Crowell; son, Bruce Crowell; two brothers and three sisters. When Anita wasn’t motorcycling with her husband, Peewee, hiking with the Happy Hikers, working out at the “Y”, or doing crafts, she was always doing something for someone else. Her thoughtfulness and generosity are renowned from Connecticut to Virginia to California. And her brownies were heavenly! “A life well lived”, indeed! She is survived by her daughter, Janice Crowell of Grass Valley, CA; granddaughter, Hollen (Tim) Monroe of Durham, CT; niece and nephew, Sharon and Tom Bolles of Bedford; sister-in-law, Joyce Majeski of Meriden, CT; beloved friends, Craig and Jan Morrow of Herndon, VA, Carl and Dot Craig, Case and Coby Pieterman all of Bedford, VA; and many others. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Arrangements by Burch-Messier Funeral Home, Bedford, 540-586-7360.

Barbara Perrone of Lynchburg, Va. passed away June 23 (and as a HAM radio operator, WD4HAH, became a Silent Key), surrounded by family at her happy place on Smith Mountain Lake. A native of Dayton, Ohio, Barbara was the daughter of Ben and Peg Jakobowski. She graduated with honors from the University of Dayton and married the love of her life, Paul, shortly thereafter. June 26 would have been their 55^th wedding anniversary. Barbara made a profession of service to others. She was a long-time teacher’s assistant at Linkhorne Elementary, a museum shop docent at Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest and the national D-Day Memorial, and a volunteer at the Smith Mountain Lake American Cancer Society’s Discovery Shop. Barbara also served on the Board of Directors of the Society of St. Andrew. Her most indelible mark was left on her family, as a devoted and loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She made every family member feel special by remembering their favorite things, leaving special treats on their beds, and traveling the world with her grandkids when they turned 13. Her passion for Christmas, ACC basketball, and all things Thomas Jefferson was legendary. Barbara often said to “bloom where you are planted” and she found beauty in all things. Barbara is survived by Paul, her husband of 55 years; her daughter, Peggy Weiss and husband, Oliver; her son, Pete Perrone and wife, Margaret; and her grandchildren, Gray and Will Perrone, Samantha and Max Weiss. A Funeral Mass to celebrate Barbara’s life will take place at 10:30am on July 11 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Lynchburg, followed by interment at the Resurrection Catholic Church Cemetery, Moneta, VA. Family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Society of St. Andrew or the Westminster-Canterbury of Lynchburg Foundation. Arrangements by Burch-Messier Funeral Home, Bedford, 540-586-7360.

Lorraine “Sandy” MacDougall of Lynchburg, VA, passed away on Monday, June 22, 2020 at the age of 77 with the love of her family surrounding her. Sandy MacDougall was born on January 18, 1943, in New York to Alexander and Lorraine MacDougall. She grew up as the eldest of two and attended Ladycliff Academy and Fordham University. In 1992, Sandy changed careers, earned her B.A. in Psychology at Corpus Christi State University and spent her career as a substance abuse counselor helping those battling addiction, most notably at the Betty Ford Center. Sandy is survived by her partner of more than 32 years, Debra Ann Milam of Lynchburg, VA; brother Bruce MacDougall of Santa Rosa, CA; sister-in-law Barbara MacDougall of Rohnert Park CA; four daughters Patti & Mark McNeil of Houston, TX; Susanne Logan of Corpus Christi, TX; Colleen & Michael Churn of San Antonio, TX; Meagan Young of Austin, TX; ten grandchildren: Nathan Ledesma (Claire), Alexander Zapata (Jessica), Aaron Jay Ledesma (Tim), Derrick Zapata, Darren Churn, David McNeil, Cade Young, Kathleen McNeil, Blake Churn, and Evan Young; niece Melissa Porter (Corban); nephew Scott MacDougall; and great-nephews Miles and Camden Porter. She is preceded in death by her parents Alexander and Lorraine MacDougall. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Columbia University Irving Medical Center’s Pediatric Cardiology unit, where Sandy was a patient as a young girl. Sandy’s full life would not have been possible without the dedicated men and women of that unit many decades ago. Burch Messier Funeral Home, 317 West Main Street, Bedford (540-586-7360) is assisting the family.  

Douglas Devon Soles, Jr., 53, of Lynchburg, died Friday, June 19, 2020. He was born in Lumberton, NC on February 10, 1967 a son of Douglas Devon Soles, Sr. and Linda Weatherford Soles. He proudly served his country in the United States Air Force. After serving ten years, he went to Saudi Arabia for three years and taught Aviation Mechanics on F-15’s. He was employed at BWXT, and he enjoyed fishing, shooting, and fast cars. He was a man with a warm heart that cared for others and was a blessing to everyone he met. In addition to his parents, Douglas Sr. and Linda, he is survived by his wife of 21 years, Laurie Bell Soles; daughter, Jaime Lynn Soles; sister, Dawn S. Riccioni; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews; and his beloved pets, Kitty, Smokey, Prissy, Izzie, Sammie, Minnie, Luckey, Buddy, Jesse, and Daisy Mae. A funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m., Saturday, June 27, 2020 at Iron Hill Baptist Church, 22247 Peacock Road, Tabor City, NC 28463, with Pastor Dale Willoughby officiating.  Burial will follow in Gore Cemetery. And a Celebration of Life will be held 11:00 a.m., Saturday, July 4, 2020 at Pleasant View Baptist Church, 19278 Forest Road, Lynchburg, VA with Rev. Rick Ewing officiating. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to help his wife during this difficult time, Laurie Soles, 317 W. Main Street, Bedford, 24523. Arrangements by Burch-Messier Funeral Home, Bedford, 540-586-7360.

