Estel Freeland Blankenship, 72, of Clarksville, TN and formally of Bedford, VA joined his wife in glory on Tuesday, March 16, 2021. He was born in Iaeger, WV on April 19, 1948, a son of the late Estel Melbourne Blankenship and Elsie Roberts Blankenship. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Violet Louise Robinette Blankenship. Freeland was a truck driver for forty-five years. He was known in the trucking industry as “Preacher” and “Roadrunner”. He was also a lay pastor for many years. He is survived by his son, Tim Blankenship and wife, Althea; grandsons, Matthew Blankenship, Jesse (Hannah) Blankenship; and six great-grandchildren. A graveside service will be held 2:00 p.m., Sunday, March, 21, 2021 at Church of the Great Shepherd Cemetery with Pastor Homer Hensley. Family will receive friends 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., Saturday, at Burch-Messier Walnut Street Chapel.
Brian David Raub, of Smith Mountain Lake, VA (and previously, Greenville, PA and Wynnewood, PA), passed away on March 10, 2021 after a nine-month battle with rare duodenal cancer. Brian’s unwavering strength of character, Christian faith, and moral insight drove a lifelong insistence on what’s right over what’s easy, on kindness without publicity, and on generosity toward both neighbor and stranger. Born on August 5, 1953, in Grove City, PA, Brian was the third of four sons. He was born into the adept hands of his father, Paul Lester Raub II, D.O., and to his beloved mother, Miriam Geraldine Smith Raub. Brian was a man of many marks: The “iron cradle” wrestler and nationwide top-50 wrestling senior (1971) with an almost unbeatable pin. Leader of his Greenville High School Class of 1971: Student Council President, President of the Varsity Club, and Captain of the wrestling team. A small-town kid with big-world dreams – and his pick of acceptances to Yale, Harvard, and Princeton. He chose Yale (1971-1975), where he was named Outstanding Freshmen Wrestler, Business Manager and then General Manager at Yale Banner Publications. In 1977, he graduated with an MBA from Harvard Business School. In 1972, Brian married his best friend and high school sweetheart, Lisa. She also chose Yale and together, they became the university’s second-ever married undergraduate couple. Brian also became Lisa’s fiercest cheerleader, providing unwavering encouragement throughout a lifetime of academic, personal, and professional endeavors. In 1983, they welcomed their first and only child: a daughter, Erin. As children so often do, Erin became Brian’s greatest pride, deepest joy, and impetus for many future paths. (And also, clearly, the writer of this obituary.) Brian’s pursuit of work-family life balance, paired with his entrepreneurial drive, led him launch the Vacation Villa Referral Center (VVRC), a visionary vacation rental website and predecessor to 
Diana Lynn Simpson Holbrook, 32 of Bedford, passed away Friday, March 5, 2021. She was born in Baltimore, MD on January 12, 1989 a daughter of James Simpson and Misty Slonaker Little. In addition to her parents, she is survived by her children, Tyran Lewis, Connor Lewis, Mattilynn Holbrook, Laila Holbrook; brother, James Simpson III; sisters, Lanie Blankenship, Jessie Bowden, Olivia Simpson and Tiffany Meadows; grandparents, Dana and Donald Jackson; uncle, Kelly Slonaker; and special people, Rodney Bowden, Brian Meadows, and Kelly Blankenship. Family will receive friends 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 9, 2021 at Burch-Messier Walnut Street Chapel, 1235 Walnut St. Bedford. Arrangements by Burch-Messier Funeral Home, Bedford, 540-586-7360.