Wayne Lewis Roakes, age 85, passed away peacefully of natural causes on December 28, 2020. He was born January 26, 1935 in Lynchburg, VA. to Louise Moore Roakes and Asa Mitchell Roakes. After graduating from EC Glass High School, he attended Duke University followed by serving in the US Air Force. He was stationed in Germany when he met his lifelong love and wife for 61 years, Adelheid Thul. Wayne and Adelheid married in Germany and shortly after had two daughters, Susan and Sally. Wayne returned to Lynchburg with his family and began working as a surveyor for Wiley & Wilson. He later became the Controller for the firm. Wayne finished his finance career as Bursar for Virginia Episcopal School. Wayne was an incredibly loving and caring son, husband, father and grandfather. Wayne was well known in Lynchburg for his singing: in the Park View Methodist Church choir, many revivals, weddings and funerals, barbershop quartet and the Jefferson Choral Society. He enjoyed distance running and faithfully ran the Lynchburg Ten Miler annually as well as several marathons. Proceeded in death by his wife and brother, Robert Roakes (survived by wife Elayne), Wayne leaves behind his daughters, Susan Roakes, of Memphis, TN and Sally Wilson and her husband, Kendall Wilson, of Alexandria, VA; grandsons, Isaac Wilson of Salt Lake City, UT, Nathan Wilson of Washington, DC, and Eli Buncick-Roakes of Memphis, TN. Wayne is survived by his brother Donald Roakes and his wife, Dolores of Lynchburg, VA, and niece Cindy Green of Scottsdale, AZ. A celebration of his life will be held in Lynchburg once it’s safe to gather. Burch-Messier Funeral Home, Bedford, 540-586-7360, is assisting the famil

Michael Raymond Waller, 56, of Bedford, passed away Monday, December 28, 2020. He was born in Ocala, FL on February 7, 1964, a son of the late Bobby Waller and Katherine Woods Pope. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Terri Miller and step-father, Clay Pope. Michael was the owner of Bedford Pawn and Guns. He is survived by his son, Steven Waller; his daughter, Nina Martin; granddaughter, Delilah Waller; and brother, Richard Waller. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, January 16, 2021 at Liberty Cowboy Church with Rev. Danny Holdren officiating. Arrangements by Burch-Messier Funeral Home, 317 W. Main Street, Bedford, 540-586-7360.

Edith “Edie” Hicks Martin, 46, of Bedford, passed away on Sunday, December 27, 2020. She was born in Roanoke, VA on June 1, 1974, a daughter of Donald Reid “Don” Hicks and Debie Moore Hicks. In addition to her parents, she is survived by her husband, Joseph Daniel “Joe” Martin; daughter, Madlyn Clair Martin-Zimny and husband, Jason; and six dogs, Pearl, Bentley, Reece, Zoey, Beau, and Aslan. A memorial service will be held Wednesday, 5:00 p.m., December 30, 2020, at Burch-Messier Walnut Street Chapel, 1235 Walnut St. Bedford with Rev. Jimmy Compton officiating. Family will receive friends immediately following the service. The family would like to thank everyone at the Pearson Cancer Center for their wonderful care of Edie over the last 9 years. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Pearson Cancer Center, Bedford Christian Church, or Bedford Humane Society. Arrangements by Burch-Messier Funeral Home, Bedford, 540-586-7360.

Gordon Edward Bittler, 60, of Bedford, passed away Sunday, December 27, 2020. He was born in Canada, on June 4, 1960, a son of the late William Bittler and Hazeltine Lawhorn Pike. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Samantha Bittler. He is survived by his wife, Ellen Overstreet Bittler; sons, Grant and wife, Larryn, Seth and wife, Sarah, Z.J. and Angel; grandchildren, Lucas, Isaac, Sebastian, Dixie, Americus, Brandon, and Willard; brother, Greg Bittler; sister, Lisa Russell and husband, Jack; and numerous nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends 4:00 – 7:00 p.m., Thursday, December 31, 2020 at Burch-Messier Walnut Street Chapel, 1235 Walnut St., Bedford. Arrangements by Burch-Messier Funeral Home, Bedford, 540-586-7360.