Michael Pilcz, 84, of Huddleston, died Saturday, June 6, 2020. He was born on June 14, 1935 in Varoslod, Hungary, a son of the late Joseph Pilcz and Rose Weisz Pilcz. Mike came to America on December 18, 1956 to NJ. He lived in Pompton Lakes with his aunt, uncle, and three cousins for 2 ½ years working at a Grand Union food store and learned to speak English. He served in the United States Army from 1959-1961. Then he became a proud citizen of the USA in 1961. In 1961, Mike met the love of his life Doris G. Langhage. They were engaged in 1962 and were married May 11, 1963 and lived in Pequannock from 1963 to 1995. When they retired and moved to Smith Mountain Lake, Huddleston, VA. He worked as a mechanical designer, draftsman all of his life. And worked at Air Craft Radio & Bendix, Allied Signal. He enjoyed camping, traveling, gardening, woodworking, volunteering for ten years, working with Resurrection Catholic Church Tuesday men’s group and his many treasured friends. In addition to his wife, he has three adopted children Michael R. Pilcz, Nancy A. Pilcz, David S. Pilcz; sister, Frances (Manci) Roth and husband, John and their family in Hungary. A Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, June 13, 2020 at Resurrection Catholic Church with Father Salvador Añonuevo celebrating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Family will receive friends two hours prior to the service beginning at 11:00 a.m. Masks will be required and social distancing will be in effect. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Bedford Hospice House or the Pearson Cancer Society. Arrangements by Burch-Messier Funeral Home, Bedford, 540-586-7360.

John Menna Sr., age 72, born September 13, 1947, suddenly lost his life due to a senseless crime in his home in Moneta, VA on June 4, 2020.  Born, raised, and longtime resident of Red Bank, NJ, John’s fondest days were spent at his family’s butcher shop, the West Bergen Market.  A graduate of Red Bank Regional High School in 1965, he went on to become a member of Laborers Local 472 for 17 years and later Ford Motor Company. He then started and successfully ran his own business, Westside Landscaping in Red Bank, until he retired in 2010 and fulfilled his lifelong dream of moving to Smith Mountain Lake, VA. An avid outdoorsman and marksman, he loved hunting, fishing, and boating with his many close-knit and lifelong friends. In SML he was an active member of the community, holding an array of jobs, including a range safety officer at the W.E. Skelton 4-H Center and most recently at Capps Home Building Center, Westlake. He was a wonderful cook, loved to read and was a friend to everyone, with unlimited love and jokes to share. He is predeceased by his parents Albert and Mary Ann Menna of Red Bank. John is lovingly remembered by his two sons, John Jr. and his wife Tiffany of Toms River, NJ, Thomas and girlfriend Corrina of Toms River, NJ; sister, Linda Mihalic and her husband Tony of Howell, NJ; granddaughter, Eloise, who he adored; and the rest of his family and many life-long friends. A memorial service will be held at a later date; one in Virginia and one in New Jersey. Arrangements by Burch-Messier Funeral Home, Bedford, VA 540-586-7360.

Mary Branch Hamilton, 83, of Bedford, died Monday, June 1, 2020. She was born in Buckingham, VA on November 18, 1936 a daughter of the late Dorsie Branch and Martha Harris Branch. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Herbert Clayton Hamilton, Sr.; children, Frank Lawrence Charlton, Jr., Patricia Diane Munnings, Charles Scott Hamilton; grandson, Joshua Hamilton Stroop; and sisters, Estelle Kidd and Grace O’Neal. She was retired from Red Lobster in Richmond. Mary is survived by her children, Linda Craven, Herbert “Bud” Hamilton, Jr., Abram “Bubba” Hamilton, Wayne Hamilton, Teresa Hamilton, Terry Lynn Hamilton; siblings, Frank Branch, Shirley Branch, Garland Branch, Russell Branch, Jean Brown, Tina Shumaker, Lorene Perry; her special friend, Tom Hoffstatter; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A graveside service will be held 2:00 p.m., Monday, June 8, 2020 at Holy Land Cemetery with a pastor from Blue Ridge Community Church officiating. Arrangements by Burch-Messier Funeral Home, Bedford, 540-586-7360. 

Ronald Lewis Fulton, 77, of Bedford died Monday, June 1, 2020 at Oakwood Manor. He was born in Bedford, VA on September 15, 1942, a son of the late Jessie Booker Fulton and Bertha Creasy Fulton. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his brother, Roger Fulton. Ronnie was a lifetime resident of Bedford; living at home and working in the family grocery store, Fulton’s Fruit and Confectionary on Longwood Avenue. Later in life he began working for the State Fair Systems in Virginia, West Virginia and other fair organizations. He enjoyed traveling, RV’ing and camping with friends. For the last 3 years he was a resident of Oakwood Manor at the Bedford Hospital. He enjoyed the local traffic of friends and acquaintances that passed through their doors. The staff at the facility gave him the best of care and the family wishes to express their thanks to them. He is survived by his brother, Robert Fulton and wife Susie; his sister, Roslyn Fulton; nieces and nephew, whom he was very fond of, Kim Fulton Beazley and daughter, Skylar, Chris Fulton and wife Whitney and their daughters, Gwendolyn and Petranella, and Lillie Beth Fulton and her sons, Mason, Owen  and Rilan. A graveside service will be held on Sunday, June 7, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. at Greenwood Cemetery with Rev. Jimmy Compton officiating. In lieu of flowers those wishing to make contributions, please consider the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123. Arrangements by Burch-Messier Funeral Home, Bedford, 540-586-7360.