Harold Douglas Gillespie "Butch", age 65, left his friends and family to be with the Lord on Thursday, August 2, 2012 at his home after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. He was an Army veteran of the Vietnam War. As a member of Beulah Baptist Church, he loved to fellowship with his church family through singing and playing his guitar.
He was born to the late L.P. Gillespie and Mozella Wright Gillespie in Smyth County, VA. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Judy O'Quinn Gillespie; one son, Christopher "Chris" Gillespie and wife Courtney of Charlotte, NC; two sisters, Charlotte Bise and husband Charles "Rudy" of Glade Spring, VA and Bonnie Sue VanHoy and husband Roscoe of Chilhowie, VA.
A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, August 5, 2012 at the Main Street Chapel of Farris Funeral Service with Pastor Dwayne Dillard, Brother Warren Wilson, and Jeff Fritz officiating. Interment will follow at Forest Hills Memory Gardens where Highlands Veterans Honor Guard will present Military Honors. Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 p.m., Saturday, August 4, 2012 at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Glen Wilson, Chad Long, Craig Milhorn, Greg Widener, Danny O'Quinn Jr., Justin O'Quinn, Andy VanHoy, and Aaron DeBord. Honorary pallbearers will be Rick Boyd, Bob Compton, Hassell Cantrell, Monroe Bailey, Eugene Deel, Clemon Jackson, Mac Clifton, Bobby O'Quinn, Danny O'Quinn, Sr., Rudy Bise, Roscoe VanHoy, Robert Turner, Tony Rector, Mickey Wright, and the Men of Beulah Baptist Church.
The family would like to thank HomeTown Hospice, Cathy Hopkins, PA, Dr. Mark Davis and the employees of Regional Cancer Center for the compassionate care shown during his illness.
Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com and signing the online guestbook.
The Gillespie family is being cared for by Farris Funeral Service, 427 East Main Street, Abingdon, VA 24210 (276-623-2700).