Edward Vandergriff

BLACKSBURG Edward "Mr. Ed" Newell Vandergriff, 95, passed away Wednesday, May 16, 2012 surrounded by family and friends. He was born in Chattanooga, Tenn. on June 2, 1916 to the late Edward Vandergriff and Elizabeth Newell Dickert Vandergriff as well as his step-mother, Clara Vandergriff. He was also preceded in death by his beloved wife of 72 years Dorothy Jarrett Vandergriff, and his sister, Mozell Hooks. He helped organize the Softball Umpires Association and the Industrial Softball League in North Ga., and he umpired the first softball game in Tennessee. He was transferred from Chattanooga, Tenn. to help Hercules start the Radford Army Ammunition Plant. He retired from the Radford Arsenal with 33 years of service. Mr. Ed was a loyal, faithful member of the McCoy Funeral Home staff for over 30 years. He was a Deacon and a Trustee at the Blacksburg Church of Christ. Ed was a Boy Scout Master in Tennessee and Blacksburg. He was a Past President of the Blacksburg Vol. Fire Department and First Aid Crew. Ed collected antiques, played golf, bowled, and was an avid gardner. He is survived by his daughter, Carol Claiborne Vandergriff, of Blacksburg; his son, George Edward Vandergriff, of Floyd; grandchildren and spouses, David Edward and Lucy Vandergriff, of Chapel Hill, N.C., Susan and Earl Spellmann, of Braselton, Ga.; a great-grandson, Jarrett Thomas Green, Braselton, Ga., sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Joan and Rhodes Boykin, of Chevy Chase, Md.; niece, Suzanne Hooks and, nephew, Eddie Hooks, both of Slidell, La.; nieces and nephews, Kathy Ulman, Rho Boykin, both of Chevy Chase, Md., Billy Carter, of Tampa, Fla., Randy Carter, of Deland, Fla., Pam Hoxworth, of Greensboro, N.C., Nelson Sayford, of Augusta, Ga. Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 26, at 2 p.m. in the McCoy Funeral Home Chapel with Mr. Loy Burch, Mr. Tom Gilliam, and Mr. Don Williams officiating. Interment will follow in the Westview Cemetery, Blacksburg. The family will receive friends Saturday from 12 noon until service time at McCoy Funeral Home, Blacksburg.