John Peter "Pete" Montague

John Peter “Pete” Montague 1933-2024

Pete Montague shook off this mortal coil Thursday, October 24, 2024 after a full 91 + years of life and living and service.

Born February 24, 1933 in Ashland, Kentucky, the fifth and youngest child of Charles Ernest and Saja Evans Montague, he spent his formative years in Kentucky and sometimes traveling on business with his father who worked for the New Deal for a time.

After serving proudly for four years in the US Navy (primary duty on the USS Scanner, a radar picket ship out of San Francisco) he married Sydne Sue Brown of Ashland whom he had met while both worked at the Paramount Theatre in Ashland. Their meeting started a lifelong love of the movies and each other. They both proceeded to Lexington for a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Kentucky for Pete.

His degree led to a 33-year career with Appalachian Power Company starting as an engineer in the Bluefield, West Virginia division and culminating as the Division Manager for the Abingdon division. During his time in Abingdon, which became home, it was the largest single geographic division in the company. After retiring in 1995, he split his time between serving the community he cherished and traveling the world with Sydne.

From 1977 until his death, he and Sydne have called Abingdon home and were long time members of the Abingdon United Methodist Church where Pete served in several leadership positions within the congregation as well as being a longtime usher and usher captain. Additionally, he was a longtime member of Civitan and served with the Pellissippi District Committee of the Boy Scouts of America. A large number of people know him from his long service on the Washington County Library Board and work with the William King Museum of Art. He helped with the restoration of the Abingdon Caboose and actively volunteered continuously from the early development of the Creeper Trail. He also served as a precinct captain through many years of elections. One of the areas of service he was most proud of and active in was with Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve as he had remained in the Navy Reserve until 1976 and achieved the rank of Chief Petty Officer. The Museum of the Middle Appalachians, The Johnston Memorial Hospital Board, The Washington County Chamber of Commerce, and various local and regional Economic Development Authorities also benefitted from his participation. His and Sydne’s longtime support of the Barter Theatre can also not be forgotten.

A very proud parent and doting grandparent, he inspired, coached, cajoled, and occasionally lined out everyone, though more so the children than the grandchildren. Many of his words of wisdom are now being handed down to a third generation. Pete was very interested in genealogy and spent a lot of time with his wife and one of his brothers driving around the Eastern Shore and Tappahannock areas “looking for dead Montagues” and corresponding with far flung and distant cousins linking family trees. His love of trains was well known and lasted from childhood through the construction of his “train room” and beloved G scale train set in his seventies.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers (Charles Ernest, Jr. and Roland Evans Montague) and one sister (Judith Adele “Sister” Montague Risser). 

He is survived and missed by his wife of 65 years; a sister - Mary Susan Montague; two sons – Harlow and John Montague; a daughter – Whitney Garrett (Joe); a grandson – Jacob Montague; 4 granddaughters- Rachel Montague Pampel (Zach), Brittany Garrett DeBusk (Travis), Saja Katherine Montague, and Kelsey Renee Garrett; one great-granddaughter Jaycee Renee DeBusk; and a large collection of nieces, nephews, and grandnieces, grandnephews, and great grandnieces and great grandnephews scattered across the country.

On his 91st birthday, Pete declared that he wasn’t old enough to have a great granddaughter.

A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 2, 2024, at Abingdon United Methodist Church, with Rev. Paul Seay officiating. The family will receive friends following the service.

In lieu of flowers please donate in his honor to Abingdon United Methodist Church or the American Cancer Society.

The family of John Peter "Pete" Montague is being cared for by Farris Funeral Service & Crematory, Main Street location, 427 E. Main Street, Abingdon VA 276-623-2700.