Morris Parker Hodnett, 76, son of the late Walter and Beulah Hodnett passed away December 26, 2020. He is survived by his wife, Mary Lou; sons, Michael Hodnett, Todd Hodnett (Amy), Steven Crawford II (Sharon Clark), and John Hodnett (Sarah); his sister, Carolyn Hollie (Buddie), and ten wonderful grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his nephew, Keith Hollie, his uncle, Bernard Hodnett, and his sister, Gloria Joy and her husband Rex. In his life he enjoyed many careers such as builder, salesman, accountant, truck driver, and a school bus driver. He was also the proprietor of Pop’s Pizza, a video store, and two country stores. Mostly he loved to be around people. He will be missed. A private funeral service will be held at New Chapel Church cemetery. Arrangements by Burch-Messier Funeral Home, Bedford, 540-586-7360.

Harold Francis Wright, age 87, died peacefully at home on December 25, 2020. He was born July 22, 1933 in Brooklyn, New York, to Francis and Ann Wright. He served in the US Navy and was a sales manager in the paper industry for most of his career, traveling the country. Family was everything to him. He is survived by his wife of 65 years Anne (Morrissey) Wright, children Michael (Fran) Wright, Beth (Bill) Halsey, Theresa (Shawn) Slason, Susan Calsetta, Deborah (Kevin) Coughlan, David (Joanne) Wright, Laura (David) Stankiewicz; grandchildren Paul, Emily, Thomas, Michelle, Elizabeth, Stephen, Julia, Danielle, Alex, Ryan, Eric, Brian, Kimberly, Daniel, Mark, Joseph, and Nicole, great-grandchildren Georgiana and Shawn; and sister Barbara, pre-deceased by sister Eleanor. No public services will be held. In lieu of flowers, his family requests you make donations to the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund https://curealz.org/ Arrangements by Burch-Messier Funeral Home. For condolences and more information visit Home | Burch Messier (burch-messier.com).

Elena Mae Mason Burch, age 92, went to be with her almighty father on Christmas Day 2020. She was born on March 7, 1928 to Charles Arie Mason, Sr and Annie Clark Mason. She was proceeded in death by her loving husband, Garland “Mutt” Burch; her son, Harry Hope Sheltman, Jr.; grandson, Scott Arie Burch; brothers, Matthew Mason, Charles Mason, Jr., Graham Mason, Ashby Mason Sr, Orie Mason, sisters, Lee Anna Massie, and Vealy Mason. She is survived by her daughters, Judith Haviland, Donna Otey (Warren) and son B. Kevin Sheltman (Heidi); her grandchildren, Chris Burch (Betsy), Michael Cochran, Renee’ Dunford (Wade); great- grandchildren, Connor Dunford, Ryleigh, Cullen and Romie Cochran, Caid and Levi Burch; and many nieces and nephews. Elena lived to serve the Lord and our almighty God. She was a founding member of Calvary Brethren Church in Buena Vista where she worshipped until she became ill. A private family burial will be held. Arrangements by Burch-Messier Funeral Home, Bedford, 540-586-7360. 

Lewis William Burch, Jr., 73, of Buena Vista, died Monday, December 21, 2020.  He was born in Lexington on January 19, 1947 a son of the late Lewis William Burch, Sr. and Frances Lee Wise Burch. Lewis served his country in the United States Air Force with 22 years of service. He is survived by his wife, Kaseam Yoosago Burch; his children, Therasia Burket and husband, Roong, Timothy Lee Burch, Lori Ann Conner and Andrew Eric Burch; his grandchildren, Hillary Cash, Logan Burket, Lucas Conner, Alexis Burket; a brother, Larry W. Burch; a sister, Carol Burch Allen; and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to a charity of your choice. A memorial service will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 2, 2021 at First Brethren Church, 100 E. 29^th Street, Buena Vista with Rev. Mike Hamilton officiating.  Military honors will be given by the U.S. Air Force. Arrangements by Burch-Messier Funeral Home, Bedford, 540-540-7360.   

