Clifford R. Quesenberry

Clifford R. Quesenberry, age 95, of Abingdon, Va., died peacefully on Wednesday, May 24, 2017, at his home after a brief illness. He was born in Beckley, W.Va. on September 27, 1921, to Enoch A. Quesenberry and Janet Harper Quesenberry. While attending Beckley Business College in 1939 he entered the Civilian Pilot Training program where he attained his pilot’s license and flight instructor’s ratings. He then went on to teach British cadets to fly for the war effort before joining the United States Navy in 1942. He spent four years in active duty as a Naval Aviator; he remained in the Naval Reserves and was called back to active duty in the early 1950’s. In 1946 he became a corporate pilot for Gulf Oil Corporation. He then went on to be a Gulf Oil Aviation and Marine Sales representative until the opportunity arose to take over the Gulf Oil Distributorship in Abingdon, Va. in 1954. He remained active in Quesenberry Oil Company which later became the Chevron marketer for Southwest Virginia and East Tennessee until the business was sold in 2008. He was a member of many business and civic organizations including The Virginia Oilmen’s Association, The Virginia Petroleum Jobbers Association, The Washington County Chamber of Commerce, The Virginia State Chamber of Commerce, The Johnston Memorial Board of Trustees, The Emory & Henry Board of Visitors, The Bristol YMCA Board of Directors, The Kiwanis Club of Abingdon, The Quiet Birdmen, The Blue Ridge Soaring Society, The Charter Federal Savings & Loan Board of Directors and many others. He maintained a very active lifestyle his entire life. He water skied into his upper 80’s, he loved to fly and he continued to fly, including gliders, well into his nineties. He was a regular swimmer at the YMCA where he continued to swim until three weeks before his death.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Ivan, Jack, Boyd and Daryll Quesenberry; three sisters, Mary Carl, Wanda Fitzgerald and Deloris Holley; his wife of 56 years, Dorothy Loy Quesenberry; and his eldest son, Clifford R. Quesenberry, Jr. He is survived by his daughter-in-law, Karen Quesenberry; two sons, Greg (Lantha) Quesenberry and Richard (Kathy) Quesenberry; daughter, Joan Quesenberry; and several grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. He left many friends.

A funeral ceremony will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 28, 2017, at the Forest Hills Chapel of Farris Funeral Service, 19415 Lee Highway, Abingdon, Va. 24210, with the Rev. Joel Long officiating. Interment will follow in Forest Hills Memory Gardens where Mr. Quesenberry’s grandchildren, Heather, Andy, Audra, Alex, Marc, Sarah and Charity, will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are Ginger Stallard, all of his flying buddies, and his friends at the YMCA. Military Honors will be provided by the Highlands Veterans Honor Guard and the United States Navy. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. -2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Forest Hills Chapel prior to the funeral.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Bristol YMCA, 400 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Bristol, Tenn. 37620.

Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com and signing the online guestbook. The family of Clifford R. Quesenberry is being cared for by Farris Cremation and Funeral Center, 19415 Lee Highway, Abingdon, Va. 24210 (276-623-2700).