Sidney Allen Meade

Sidney Allen Meade, age 84, went to be with the Lord on September 19, 2010.

Allen was born January 18, 1926 to Joseph "Pete" and Easter Meade of Dickenson County, Virginia. Allen was the fifth of ten children. He was preceded in death by siblings Jaylie Bond, Bertha Massey, Mary Bowlin, Arvil Meade, Earnest Meade, Willie Meade and Jim Meade.

Surviving are his sisters Delphia Brummitt of Sandusky, Ohio, Lazelle (Sis) Richardson (husband, Stafford) of Coeburn and sister-in-law, Loretta Meade (husband, Jim deceased). Allen was a long time resident of Wise and Dickenson Counties before moving to Abingdon, VA in 1977.

Allen was a devoted husband to his wife of 63 years, Anna Marie (Stallard) Meade. Together they had three children: Hubert Meade (wife, Eva) of Enterprise, AL, Ronnie Meade (wife Teresa) of Abingdon, VA, and Carolyn Bales (husband, Larry) of Abingdon, VA. Mr. Meade was adored by his nine grandchildren: Desserra Ewing (Abingdon, VA) Angela Cvetkovski (Abingdon, VA), Scott Meade (Abingdon, VA), Alex Funk (Roswell, GA), Jerrod Funk (Abingdon, VA), Andrea Newton (Damascus, VA), Cindy Kanfardzhiev (Panama City, FL) Travis Bales (Portland, OR), Trent Bales (Abingdon, VA) and Fallon Baldonado (McKinney, TX); and 16 great-grandchildren.

Allen served in the United States Army 264th Infantry Regiment during WWII. There he received the distinguished Purple Heart and Bronze Star as a survivor of the SS Leopoldville, which sank in the English Channel off the coast of France on Christmas Eve 1944. Allen and the troops were traveling on the Leopoldville to serve as reinforcement in the Battle of the Bulge. Five miles from shore the Leopoldville was struck by a U-boat torpedo and sank two and a half hours later. Of the 2,235 men on board, 763 perished.

Allen worked as a coal miner for forty years, retiring from Clinchfield/Pittson Coal Company in 1983. He loved being a coal miner and especially took pleasure in sharing his knowledge with those new to mining. On April 8, 1958, Allen was working at the Moss No. 2 mine when an explosion occurred killing two men. Allen was instrumental in saving the lives of two fellow miners and was awarded the Joseph A. Holmes Safety Award for his heroism on that day. Allen was a proud member of the United Mine Workers of America.

Allen was a devoted Christian and along with his wife Marie, attended Temple Baptist Church in Abingdon, VA for over 25 years. Allen was also an avid outdoorsman who loved to hunt and fish.

To his family he was the greatest of men; a shining example of what a man should be. He loved his wife with an unwavering devotion. Never did he let a day pass that Marie did not know she was loved and he received the same kind of love in return; anyone who came in contact with them felt privileged to bear witness to such a love. He was a man who worked tirelessly to provide for his family. He was a man who never spoke a harsh word, but when he did speak you took heed to his every word. Allen was a Godly man who never once lost his way or waivered in his faith. His grandchildren would often fight to sit by his side, even when they became adults, just to be near him or rest their head on his shoulder. He was a man whose granddaughters believed he set the standard for the type of man they should marry. He was a man who loved God, his family and his country. He was a man who imparted upon those who knew him a glimpse of all that is good and truly honorable in this world. The life of this man, Allen Meade, will forever reside in the hearts, in every waking breath and in every hope for the future of his children and grandchildren.

The family would like to offer thanks to Virginia Bowlin, Gail Hamilton, Chlela Locklart and John McConnell for their special care of the family over the last year and a half. Their acts of kindness will forever be remembered. They would also like to acknowledge the exceptional care Allen received by the staff at Broadmore Assisted Living Facility Memory Care Unit and Grace Healthcare Nursing Home.

The family of Sidney Allen Meade will be receiving friends Tuesday, September 21, 2010, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Farris Funeral Service in Abingdon, VA. Following the visitation the funeral service will be conducted at 7 p.m. by Pastor John Price of Temple Baptist Church (Abingdon, VA) and Pastor Les Ritchie of Maple Grove Church (Coeburn, VA). A graveside military service will be conducted by Highlands Veterans Honor Guard on Wednesday, September 22, 2010, at 11 a.m. at Temple Hill Cemetery in Castlewood, Virginia. Family and friends will depart Farris Funeral Service at 10 a.m. to travel in procession for the burial.

Pallbearers will be Scott Meade, Alex Funk, Jerrod Funk, Dejan Cvetkovski, Pyke Newton and Ron Ewing. Honorary pallbearers will be Stafford Richardson, Gerald Meade, Mark Salyers, Ray Osborne and Sam Smith.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 207 N. Boone Street, Suite 1050, Johnson City, TN 37604.