Richard Gail Findley

Abingdon, VA – Senior Master Sergeant U.S.A.F. Retired, Richard Gail Findley, age 77, passed on Thursday, March 26, 2015, at Bristol Regional Medical Center. Richard was born and raised in Meadowview, VA to the late Gail Vincent Findley and Regina Mae Blackwell Findley. Mr. Findley enlisted in the U.S. Air Force at the age of 18 and served in the Vietnam War before retiring after 21 years of service. Richard later became the production manager at Terry’s Potato Chip plant. He was a man of strong faith and a very active member of St. John Lutheran Church. Mr. Findley enjoyed helping with Faith In Action and was instrumental in its formation. Richard will be remembered as a wonderful and loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed gardening, hunting, raising fox hounds, shooting and reloading, all of which interests he shared with his grandchildren. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Helen Findley; daughter, Ann Findley of Roanoke, VA; son, Larry Findley and wife Sandy of Radford, VA; brother, Tommy Findley and friend Caroline Keesee of Meadowview, VA; five sisters, Elizabeth Findley Tilson Gray and husband Eddie of Meadowview, VA, Elaine Counts and husband Claude, Jr. of Meadowview, VA, Judy Wilson and friend Preston Blackwell of Abingdon, VA, Billie Snyder and friend Mack Boyd of Meadowview, VA, and Betty Nickles and husband Jimmy of Bluefield, WV; four grandchildren, Heather Sheppard and fiancee Brandon McKee, Emily Claire Findley, 2nd Lt. U.S. Army Lukas Findley and fiancee Janelle Filbert, and Cadet Caleb Andrew Findley; one great grandson, Riley Jo Sheppard; two great aunts; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Monday, April 6, 2015, at St. John Lutheran Church with Pastor G. Scott Homesley officiating. Military rites will be conducted by the U.S. Air Force. Honorary pallbearers will be the members of the James E. Peters Chapter #57 of Disabled American Veterans. Visitation with the family will be held from 2-4 p.m. following the service at the church. A graveside committal service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, at Southwest Virginia Veterans Cemetery in Dublin, VA. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. John Lutheran Church, 807 East Main Street, Abingdon, VA 24210; James E. Peters Chapter #57 of the Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 646, Abingdon, VA 24212; or to the charity of your choice, in Mr. Findley’s name. Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com and signing the online guest register. The Findley family is being cared for by Farris Funeral Service & Crematory, 427 East Main Street, Abingdon, VA 24210, (276) 623-2700.