Bartholomew “Bart” John Starkey, 89, of Westlake, VA, passed from this life Saturday, December 19, 2020, at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital following a brief illness. Bart was born November 26, 1931, in Kearny, NJ, the youngest of three children of James Francis and Marie Katherine (Delaney) Starkey. After graduating Saint Benedict’s Preparatory School in Newark, NJ, he attended Villanova University in Philadelphia, PA. He graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering in 1953. While at Villanova, he met the love of his life, Patricia “Pat” Anne Gallagher, from nearby Chestnut Hill College. They began their 65-year marriage on June 18, 1955. He was a Navy veteran, serving in the Navy at bases in Norfolk, VA, and Cleveland, OH, from 1955-1957. He remained in the Navy Reserve until 1967, when he left the service as a First Lieutenant. Bart began a career with E. I. DuPont de Nemours Company in Wilmington, DE upon graduation from Villanova. His DuPont career spanned 37 years, during which he secured several patents, including a process for the production of polyethylene. From Wilmington, DuPont transferred Bart, Pat, and family to Orange, TX (Sabine River Works), and finally to Vienna, WV (Washington Works). He retired in 1991 as an Engineering Fellow. After his retirement, he was devoted to Parkersburg (WV) Catholic Schools, investing countless hours installing the initial IT systems for student use; he was awarded the Bishop’s Cross for this work in 2002. Bart always enjoyed travel, and in retirement he and Pat traveled extensively both domestically and abroad, many times with his beloved sister, Mary Beth Purcell. He always wanted to see over the horizon, and so in 2003, he and Pat moved to Mariner’s Landing on Virginia’s Smith Mountain Lake. He delighted in hosting numerous family and friends at the lake and on his pontoon boat. Bart was a devout, earnest, and humble family man. In addition to his wife, Pat, he is survived by his six loving children, Mary Beth (Joe) Dickey, of Clover, SC; John (Nancy McKitrick) of Snellville, GA; Katherine (Brad) Rings of Wirtz, VA; Neal (Stacy Hodges) of Roswell, GA; Thomas of Richmond, VA; Theresa (John) Moritz of Charlotte, NC; 12 grandchildren; and many dear nephews, nieces, and other close family members. He was preceded in death by one infant daughter, Margaret Mary, and one grandson, Joshua Neal Starkey. There will be a family funeral on Tuesday, December 22, 2020, at Resurrection Catholic Church, Moneta, VA, with interment immediately following in the church cemetery. Arrangements are being handled by Burch-Messier Funeral Home, Bedford, VA; condolences may be left at Burch-Messier.com. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made on Bart’s behalf to Resurrection Catholic Church Wednesday Women’s Group (resurrectioncatholic.org), Lake Christian Ministries (lakechristianministries.org), or Parkersburg Catholic Schools (parkersburgcatholic.com). A memorial mass and reception will be held once Covid-related restrictions ease. The family would like to express their appreciation to Runk & Pratt Senior Living Community in Westlake, VA, for the compassionate care provided to Bart over the last years of his life.

Alfred Timothy “Tim” Duff, 62, of Rustburg, died Saturday, December 19, 2020 in Lynchburg General Hospital.  He was born on May 13, 1958 a son of the late James Preston Duff, Sr. and Loretta Moore Duff.  Tim served his country in the US Marines. He loved his wife, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, his family and work family. Tim enjoyed motorcycles and going to Myrtle Beach. He is survived by his wife, Rhonda Wilson Duff; his children, Amanda Duff, Shawn Duff, Selina Crank and Kenneth; Lawrence Crank, III and wife, Jenny; Chere Franklin; his grandchildren, Kayla, Chloe, Lily, Jax, Savannah, Ethan, Ella, Kai, Faith, Dilan, Ryan, Liam, Haley and Brandon; his great-grandchildren, Josie, Onyx and Ostin; his siblings, Jim Duff, Tommy Duff and wife, Susan, Mary Duff; his nephews, Jimmie Duff, Preston Duff and Andrew Vanderheyden. As per his wishes Tim was cremated and there will be no services.  Arrangements by Burch-Messier Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Bedford, 540-586-7360.