Richard Erby Foil

Richard Erby Foil passed away at his home in Abingdon, surrounded by his family on December 3, 2024. He was born May 20, 1932, in Bogalusa, Louisiana. Richard attended Louisiana College and completed his seminary training at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, while serving as a youth pastor in Franklinton, Louisiana. Richard earned a Master in Psychology degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and completed an Ed.D. at Illinois State University. 

Richard was married to Sue Bevelyn Jones on June 10, 1956. Richard taught psychology at Bluefield College and later at Southwest Virginia Community College. During his years of teaching, Richard also pastored several churches, including Memorial Baptist in Bluefield, Virginia, and Keystone Baptist in Keystone, West Virginia. Richard and Sue were charter members of Parkview Baptist Church in Bluefield, Virginia. Richard served as a Chaplain in the U.S. Army Reserve where he rose to the rank of Major. He performed funerals and counselled families of many soldiers during the Vietnam War. 

Richard and Sue moved to Abingdon in 1983. Richard was a member of Abingdon Baptist Church and taught the Denton-Foil Sunday School class for many years. In retirement, Richard was co-owner of The Boxwood Antiques, State Street, Bristol, Virginia, which he actively operated until his recent illness. 

Richard is survived by his wife Sue; his son Richard E. Foil, Jr. and wife MaryBeth; his daughter Mary Foil Russell and husband Ken; his five grandchildren John Morgan Russell, Elizabeth Foil Russell, Sarah Elizabeth Foil, Richard Erby Foil, III and David Edward Foil; and four greatgrandchildren. Richard was preceded in death by his brother Jack Foil of Mobile, Alabama, and is survived by his brother John Ard Foil of Louisville, Kentucky. 

Visitation with the family will be held 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Sunday, December 8, 2024, in Abingdon Baptist Church. Funeral services will follow visitation at the church at 2:00 p.m. with Dr. Bill Bryan officiating. Committal services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, December 9, 2024, in the Colonial Chapel Mausoleum of Forest Hills Memory Gardens. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be members Denton-Foil Sunday School class.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Abingdon Baptist Church or the Richard and Sue Foil Scholarship Fund at Southwest Virginia Community College, SWCC Ed. Foundation, Richard & Sue Foil Scholarship, P.O. Box 1101, Richlands, VA 24641. To donate online, click here.

Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com and signing the online guest register. The family of Richard Erby Foil is being cared for by Farris Funeral Service & Crematory, 427 East Main Street, Abingdon, VA 24210, (276) 623-2700.