Raymond M. Witherspoon III

Spoonie was born January 19, 1943 in Abingdon and was a son of Raymond M. Witherspoon, Jr. and Virginia Kreger Witherspoon. He was a graduate of Abingdon High School; received his B.A. from Emory and Henry College and his M.S. from East Tennessee State University. He first taught elementary school at Adwolf, VA and was later an instructor at Tusculum College, Virginia Intermont College and finally Virginia Highlands Community College where he retired after 25 years.

Spoonie was a man of generous spirit; a devoted husband and father; a great talker and a gracious listener. He loved people and a good laugh. His other pleasures were fishing and boating; he was a dog lover and a Yellow Dog Democrat. He will be dearly missed.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by an uncle, Johnny Stubbs.

Survivors are his wife, Martha Miller Witherspoon; his daughter, Amanda Witherspoon and her husband, Eric, and his daughter Sarah Witherspoon and her fiancé, John Phillips; two grandchildren, Theo and Bella Witherspoon; aunts, Kathryn W. Stubbs and Anne W. Lindsey; and Wolfe, Witherspoon, and Shanholtz cousins. He is also survived by his dog, Shelby.

A graveside service for Raymond M. Witherspoon, III will be conducted at 3:00 P.M. Saturday, December 11, 2010 at Knollkreg Memorial Park in Abingdon with Rev. Walter Weikel officiating. The family will receive friends at Farris Funeral Service from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. Friday, December 10, 2010.

It was Spoonie's fondest wish to establish a scholarship fund honoring his friend Marion "Whitey" Johnson. Memorials to Spoonie may be made to Faith In Action, for the Whitey Johnson Scholarship Fund, 798 Hillman Hwy, Abingdon, VA 24210.